Summary
The U.S. government's long-standing research on high school experiences through a series of surveys has been halted. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under President Trump's administration canceled these surveys in February. The data collected since 1972 helped educators and policymakers understand education trends and informed policy decisions.
Key Facts
- The federal government had been collecting data on high school experiences for over 50 years.
- These studies, known as high school longitudinal studies, began in 1972.
- The surveys collected data from more than 100,000 students and their progression into adulthood.
- In February, the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) canceled the continuation of these surveys.
- The cancellation halted contracts worth tens of millions of dollars.
- The data helped shape educational policy and decisions, like when students should take certain courses.
- The Department of Education is reviewing how these studies "fit into the national data collection strategy."
- The longitudinal studies were used by educators to compare and improve school performance based on national trends.
