The National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recently released a report titled "A Vision and Roadmap for Education Statistics" that details the recommendations of a U.S. Department of Education-funded expert panel.

The group was tasked with providing strategic advice that will shape the National Center for Education Statistics' priorities for the remainder of the decade. NCES is the primary federal entity responsible for collecting, analyzing and disseminating education data.

U of A's Josh McGee, the associate director of the Office for Education Policy and faculty member in the Department of Education Reform, was appointed to the panel a year ago. Since then, McGee and other experts from across the country have worked diligently to review recent trends and craft recommendations to reimagine NCES as a leader in a rapidly-changing education landscape.

The panel considered several significant trends, including increasing student diversity and an intensified focus on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility; educators' and policy makers' desire for more and better data to support evidence-based decision making; and the dramatic increase in the role of technology in education. The group's recommendations will position NCES to meet the growing demands for policy-relevant data and statistical analyses to more effectively and efficiently achieve its mission.

"I am particularly invigorated and inspired by the panel's thinking about new ways that NCES can approach its work and fulfill its mission," noted Peggy Carr, NCES commissioner. "These discerning new ideas include a focus on equity, innovation and partnerships as strategic priorities for the center."

McGee said he was honored to serve on the panel and that he's excited to see how Carr uses the recommendations to reshape NCES.

"We hope that our recommendations will help NCES renew its leadership role in the 21st-century education data ecosystem," he said. "In today's rapidly evolving world, it is more important than ever that we can effectively use data to make better decisions and help students reach their full potential."

The panel identified these priorities:

• Expand Focus on Data Related to Equity and Diversity. A top priority, recognized by NCES, is addressing the topics of equity and equal access in all aspects of its data collection, analysis and dissemination activities.
• Become a Leader in Evidence Building. The Evidence Act effectively expanded NCES's mission by giving statistical agencies new data-acquisition authorities, duties to facilitate data access, and new roles and relationships in evidence building. The NCES commissioner needs to work with the ED secretary and the IES director to determine how to best maximize the unique value NCES brings as a producer of credible and relevant evidence, a leader in data standards and a key facilitator of data access.
• Expand Data Sources for New Insights. NCES needs to take advantage of the explosion of data sources and new ways to link data to achieve its goals and create new evidence-building insights. Collaborating with other federal agencies and state and local agencies can contribute to this effort.
• Assist State and Local Education Agencies Through Data Facilitation. NCES can maximize its impact with minimal investment by expanding its role in data governance, particularly as a data facilitator, by assisting states and other organizations in building capacity to streamline data linkage, preparing and curating data, developing templates, and simplifying processes.
• Involve Data Users in Developing Products That Better Meet Their Needs. NCES should deepen and broaden its engagement with current and potential data users to better understand their needs and how NCES can more effectively meet them. NCES should provide clear mechanisms for feedback to create usable, actionable and timely products for its users.
• Involve Outside Researchers. NCES can speed progress in evidence building by broadening the community of researchers and policymakers who can access data for analysis and identify emerging issues. The agency should establish a joint statistical research program for external researchers and fellows. It should expand and modernize its data licensing program to further increase responsible data access for evidence building.