UPDATE: After this story was published, the Education Department updated its website late Monday afternoon, June 2, explaining that the new Report on the Condition of Education would no longer be a “singular report” and instead update indicators on a rolling basis. The department published a sparse Part I highlights report on five topics.
For nearly 160 years, the federal government has provided a statistical overview of the nation’s educational progress. In 2002, Congress mandated an annual deadline of June 1 for this report under the Education Sciences Reform Act. However, this year marks the first time the Education Department failed to meet this statutory deadline.
The Education Department did not reply to inquiries about missing the deadline. Former department employees, preferring anonymity to avoid retaliation, revealed that report production relies heavily on external contractors. These contracts were canceled in February by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In March, mass layoffs at the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) further hindered the report’s production, leaving no personnel available to complete the task.
Related: Our free weekly newsletter alerts you to what research says about schools and classrooms.
Stephen Provasnik, a former deputy commissioner of NCES, stated, “The Condition of Education is a herculean effort every year that requires so many people at NCES to coordinate and prepare for Congress.” The NCES, now reduced to three staff members, struggles to compile comprehensive statistics on students and teachers, which typically inform educators and policymakers about evolving educational trends.
The data compilation for this year’s report was mostly completed before President Donald Trump took office. However, future data collection efforts face challenges as several contracts were terminated, leading to reduced data availability. While some collections resumed, they did so with decreased funding.
Three contractors were initially tasked with aiding the Condition of Education report: Research Triangle Institute (RTI), Manhattan Strategy Group, and Optimal Solutions. Changes recorded on May 28 regarding Manhattan Strategy Group and Optimal Solutions contracts remain unclear.
Committee staff for Rep. Tim Walberg and Sen. Bill Cassidy did not respond to requests for comments on the Education Department’s lapse in meeting statutory obligations.
Contact staff writer Jill Barshay at 212-678-3595, jillbarshay.35 on Signal, or barshay@hechingerreport.org.
This story about the Condition of Education report was written by Jill Barshay and produced by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. Sign up for Proof Points and other Hechinger newsletters.
—
Read More Kitchen Table News
