Mass layoffs at the Education Department and an internal 95‑page review have set off a proposed overhaul of the Institute of Education Sciences that includes a “thorough review” of national data collections and the U.S. Department of Education’s timeline for recognizing accrediting organizations. The review notes that many NCES surveys are agency choices rather than explicit statutory requirements and recommends prioritizing NAEP while considering discontinuation of other collections. Employees say prior staffing cuts have already hollowed out NCES capacity; advocates warn that scaling back routine surveys will degrade longitudinal evidence used by states, accreditors and researchers to track enrollment, educator workforce and outcomes. Clarification: NCES (National Center for Education Statistics) runs NAEP — the Nation’s Report Card — and dozens of other recurring surveys that inform policy and funding decisions.