MISC> Institute of Education Sciences Positioned to Support Reform with Research

From: Gleason Sackmann <gleason@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: NetHappenings <nethappenings@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, 09 Apr 2003 13:34:33 -0500
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Net Happenings - From Educational CyberPlayGround
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Institute of Education Sciences Positioned to Support Reform with Research
by Alison Rooney
http://www.rbs.org/currents/0602/ies.shtml

One of the significant outcomes of the 2002 Education Sciences Reform Act,
signed into law November 5, 2002, is a restructuring that essentially
dissolves the Department of Education's Office of Educational Research and
Improvement (OERI).

In an attempt to advance the field of education research, this legislation
creates in its place the new Institute of Education Sciences (IES), which
reflects more rigorous support of evidence-based research as required by
the No Child Left Behind Act.

Heading the new institute is Grover "Russ" Whitehurst, who has been
appointed for a six-year term, as well as a 15-member national advisory
board (still to be appointed). Whitehurst formerly served as the assistant
secretary for the OERI since July 2001. IES' developing Web site
(http://www.ed.gov/offices/IES) explains that the new agency seeks to
"generate continuous improvement in education in the nation" as it
"compiles statistics, develops products, and funds research, evaluations,
and wide dissemination activities of demonstrated national need."

The institute is presently putting together a formal re-organizational
package, which must be approved by the secretary of the U.S. Department of
Education before it can be implemented over the next year. While
redevelopment plans are not yet final, one staff member indicated that the
new organizational structure will be more streamlined. OERI's five research
institutes, office of the assistant secretary, and other administrative
offices will be reorganized into three primary centers in addition to the
office of the director. The Institute of Education Sciences will reflect
more rigorous support of evidence-based research as required by the No
Child Left Behind Act.


One of the three primary centers, the National Center for Education
Statistics (NCES), which existed previously under the OERI, will gain a new
commissioner upon appointment by the President. Whitehurst will appoint
commissioners for IES' two new primary centers: the National Center for
Education Research (NCER) and the National Center for Education Evaluation
and Regional Assistance (NCEE). The search for these individuals is
currently underway.

NCES oversees the collection, analysis, and reporting of educational
information as well as statistics about and progress of all levels of
education. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is one of
its data collecting departments.The mission of NCER is to "sponsor
sustained research, support synthesis and integration of educational
research, promote research quality and integrity...and promote
scientifically valid research findings that can provide the basis for
improving academic instruction and lifelong learning." It has a particular
focus on research activities that will lead to high-quality education for
all children and reduce the achievement gap between students at high and
low levels of performance.

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Among its areas of focus are research initiatives related to educational
interventions in mathematics and science and applying technology to
instruction and assessment.NCEE has been established to synthesize and
disseminate information from evaluation and research as well as provide
technical assistance geared to improving student achievement. Many of the
studies conducted by NCEE will focus on the impact of education programs on
achievement in mathematics and science.Brought under the umbrella of NCEE
is the National Library of Education, which will continue to serve as the
source of information on a wide range of topics related to education. NCEE
is also in the process of establishing an online database to provide
information about effective programs and practices that improve student
achievement.

Since the legislation was passed, there has been some discussion about the
important role of IES, with its relative autonomy, in fostering credible
education research. The institute surely represents an opportunity to carry
out focused programs of research, including a number of evaluation studies
already underway. Over the next year, the structure and focus of IES will
continue to evolve.

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MISC> Institute of Education Sciences Positioned to Support Reform with Research

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