During a recent House education subcommittee hearing, policymakers and researchers discussed ways to protect federally funded education research from the influence of politics. The hearing, held on May 4, focused on the upcoming reauthorization of the office of educational research and improvement, the agency responsible for overseeing much of the research funded by the Department of Education.
In an effort to enhance the quality of education research, Congress reformed the agency in 1994, giving it an annual budget of approximately $824 million. However, with the reauthorization deadline looming, it seems that many researchers and legislators agree that these changes have had little impact.
G. Reid Lyon, the chief of the child-development and -behavior branch of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, expressed concerns about the current state of education research during his testimony. He claimed that most education research is not well-done, of poor quality, and ultimately unreliable. He emphasized that politics plays a significant role in determining which types of research are supported, how the findings are disseminated, and what is taught in teacher preparation programs.
Various proposals have been put forth to protect research from political influences. One suggestion, allegedly favored by Republican committee aides, is to establish an independent education research agency, potentially modeled after the Federal Reserve Board. Proponents of this strategy argue that locating the agency outside of the Department of Education would minimize political interference and enable the implementation of more rigorous and scientifically sound research practices.
However, C. Kent McGuire, the department’s assistant secretary in charge of research, cautioned against complete political independence for education research. He expressed concerns that if the agency were removed from the department, it would have fewer supporters in Congress or the executive branch.
Mr. McGuire instead proposed the creation of a centralized national institute for education research within the department. To ensure some level of political independence, he suggested replacing his own position with an institute director who would serve a six-year term, rather than being at the pleasure of the president. This idea has also been endorsed by the American Educational Research Association, which represents 23,000 researchers. They have called for the appointment of a presidentially appointed commissioner of education research to serve a fixed term.
During the hearing, Rep. Michael N. Castle, the Delaware Republican who chairs the subcommittee, emphasized the need for change and expressed uncertainty about whether all parties could agree on a specific solution.
The timeline for the reauthorization of the office of educational research and improvement remains unclear. While Mr. Castle aims to pass a bill before Congress adjourns this summer, prospects for success are dimmer in the Senate.
