Coalitions of K–12 and higher education groups, along with bipartisan senators, are urging the U.S. Department of Education to release nearly $300 million in education research funds tied to the Institute of Education Sciences (IES). Letters to Secretary Linda McMahon say FY25 and FY26 money may lapse if it is not allocated, and they cite closeouts of unreviewed grant proposals that have resulted in no new awards. The pressure centers on IES’s role in collecting and analyzing education assessment data, including the Nation’s Report Card (NAEP). Senators argue that funding delays have contributed to sharp declines in special education research and data gathering. If the Department reallocates or releases the funds as requested, it would affect near-term research capacity and the availability of evidence for reading, special education, and accountability programs used by states and districts.