Support for New Essential Education Discoveries (NEED) Act

In December of 2023, Congresswoman Bonamici (D-OR) and Congressman Fitzpatrick (R-PA) jointly introduced the bipartisan New Essential Education Discoveries (NEED) Act. This legislation stands as a forward-thinking, bipartisan initiative aimed at substantially improving student outcomes by strategically investing in education research and state data systems. The NEED Act’s goal is to tackle persistent opportunity and achievement gaps in education. 

"A standout provision of the NEED Act is its allocation of $500 million toward modernizing Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDS),” said Corinna Turbes, Data Foundation Policy Director. “This pivotal investment aims to enhance data sharing and utilization across agencies and states, empowering policymakers with comprehensive insights to identify and address existing gaps. By prioritizing high-quality, privacy-protected data, the Act aims to equip policymakers, students, and families with crucial information to foster opportunities for all students to thrive."

The Data Foundation supports this bill, recognizing its potential to make significant investments benefiting students nationwide. The Data Foundation and the members of the Data Coalition community urge Congress to quickly work towards passing this legislation. 

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