APA Services joined the Friends of Institute of Education Sciences (IES) in urging Congress to reinforce its support and commitment to the agency. The coalition expressed its appreciation that the fiscal year (FY) 2026 bill maintains nearly all IES funding and includes detailed line-item allocations. Looking ahead, the coalition is requesting $900 million for IES in the FY 2027 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. This investment would help sustain and strengthen critical research data and statistics that guide improvements in schools nationwide.
The coalition also requested that lawmakers ensure the funds are distributed and used on time, and to continue listing individual IES programs clearly in future budget bills. Advocates emphasized that IES is an independent, nonpartisan research arm of the U.S. Department of Education whose job is to work across programs to improve education throughout the U.S. This includes collecting and sharing information detailing school and student performance, developing strategies that enhance learning, expanding access to high-quality educational opportunities, and studying the effectiveness of educational programs.
The coalition’s letter to appropriators (PDF, 177KB)opens in new window highlighted the fact that IES’s Research, Development, and Dissemination (RD&D) program plays a vital role in supporting education research across the country. It is one of the main federal sources of funding for both basic and applied education research, as well as training programs that prepare the next generation of education researchers. The investments in IES RD&D have led to widely used, evidence-based classroom tools. The group expressed its concern about recent delays in funding these programs, including the National Center for Education Research (NCER). NCER’s FY 2025 research and training grant competitions were closed without granting any awards, leaving proposals unreviewed for more than a year. Additionally, announcements for FY 2026 funding opportunities are significantly behind schedule. These delays limit the availability of high quality, research-based interventions that teachers and school leaders rely on.
Additional programs highlighted include:
- The National Center for Education Statistics, which provides objective data and reports on the state of education in the U.S.
- The State Longitudinal Data Systems, which help states connect K–12, college, and workforce data to better understand student and career outcomes.
- The National Assessment of Educational Progress, known as “The Nation's Report Card,” which offers essential information on student achievement nationwide.
- The National Center for Special Education Research, the only federal agency dedicated to comprehensive research on education for students with disabilities from early childhood through postsecondary.
- The Regional Educational Laboratories, which partner with states, districts, and educators to produce research and tools that address real-world needs in schools.
APA Services will continue to collaborate with the Friends of IES to help ensure that IES and the Department of Education quickly restart the required peer review process and reopen funding opportunities as soon as possible.
For more information, contact Angela L. Sharpe.