Budget Slash Drops Education Progress Tracker in the Ditch

Big news in education: A major government agency that keeps tabs on how our kids are learning has just lost nearly $900 million due to a recent government money cut, and it's due to DOGE- Department of Government Efficiency. DOGE is doing this on the heels of their accountability based approaches to government spending. Several projects, including long-term student progress studies, reading programs, and research on support systems for students with disqualities, are on the chopping block. A department spokesperson noted that the education’s primary projects, like the national assessment the schools National report card and the university scorecard, will remain untouched. Many advocates are worried that these cuts could leave holes in the accountability of the U. S. education system. Without this research, it becomes harder to spot and address gaps in students' performance, especially for those from low-income backgrounds and students of color that have historically lagged behind. DOGE said, they don’t see any need for most of the work this agency is doing. But not everyone agrees. Many think it is counterproductive to slash the research arm. It could lead to a gap in education progress and outcomes especially for students who are already at a disadvantage.

To make matters worse, a judge has stepped in and is taking a closer look. The Education Department temporarily blocked DOGE. They want to make sure the information is not compromised. DOGE has been given a temporary restraining order. At first glance, the cuts might look like a money saver. But, the cuts could cost a lot in the long run. Many projects on the chopping block are mandated by Congress and rely on contracts with limited staffing to support their work. The institute was given about $800 million last year, which is 1% of the Education Department's budget. And there's more to worry about. Many small businesses are on the cutting edge of education efficiency. DOGE is now targeting their contracts which are also feeling the pinch. The cuts also threaten to stall progress on closing achievement gaps. Critics are concerned that without the institute's research, it will be much harder to track and improve student outcomes. It is a very important role they play and a tough loss. Last year, the institute published some concerning results. The 2022 NAEP report showed that students continued to fall behind in reading after COVID-19. Math scores haven’t improved much either. The institute plays a crucial role in shining a light on the inequities in our education system. It’s hard to fix something if you don’t know what’s broken. The recent cuts may make it more challenging to address these very real issues.

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