Endorsement of NEED Act Introduction: AERA was among 70 organizations that endorsed the reintroduction of the New Essential Education Discoveries (NEED) Act, which would establish a National Center for Advanced Development in Education (NCADE) at IES and strengthen and modernize Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDS). (December 4, 2025)

AERA provided comments on the U.S. Department of Education’s Request for Information on Redesigning the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), emphasizing the importance of investing in staff and infrastructure capacity and of preserving and strengthening IES programs while pursuing innovation. (October 15, 2025)

AERA provided comments on the proposed updates to IPEDS that include the Admissions and Consumer Transparency Supplement, urging the need for NCES staff to pilot indicators and provide technical assistance. (October 14, 2025)

AERA joined the Postsecondary Data Collaborative’s comments on IPEDS that highlight recommendations for implementing the Admissions and Consumer Transparency Supplement and need for NCES staff. (October 14, 2025)

More Comments and Letters

National Assessment Governing Board Reviews NAEP, NCES Activities, and IES Redesign
AERA Highlights, December 2025

Federal Government Shutdown Ends, Funding and Data Activities Resume
AERA Highlights, November 2025

AERA Convenes Education Research Leaders for 2025 AERA-CURI Fall Policy Conference
AERA Highlights, October 2025

What the Government Shutdown Means for Education Research
AERA Highlights, October 2025

AERA Provides Comments on Civil Rights Data Collection for 2025–26 and 2027–28
AERA Highlights, September 2025

House Committee Advances FY 2026 Spending Bills with Education Research Implications
AERA Highlights, September 2025

Education Department Opens Comment Period for Civil Rights Data Collection After Earlier Withdrawal
AERA Highlights, August 2025

Executive Order Targets Federal Grantmaking, Expands Political Oversight and Termination Authority
AERA Highlights, August 2025

Senate Appropriations Committee Advances FY 2026 Bill Rejecting Administration’s Proposed Cuts to IES and NIH
AERA Highlights, August 2025

White House Directs Education Department to Collect New College Admissions Data
AERA Highlights, August 2025

Congress Moves Forward on FY 2026 NSF Funding Proposals with Small Cut in Senate, Larger Cut in House
AERA Highlights, July 2025

NIH Issues Policy on Supporting Fairness and Originality in Research Applications
AERA Highlights, July 2025

AERA Provides Comments on Proposed Updates to 2026 NAEP and EDFacts
AERA Highlights, June 2025

AERA Provides Comment on Proposed Schedule Policy/Career Designation, Urges Exemption of Federal Research Program Officers and Statistical Agency Staff
AERA Highlights, June 2025

Congress Begins Action on FY 2026 Appropriations, AERA Weighs in With Testimony
AERA Highlights, June 2025

FY 2026 Budget Request Includes Deep Cuts for Federal Research Agencies
AERA Highlights, June 2025

OSTP Issues Guidance for Implementing “Gold Standard Science” Executive Order
AERA Highlights, June 2025

National Institutes of Health Launches NIH Brain Development Cohorts (NBDC) Data Hub
AERA Highlights, June 2025

More AERA Policy & Advocacy News