National Center for Education Statistics

Embracing a New Vision for Education 

Statistics

Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics

Federal Committee on Statistical Methodology, 2022 Research and Policy Conference

October 26, 2022
National Center for Education Statistics

1st Step: Develop a Strategic Plan for NCES

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• Creates a foundation for how we implement all the other recommendations

• “Thinking big” about the future of NCES, its priorities, and renewing its 

status as a leading statistical agency 

• Worthy investment with big returns

• Publication expected by the end of 2022

• Here is a sneak preview of what you can expect
National Center for Education Statistics

Mission

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NCES is the primary federal entity for collecting and analyzing data related to education. Located 

within the U.S. Department of Education and the Institute of Education Sciences, NCES exists to fulfill a 

Congressional mandate:

• to collect and analyze education information and statistics in a manner that meets the highest 

methodological standards;

• to report education information and statistics in a timely manner; and

• to collect, analyze, and report education information and statistics in a manner that—

– is objective, secular, neutral, and nonideological and is free of partisan political influence 

and racial, cultural, gender, or regional bias; and

– is relevant and useful to practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and the public.
National Center for Education Statistics

Vision for NCES going forward

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Build new capabilities to meet the demands, challenges, and disruptions 

of the ever-changing educational landscape, societal needs and 

expectations, and technologies and data collection possibilities; while 

maintaining NCES’ commitment to produce high-quality, rigorous, 

reliable, valid, timely, relevant, useful, and secure data. 
National Center for Education Statistics 5

NCES 

Goals

draft

Ensuring that NCES activities focus on highest priority data to fulfill its mission to 

monitor and report on the condition of education

Embedding diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in all aspects of the 

Center’s work to improve its collective capacity to understand and report on the 

condition of education

Developing and leveraging mutually beneficial partnerships with 

practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and government agencies at all levels 

to ensure the relevance and value of the Center’s work

Continuously improving existing operations, management, and support for 

legislative and regulatory requirements to develop and disseminate data products 

that are relevant and useful
National Center for Education Statistics 6

Ensuring that NCES activities focus on highest priority data to fulfill its mission to 

monitor and report on the condition of education

Embedding diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in all aspects of the 

Center’s work to improve its collective capacity to understand and report on the 

condition of education

Developing and leveraging mutually beneficial partnerships with 

practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and government agencies at all levels 

to ensure the relevance and value of the Center’s work

Continuously improving existing operations, management, and support for 

legislative and regulatory requirements to develop and disseminate data products 

that are relevant and useful

NCES 

Goals

draft
National Center for Education Statistics 7

2-1: Incentivize innovation and creative partnerships that will produce relevant, timely, 

and reliable products to assist decisionmakers.

2-2: Collaborate to ensure independence in developing, producing, and disseminating 

statistics.

2-3: Fulfill the responsibilities of the statistical official.

3-1: Conduct a top-to-bottom review of data-acquisition activities to prioritize topics.

4-6: Release data and data products that are useful, actionable, and timely for state and 

local education agencies and other stakeholders. 

Goal 1 / Recommendations
National Center for Education Statistics 8

Ensuring that NCES activities focus on highest priority data to fulfill its mission to 

monitor and report on the condition of education

Embedding diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in all aspects of the 

Center’s work to improve its collective capacity to understand and report on the 

condition of education

Developing and leveraging mutually beneficial partnerships with 

practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and government agencies at all levels 

to ensure the relevance and value of the Center’s work

Continuously improving existing operations, management, and support for 

legislative and regulatory requirements to develop and disseminate data products 

that are relevant and useful

NCES 

Goals

draft
National Center for Education Statistics 9

2-4: Proactively embed diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in all areas of work.

3-1: Conduct a top-to-bottom review of data-acquisition activities to prioritize topics.

4-6: Release data and data products that are useful, actionable, and timely for state and 

local education agencies and other stakeholders. 

Goal 2 / Recommendations
National Center for Education Statistics 10

Ensuring that NCES activities focus on highest priority data to fulfill its mission to 

monitor and report on the condition of education

Embedding diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in all aspects of the 

Center’s work to improve its collective capacity to understand and report on the 

condition of education

Developing and leveraging mutually beneficial partnerships with 

practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and government agencies at all levels 

to ensure the relevance and value of the Center’s work

Continuously improving existing operations, management, and support for 

legislative and regulatory requirements to develop and disseminate data products 

that are relevant and useful

NCES 

Goals

draft
National Center for Education Statistics 11

2-5: Explore alternative sources of data from multiple sources and linkage tools. 

4-1: Deepen and broaden engagement with current and potential data users to gather 

continuing feedback..

4-2: Collaborate with other data-holding federal agencies and organizations to develop 

useful products and processes. 

4-3: Explore and establish creative models for a nimble, ongoing consulting body. 

Goal 3 / Recommendations
National Center for Education Statistics 12

4-4: Strengthen state capacity to link data across systems, adopt shared data standards, 

and provide actionable information to state and LEAs to help improve student outcomes. 

4-5: In collaboration with IES, establish a joint statistical research program that includes 

matching internal staff with highly qualified external researchers, statisticians, and data 

scientists. 

5-1: Utilize contractors and creative staffing arrangements to work collaboratively with 

staff to build internal capacity. Explore greater use of flexible contract types, stronger 

incentives for contractors to adopt cost-effective innovations, and performance-based 

requirements. 

Goal 3 / Recommendations 
National Center for Education Statistics 13

Ensuring that NCES activities focus on highest priority data to fulfill its mission to 

monitor and report on the condition of education

Embedding diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in all aspects of the 

Center’s work to improve its collective capacity to understand and report on the 

condition of education

Developing and leveraging mutually beneficial partnerships with 

practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and government agencies at all levels 

to ensure the relevance and value of the Center’s work

Continuously improving existing operations, management, and support for 

legislative and regulatory requirements to develop and disseminate data products 

that are relevant and useful

NCES 

Goals

draft
National Center for Education Statistics 14

2-3: Fulfill the responsibilities of the statistical official.

2-6: Modernize standard language on consent and planned usage to permit secure 

secondary uses that enable high-quality follow-up studies, such as through privacyprotected linkages with other data sources.

3-2: Revisit priorities mandated by Congress and, where appropriate, make 

recommendations for changes.

4-3: Explore and establish creative models for a nimble, ongoing consulting body.

Goal 4 / Recommendations
National Center for Education Statistics 15

4-4: Strengthen state capacity to link data across systems, adopt shared data standards, 

and provide actionable information to state and LEA to help improve student learning 

outcomes. 

4-6: Release data and data products that are useful, actionable, and timely for local and 

state education agencies and other stakeholders. 

5-1: Utilize contractors and creative staffing arrangements to work collaboratively with 

staff to build internal capacity. Explore greater use of flexible contract types, stronger 

incentives for contractors to adopt cost-effective innovations, and performance-based 

requirements. 

Goal 4 Recommendations (cont’d)
National Center for Education Statistics 16

Highlights of Planned Activities to Date
National Center for Education Statistics 17

Major 

Activities

Evaluate the NCES portfolio

Nimble consulting body

Strengthen independence

Low hanging fruit
National Center for Education Statistics

Regularly Evaluating NCES Portfolio

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Strategic Plan will enable an annual, comprehensive assessment of our 

programs and collections

Annual portfolio review will include:

•Assessing relevance of products

•Determining priorities of existing programs

•Identifying needs for new initiatives and improvements

•Building plans to support key efforts with external stakeholders

•Eliminating lower value programs and activities
National Center for Education Statistics

An NCES Nimble Consulting Body

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Currently uses multiple groups and established meetings to connect with critical 

stakeholders

Does not have a singular, external group to serve as advisors and technical 

consultants

Benefits:

•Provides input on buy-in for new proposals and R&D before investing resources

•Becomes a key voice within the regular strategic planning process

•Provides feedback and guidance regarding new methods and statistical products

•Improves messaging capabilities, outreach, and connection with statistical community 
National Center for Education Statistics

Strengthening NCES Independence

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Administratively - Layered 

within Department

Legislatively - Independent 

for statistical activities and 

contracting authority

Program funding - Direct 

from Congress

Staff and support services 

funding - Through IES and 

the Department

Limited control over resources 

needed to fulfill mission consistent 

with legislation

NCES, IES, and the Secretary to 

work together to strengthen NCES 

independence
National Center for Education Statistics

Low Hanging Fruit

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Build capacity in states and districts 

Embed Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility

Better coordination of survey designs

Strategic partnerships
National Center for Education Statistics

Thank You