Nonpartisanship

The research activities within the Department have sometimes been seen by the outside community and Congress as more subject to political involvement than would be the case for research conducted by the NIH or the NSF. Regardless of the accuracy of that view, the perception that politics is driving research needs to be avoided if we expect the Department's research activities to have the force of scientific findings.

There are a number of ways that legislation could increase the perception and reality of nonpartisanship of the research process. A consolidated budget would help because it would isolate the agency's budget for personnel and supplies from the core Department budget for those items. An agency staffed predominantly by scientists, who are committed by virtue of their training to the integrity of the research process, will contribute significantly to the goals of nonpartisanship and objectivity. Placing the responsibility for evaluation of federal education programs in a center for evaluation within the agency will provide useful distance between the program evaluation and program management functions within the Department.

Research, statistics, and evaluation activities need to be based on sound science and be independent of undue partisan influence. We look forward to working with the Committee towards legislation that supports that goal.