The Association for Institutional Research (AIR) submitted formal comments to the U.S. Department of Education in response to its Request for Information on Redesigning the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) (Docket ID number ED-2025-IES-0844). The letter emphasizes the importance of preserving the integrity, utility, and accessibility of federal postsecondary data.

Representing the nation’s institutional research, effectiveness, and data professionals, AIR offered six key recommendations centered on strengthening the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and safeguarding its role in supporting evidence-based decision-making.

1. Preserve Federal Stewardship and Independence of Education Data

AIR underscored that NCES’s position as a federal statistical agency ensures objectivity, comparability, and free public access to national education data. The association cautioned against any move toward privatization or state-level administration that could compromise quality or transparency.

2. Ensure Stable, Adequate Funding for Core IES Functions

AIR urged sustained, multi-year funding for NCES operations, modernization projects, and staffing, noting that proposed FY2026 reductions could disrupt survey continuity, degrade trend data, and weaken confidence in federal statistics. Reliable data, AIR noted, require reliable investment.

3. Reinstate and Modernize Longitudinal Sample Surveys

To maintain a comprehensive understanding of student access, affordability, and outcomes, AIR called for restoring regular cycles of the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS) and the Beginning Postsecondary Students (BPS) study. The letter also recommended developing a modern longitudinal survey to replace the discontinued Baccalaureate and Beyond (B&B) study, expanded to include completers at all credential levels—from certificates through bachelor’s degrees—to reflect today’s diverse postsecondary pathways.

4. Leverage Existing Administrative Data and Strengthen Cross-Agency Partnerships

AIR encouraged IES to continue linking education data with federal administrative sources (such as those from the IRS, SSA, VA, DOL, and Census Bureau). These partnerships can enhance accuracy, reduce reporting burden, and improve insight into the connections between education and workforce outcomes, while maintaining strong privacy protections.

5. Rebuild NCES Capacity and Expertise

The letter highlighted the need to restore internal staffing and technical expertise within NCES to ensure timely, high-quality data releases and sustained innovation. AIR noted that recent staffing reductions have strained NCES’s ability to manage complex systems and engage effectively with data users.

6. Foster Collaboration and Technical Assistance

AIR called for renewed collaboration among federal agencies, researchers, and institutional data professionals—reinvigorating partnerships such as the National Postsecondary Education Cooperative (NPEC), Technical Review Panels (TRPs), and IPEDS training programs. These mechanisms, AIR emphasized, help ensure modernization efforts are practical, transparent, and responsive to the needs of those who collect and use education data.

A Shared Commitment to Data Integrity

AIR reaffirmed its support for a strong, independent IES and NCES capable of providing trusted, high-quality data that underpin educational opportunity, accountability, and improvement. “Reforms must strengthen—not weaken—federal capacity and leadership in producing the data essential for research, policy, and practice,” the letter states.

AIR remains committed to working collaboratively with the Department of Education and the broader education community to ensure that the nation’s education data infrastructure continues to serve students, institutions, and policymakers effectively.