Davin News Server

On Tue, 18 Feb 2025 13:30:58 -0800
Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:

> On 2025-02-18 13:25, tye syding wrote:
> > On Tue, 18 Feb 2025 11:35:56 -0800
> > Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
> >  =20
> >>> Let's balance the budget! DOGE's total estimated savings are $55
> >>> billion, which is... =20
> >>
> >> ...a far cry from the $2 TRILLION Musk said they could find. =20
> >=20
> > The forensic examination has only just begun, dipshit.
> >=20
> >=20
> >=20
> >  =20
>=20
> There is literally no evidence presented that there has been any=20
> "examination" done of any kind.


Again:

https://time.com/7221227/doge-cuts-education-agency-funding-academic-progre=
ss/

WASHINGTON =E2=80=94 A federal research agency that tracks the progress of =
America=E2=80=99s students is being hit with almost $900 million in cuts af=
ter Elon Musk=E2=80=99s Department of Government Efficiency found no need f=
or much of its work.

It=E2=80=99s unclear to what degree the Education Department=E2=80=99s Inst=
itute of Education Sciences will continue to exist after Musk=E2=80=99s tea=
m slashed scores of contracts. Industry groups said at least 169 contracts =
were suddenly terminated Monday, accounting for much of the institute's wor=
k.

Some of the biggest contracts were for long-term studies that track student=
s=E2=80=99 learning from kindergarten through high school, a study evaluati=
ng strategies for teaching elementary school reading, and research on the e=
ffectiveness of supports for youth with disabilities, according to list of =
cuts obtained by the Associated Press.

The action will not affect the institute=E2=80=99s primary work, including =
the NAEP assessment, known as the nation=E2=80=99s report card, and the Col=
lege Scorecard, a database of university costs and outcomes, Education Depa=
rtment spokesperson Madison Biedermann said.

The cuts raised alarm among advocates who said they could hurt the accounta=
bility of America=E2=80=99s education system, leaving the nation in the dar=
k on schools=E2=80=B2 effectiveness. Historically, achievement gaps have sh=
own low-income students and students of color falling behind their peers.

The cuts are counterproductive and destructive, said Rachel Dinkes, preside=
nt and CEO of the Knowledge Alliance, a coalition of education research fir=
ms.

=E2=80=9CCutting out at the knees the one independent agency that helps imp=
rove student outcomes is ridiculous,=E2=80=9D Dinkes said.

Musk=E2=80=99s grip on the Education Department was dealt a setback Tuesday=
 when the agency agreed to temporarily block DOGE workers from more than a =
dozen internal systems containing sensitive information. DOGE has been task=
ed with slashing costs across the federal government. As part of a lawsuit =
challenging its access, the department agreed to block Musk=E2=80=99s team =
until at least Monday while a judge weighs a broader pause.

The range of contracts cut at IES varies widely, from academic studies to l=
ogistical support and contracts to participate in international studies. Se=
veral deliver research that was mandated by Congress.

In response to questions, Biedermann referred to a social media post from D=
OGE that said Musk's team had terminated 89 contracts worth $881 million, i=
ncluding $1.5 million to a contractor hired to =E2=80=9Cobserve mailing and=
 clerical operations=E2=80=9D at a mail center. Another post said 29 grants=
 totaling $101 million for training in diversity, equity and inclusion had =
been cut.

The Institute of Education Sciences is a central source of information on t=
he health of America=E2=80=99s education system. Across the country, it tra=
cks student progress over time and across demographics. It evaluates the ef=
fectiveness of federal programs, and colleges and schools rely on its resea=
rch to improve student outcomes.

The cuts appear to have been carried out under a clause allowing IES to end=
 contracts at any time =E2=80=9Cfor the government=E2=80=99s convenience,=
=E2=80=9D according to notices obtained by the AP.

Among the projects being cut is a study exploring how to accelerate math le=
arning for students in fourth and fifth grade, according to a document obta=
ined by the AP. Known as ReSolve, the project was being led by research gro=
up MDRC.

Last month IES released the latest NAEP results, revealing that America=E2=
=80=99s children have continued to lose ground on reading skills and made l=
ittle improvement in math in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Activate Research, a small business, lost four contracts and plans to lay o=
ff at least 20 of its 28 workers. The company was hired to ensure accuracy =
and objectivity in reports. When founder Dinah Sparks announced the company=
 was winding down Tuesday, she had a message for her team: =E2=80=9CWe are =
not waste,=E2=80=9D she said. =E2=80=9CWe did valuable work for the U.S. ta=
xpayer.=E2=80=9D

Another small business lost multiple contracts after being hired to collect=
 basic information on the nation's schools. The company started laying off =
workers this week, according to an employee who spoke on the condition of a=
nonymity for fear of retaliation.

Congress gave the institute about $800 million last year, roughly 1% of the=
 Education Department=E2=80=99s annual budget.

Read More: Can Trump Dismantle the Department of Education? Here=E2=80=99s =
What to Know

Two prominent research associations jointly called for the contracts to be =
reinstated, saying much of IES=E2=80=99 work is mandated by Congress and re=
lies on contracts to support its limited staff. The groups said 169 contrac=
ts had been cut, curbing the institute=E2=80=99s ability to report data on =
school finances and student outcomes.

=E2=80=9CWithout such research, student learning and development will be ha=
rmed,=E2=80=9D according to leaders of the American Educational Research As=
sociation and the Council of Professional Associations on Federal Statistic=
s.

The institute oversees a wide range of work, including the administration o=
f the NAEP exam and U.S. participation in PISA, an assessment that compares=
 academic progress across nations. It=E2=80=99s also a major funder of educ=
ation research and keeps a database of research that has shown results in i=
mproving education.

IES shines a light on inequity and its work is =E2=80=9Cmore than just numb=
ers and statistics,=E2=80=9D said the Education Trust, a nonprofit research=
 and advocacy group. =E2=80=9CWithout it, we are left in the dark, unable t=
o see where educational gaps exist or how to close them,=E2=80=9D the group=
 said in a statement.

Mark Schneider, a former IES commissioner appointed by President Donald Tru=
mp in 2018, said the cuts give the new administration a chance to rethink p=
rograms that have changed little in decades. But so far it's unclear if or =
how the contracts will be replaced.

=E2=80=9CThe question is not what happened on Monday, it=E2=80=99s what hap=
pens next," Schneider said. =E2=80=9CIf we just swing this sledgehammer, br=
eak all this stuff and say, OK, done, then we=E2=80=99ve wasted an opportun=
ity to fix things.=E2=80=9D

Democratic Sen. Patty Murray, a former teacher and member of the Committee =
on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, said she will be =E2=80=9Csoundin=
g the alarm=E2=80=9D to fight the cuts.

=E2=80=9CAn unelected billionaire is now bulldozing the research arm of the=
 Department of Education =E2=80=94 taking a wrecking ball to high-quality r=
esearch and basic data we need to improve our public schools,=E2=80=9D the =
Washington senator said in a statement. =E2=80=9CCutting off these investme=
nts after the contract has already been inked is the definition of wasteful=
.=E2=80=9D

Trump has promised to abolish the Education Department and turn its
power over to states and schools. The White House is considering an
order that would direct Trump's education chief to dismantle the agency
as far as possible while calling on Congress to fully shut it down.