February 12, 2025, Boston, MA—
The National Parents Union strongly condemns the reckless decision to slash nearly $1 billion in funding for the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), a move that directly undermines transparency, accountability, and progress in American education. IES provides independent, nonpartisan research that helps parents, educators, and policymakers make informed decisions about what’s working in our schools and what’s failing our kids. At a time when student achievement in math and reading is at its lowest levels in decades, the federal government should be doubling down on proven, evidence-based solutions—not eliminating the very research that helps us understand and fix the crisis. The handful of states that have embraced the science of education instead of fads are showing real, measurable progress, and cutting funding for education research now is nothing short of sabotage.
The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which gives parents an honest, unfiltered look at how our children are performing in key subjects, is at risk. Without IES, parents lose an essential check on whether politicians are telling the truth about student achievement—or just pushing their own agendas. This is an attempt to hide the reality of our nation’s education system instead of addressing it head-on. Parents are finally winning the fight against junk science and failed fads in education, particularly in reading and literacy. Thanks to independent research, families have been able to demand better curricula, challenge outdated teaching methods, and insist on proven strategies that help students succeed. Eliminating IES silences the scientific community at the very moment we are making real progress, opening the door to the same failed policies that put millions of children behind in the first place.
IES isn’t about politics—it’s about facts. It funds scientific research on what actually works in education, from effective reading programs to interventions that support students with disabilities. Eliminating IES isn’t about saving money; it’s about removing facts from education policy so that political agendas and extremist ideology can take center stage. This is especially disastrous for students with disabilities, English learners, and children from low-income families, who rely on IES-driven research to ensure their schools are equipped with strategies that close opportunity gaps. Without this research, policymakers and educators will be flying blind, leaving our most vulnerable students to suffer the consequences of uninformed, politically motivated decisions.
Parents rely on IES-funded research and data to hold schools, districts, and elected officials accountable. Without it, we are left with opinions instead of evidence, making it harder for families to demand the high-quality education our children deserve. This is about power—keeping parents in the dark so we can’t fight for better schools. The move to defund IES is a direct attack on education accountability and transparency. It is a deliberate effort to keep parents from knowing the truth about how schools are serving our children. We refuse to accept this. Parents must demand Congress protect IES—because we deserve data, not deception, when it comes to our children’s future. We call on Congress to restore full funding for IES immediately. Our kids can’t afford these cuts.
A Direct Attack on Data & Transparency
The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) is responsible for independent, nonpartisan research that helps parents, educators, and policymakers make informed decisions about our children’s education. Eliminating IES means less access to transparent, evidence-based information on what’s working in our schools and what’s failing our kids. On the heels of national data showing U.S. student achievement in math and reading at the lowest levels in decades – with the handful of states that have focused on education science instead of fads showing what kind of success is possible – the timing for cutting off almost $1 billion in education research and development couldn’t possibly be worse.
Parents Deserve Facts, Not Politics
IES provides critical data through the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which gives parents an honest look at how our children are performing in reading, math, and other key subjects. Without IES, we lose an essential check on whether politicians are telling the truth about student achievement—or just pushing their own agendas.
Killing IES Silences Parents’ Voices
IES research fuels parent advocacy, giving us the tools to demand better for our children. Without it, we are left in the dark, unable to fight for the support, resources, and policies our kids need to succeed. Parents have begun to leverage the science of learning to help reverse decades of bad practice in math and reading. In fact, the defeat of junk science in reading and literacy is the education success story of the last decade. Silencing the scientific community on the heels of this success risks returning us to the ruinous reign of misinformation and quackery in education practice.
Cutting IES Puts Politics Over Student Learning
IES funds scientific research on what works in education—from effective reading programs to interventions that support students with disabilities. Eliminating IES isn’t about saving money; it’s about removing facts from education policy decisions so political agendas and extremist ideology can take center stage.
Disaster for Students with Disabilities & At-Risk Kids
IES research is especially crucial for identifying and closing gaps for students with disabilities, English learners, and kids from low-income families. Without IES, our most vulnerable students will suffer the most, as decisions will be made without research-driven solutions.
IES Helps Parents Hold Schools Accountable
Parents rely on IES-funded research and data to hold school districts, states, and federal leaders accountable for the quality of education our kids receive. Without it, we are left with opinions instead of evidence, making it harder to fight for better schools.
The Bottom Line: Parents Must Speak Out
The move to shut down IES is a deliberate effort to undermine education accountability and keep parents from knowing the truth about school performance. Parents must demand Congress protect IES—because we deserve data, not deception when it comes to our children’s future.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARENTS UNION
With more than 1,800 affiliated parent organizations in all 50 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, the National Parents Union is the united, independent voice of modern American families. We channel the power of parents into powerful policies that improve the lives of children, families and communities across the United States. https://nationalparentsunion.org/