The U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences published a request for information in the Federal Register on November 13, 2026, asking the public to help shape future evaluations of how states and local agencies implement the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
The National Center for Education Evaluation, the IES center issuing the request, is tasked under federal law with evaluating IDEA implementation and the provision of early intervention services. The agency has identified six broad aspects of IDEA for potential evaluation, including access to services, appropriate educational outcomes, and fiscal effectiveness.
Comments must be received by December 11, 2026, according to the notice1.
The NCEE, in collaboration with the National Center for Special Education Research, identified six domains for evaluation: access; appropriate services and educational outcomes; procedural safeguards; statewide systems, accountability, and flexibility; fiscal and resource effectiveness; and national activities. The agency is now seeking public input to shape the specific questions for evaluation studies.
All comments must be submitted electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal. The Department will not accept comments by email or fax. Respondents are encouraged, but not required, to include their name, title, and institutional affiliation. Submissions will be posted publicly on the portal. The Department noted the request is not a request for proposals and does not commit the agency to any contract.