Functional Statements > Institute of Education Sciences

**Table of Contents**

- Mission and Responsibilities
- Organization
- Order of Succession
- Functions and Responsibilities of Institute of Education Sciences (IES) Components  
Office of the Director
National Center for Education Research (NCER)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance (NCEE)
National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER)
National Board for Education Sciences

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**Mission and Responsibilities**

The Institute of Education Sciences provides  national leadership in expanding fundamental knowledge and understanding of  education from early childhood through postsecondary study, in order to provide  parents, educators, students, researchers, policymakers, and the general public  with reliable information about educational practices that support learning and  improve academic achievement and access to educational opportunities for all  students; the condition and progress of education in the United States; and the  effectiveness of Federal and other education programs.

In carrying out its mission, the Institute conducts  research, evaluation, and dissemination activities in areas of demonstrated  national need, compiles statistics, and develops products.  The Institute ensures that such activities  conform to high standards of quality, integrity, and accuracy and that they are  objective, secular, neutral, and nonideological and free of partisan political  influence and racial, cultural, gender, or regional bias.  The Institute:

- Conducts and  supports scientifically valid research activities, including basic research and  applied research, statistics activities, scientifically valid education  evaluation, development, and dissemination;
- Disseminates  widely the findings and results of scientifically valid research in education;
- Promotes the  use, development, and application of knowledge gained from scientifically valid  research activities;
- Strengthens the  national capacity to conduct, develop, and disseminate scientifically valid  research in education; 
- Promotes the  coordination, development, and dissemination of scientifically valid research  in education within the Department and the Federal Government; and
- Promotes the  use and application of research and development to improve practice in the  classroom.

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**Organization**

The Institute   of Education Sciences is  under the supervision of the Director of the Institute, who reports to the  Secretary and Deputy Secretary.  The  Director is also charged with working with the National Board for Education  Sciences to establish priorities for the Institute and procedures for  scientific peer review of the activities of the Institute.  The Director provides direction,  coordination, and leadership to the Office of the Director and the three National Education  Centers—the National Center for  Education Research, the National Center for Education Statistics, and the National Center for Education Evaluation and  Regional Assistance.

**Order of Succession**

In the event that the Director of the Institute of Education Sciences ("Institute") dies, resigns or is otherwise unable to perform the functions and duties of the office and the office is thereby deemed to be vacant, as defined by the Vacancies Act, and the President has not designated in writing another individual to act as the Director, the Deputy Director for Administration and Policy, as the designated "first assistant" under the Vacancies Act, shall perform the functions and duties of the office in an acting capacity.   If both the offices of the Director of the Institute and the Deputy Director for Administration and Policy are vacant, or the time period during which the Deputy Director for Administration and Policy may serve in acting capacity has expired, the individuals listed below the Deputy Director for Administration and Policy, in the order shown, are authorized to perform the functions and duties of the office of the Director of the Institute, except for any functions and duties that are required by law to be performed only by the Director of the Institute or by someone officially acting in such capacity.  

In instances where the office of the Director of the Institute is filled, but the Director is absent, unavailable, otherwise unable to perform the functions and duties of the position, and/or there is a disruption in the normal channels of direction and communication, and there is no person  officially serving in an acting capacity, and unless the Director of the Institute or the Secretary, in writing, designates another individual to perform the functions and duties of the Director, the following officials, in the order shown,  are delegated the authority to perform the functions and duties of the office of the Director of the Institute, except for any functions and duties that are required by law to be performed only by the Director of the Institute or by someone officially acting in such capacity.   

- Commissioner for Education Statistics
- Deputy Director for Administration and Policy
- Deputy Director for Science
- Commissioner for Education, Evaluation, and Regional Assistance
- Commissioner for Education Research

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