Former NCES leaders explain how chronic staffing, contracting, and bureaucratic barriers undermined the agency’s ability to produce timely education statistics. They offer practical recommendations for rebuilding a stronger, more agile NCES.
science policy
ASA Advocates for Statistics Inclusion in Department of Education’s Priorities
The ASA urged the Department of Education to explicitly recognize statistics as a foundational element of AI literacy.
Enriching Society Through Statistics, Data Science, and AI: ASA Giving Day 2025
ASA Giving Day 2025 brings the community together to support education, advocacy, outreach, and leadership initiatives that strengthen statistics, data science, and AI.
Open Discussion: Responding to Criticism About ASA Statements
Ji-Hyun Lee reflects on the ASA’s updated process for issuing public statements, emphasizing the challenge of balancing neutrality and advocacy in a polarized climate while reaffirming the commitment to transparency and protecting the integrity of statistics.
Giansiracusa to Receive 2026 JPBM Communications Award
Noah Giansiracusa has been named the 2026 JPBM Communications Award recipient for his books, media work, and public engagement highlighting the societal impacts of algorithms.
Applications Sought for National Academies Fellowship Program
This full-time, 12-week program places fellows at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in Washington, DC.
XL-Files: If Statistics Must Die … Let It Go Out with All Its Styles
The survival of statistics as a profession—not just a scientific discipline—depends on embracing its many styles, from modeling to decision-making and consensus-building, especially as data science and AI reshape the landscape.
Protecting Privacy and Preserving the Value of Federal Statistics for Research and Evidence-Building
As federal agencies update and combine their data systems, the ASA urges a careful balance between protecting people’s privacy and keeping data useful for research and decision-making, calling for more education, better communication, new methods, and strong funding support.
Earth Day Offers Opportunities for Environmental Advocacy
David Corliss highlights various Data for Good initiatives addressing environmental challenges, including marine microplastics tracking, frog population monitoring, pollinator studies, and community garden research, while encouraging collaboration through local ASA chapters.
Michelle Crosby-Nagy Joins ASA as Science Policy Fellow
Meet Michelle Crosby-Nagy, the fifth science policy fellow of the American Statistical Association.