A Vision and Roadmap for Education Statistics

The education landscape in the United States has been changing rapidly in recent decades: student populations have become more diverse; there has been an explosion of data sources; there is an intensified focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility; educators and policy makers at all levels want more and better data for evidence-based decision making; and the role of technology in education has increased dramatically. With awareness of this changed landscape the Institute of Education Sciences at the U.S. Department of Education asked the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to provide a vision for the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)—the nation's premier statistical agency for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating statistics at all levels of education.

A Vision and Roadmap for Education Statistics (2022) reviews developments in using alternative data sources, considers recent trends and future priorities, and suggests changes to NCES's programs and operations, with a focus on NCES's statistical programs. The report reimagines NCES as a leader in the 21st century education data ecosystem, where it can meet the growing demands for policy-relevant statistical analyses and data to more effectively and efficiently achieve its mission, especially in light of the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 and the 2021 Presidential Executive Order on advancing racial equity. The report provides strategic advice for NCES in all aspects of the agency's work including modernization, stakeholder engagement, and the resources necessary to complete its mission and meet the current and future challenges in education.

Table of Contents

• Front Matter
• Synopsis
• Summary
• 1 Introduction
• 2 Rise Up to Meet 21st-Century Education Data Ecosystem Needs
• 3 Prioritize Topics, Data Content, and Statistical Information to Maintain Relevance
• 4 Expand Engagement and Dissemination for Greater Mission Impact
• 5 Transform Internal Structure and Operations to Align with and Directly Support the Strategic Plan
• 6 Summary of Recommendations
• References
• Appendix A: Glossary of Terms and Acronyms Used in This Report
• Appendix B: Data Sources and Collection Approaches
• Appendix C: Summary of Data Content Prioritization Process
• Appendix D: Comparing Federal Principal Statistical Agencies and Units
• Appendix E: Institute of Education Sciences and NCES Product Review Processes
• Appendix F: Open Meeting Agendas and Solicited Statements
• Appendix G: Biographical Sketches of the Panel
• Committee on National Statistics

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