A Year After Deep Cuts, Can the Institute for Education Sciences Remake Itself?

The Institute of Education Sciences, the research arm of the US Department of Education, is working to recover from deep cuts last year. A report released in February offers a plan for overhauling federal education research. The report suggests limiting the Institute's focus to a smaller number of national education challenges and reorienting its work toward practical concerns of schools. The Institute's budget was spared from significant cuts by Republicans in Congress, and some rehiring has taken place. However, any attempts to improve the Institute's functions will depend on rebuilding its capacity and restoring staff numbers. Some changes to the Institute's workings and grantmaking would require changes in law, which would need bipartisan cooperation in Congress.