Protecting Federal Education Research and Data
 
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Federal education research and data are under attack. Actions by the Trump administration are decimating grants, contracts, and data systems that are vital to high-quality research—and to the educators, policymakers, and communities who rely on them. These actions circumvent congressional authority and harm the American public.

If the administration succeeds in dismantling federal education research, educators, school leaders, and policymakers across the country will be forced to make decisions without access to reliable, evidence-based guidance. These cuts threaten student achievement, workforce readiness, and America’s global competitiveness.

AERA Urges OMB to Withdraw Proposed Federal Financial Assistance Regulation, Citing Threats to Scientific Integrity and Education Research: AERA urges the White House Office of Management and Budget to withdraw its proposed Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance, warning that the rule would undermine the integrity of federal scientific review, create uncertainty for researchers, and restrict the ability of education researchers to conduct and share federally funded research.

AERA Continues Fight Against NSF Grant Terminations: AERA continues its efforts to protect federally supported education research and the integrity of the scientific enterprise following the National Science Foundation's termination of research grants and changes in agency priorities.

Update on AERA Legal Challenge to IES Cuts: On March 27, AERA filed a motion for summary judgment seeking to reverse cuts to the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) and require IES to carry out its critical, congressionally mandated role in leading and funding education research and statistics.

Executive Director Tabbye Chavous Shares Insights on Federal Cut Effects

  • AERA Executive Director Tabbye Chavous published an opinion piece in The Hill, titled “For education researchers, real-world solutions matter most.” She emphasized the importance of rigorous, equity-focused education research and the field’s commitment to producing scholarship that informs practice and policy.
  • In a Wall Street Journal letter to the editor, Tabbye Chavous warns that dismantling the Institute of Education Sciences will be devastating for students, policymakers, and others who depend on federally collected and supported data and research.
  • In a “Why Social Science” post for the Consortium of Social Science Associations, AERA Executive Director Tabbye Chavous explains how education research informs evidence-based solutions and why funding it matters.


AERA is responding with legal action, advocacy on Capitol Hill, grassroots mobilization of its members, and collaboration across the scientific community to protect the integrity of federal research and data. Follow the links below to learn more and get involved.