As reading and math scores in the United States plummet to their lowest levels in a quarter-century, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) has faced severe cuts that hinder its ability to collect and analyze critical educational data. The Trump administration implemented drastic changes last year, resulting in the termination of nearly $900 million in contracts and a significant reduction in the agency's workforce.
Impact of Cuts on NCES
The NCES, a federal statistical agency responsible for assessing the state of education in America, has seen its staff decrease from about 100 to just 12. This agency has historically provided essential data through assessments like The Nation’s Report Card, which evaluates student knowledge in subjects such as math, reading, writing, science, and history. The abrupt cuts have severely limited the agency's capacity to collect and report on vital data regarding K-12 and college students.
Termination of Key Studies
Former NCES employees have expressed concerns that the cuts have come at a critical time when understanding student performance is more important than ever. The agency's ability to conduct surveys on issues like gun violence in schools and the financial challenges students face has been significantly hampered. According to a tracker by the American Statistical Association, many of NCES's ongoing data collections are now inactive or have been reduced in scope.
