Senate Panel Advances Reauthorization of Education Research Law

On Tuesday, the Health Education Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee passed the Advancing Research in Education Act of 2023 (AERA), a bill to reauthorize the Education Sciences Reform Act. Chair Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Ranking Member Bill Cassidy (R-LA) crafted the bill in a bipartisan manner to build on the progress made by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) over the past twenty years. Notably, the bill enhances the mission of IES by specifically including special education and adult education within the mission. Additional highlights of the bill include the generation of research that allows teachers to directly implement evidence-based practices across the IES areas of focus, including special education. With an emphasis on applied practice, the bill would fund research that produces actionable evidence to support teaching and learning; make federally funded research more responsive to the needs of students and teachers; increase locally driven research, evaluation, and “evidence use;” and streamline IES governance. AERA advanced through the Committee with strong bipartisan support. At this time, it is unclear whether further action will be taken by the full Senate or the House of Representatives.

To view the bill text go here.