Thanks to the persistence and expertise of researchers like Elise and Sean, we have a clearer view of how early high school students’ aspirations for a bachelor’s degree have declined over time - and what’s at stake if we fail to act.

#HigherEd #EducationResearch #EquityInEducation

These analyses began at NCES, but contracts were cancelled before the work could be completed. Agora Associate Dr. Elise M. Christopher and Dr. Sean Simone recreated and expanded their initial analysis, ensuring this important story wouldn’t disappear.

These requirements follow August 1 reductions in force affecting the National Center of Education Statistics, including the IPEDS team, and contract cuts that trained colleges on how to report IPEDS data

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This memo could reshape the just-implemented changes to the 2025-26 IPEDS Admissions (ADM) component. The directive signals a move toward expanding IPEDS not only as a tool for transparency and accountability but also for federal enforcement of race-neutral admissions policies.

With our collective expertise, we can ensure the continuity of critical education data and research that informs policy and practice. Visit edevaluator.org to learn more about us, our work, and our commitment to preserving decades of educational data and research knowledge and infrastructure!

We are former ED researchers and statisticians with several decades of combined experience studying complex educational phenomena. We offer expert educational measurement, research, and data consulting to states, districts, nonprofits, and research institutions.

We created Agora in response to recent workforce reductions at the U.S. Department of Education (ED), especially those in the Institute of Education Sciences and National Center for Education Statistics.