More than one month since Education Secretary Linda McMahon announced massive layoffs at the U.S. Department of Education, she has promised that the research arm that oversees the highly anticipated Nation’s Report Card will continue administering the National Assessment of Educational Progress.
“The Department will ensure that NAEP continues to provide invaluable data on learning across the U.S.,” she said in a public statement on Thursday. “The 2026 NAEP assessments in reading and math are on track for administration in January 2026.”
Additionally, a letter sent to states suggests that U.S. history and civics assessments will be administered to eighth graders. McMahon says the decision to protect the closely watched Nation’s Report Card is part of her commitment to returning educational power to the states.
“As we continue with our final mission to return education to the states, I am committed to providing states with the tools and best practices to advance the educational achievement of our students,” she said.
The letter states that NCES will administer the 2025-26 exam between Jan. 26 and March 20, 2026. Math and reading results for districts participating in the Trial Urban District Assessment, which measures academic progress in urban districts, will be published in early 2027.
The move comes at a time when educators’ concerns over the federal government’s role in education continue to grow. In March, the Education Department initiated a “reduction in force” impacting nearly 50% of its staff. Those whose jobs were cut were put on administrative leave on March 21.
According to a press release from the Education Department, the agency’s workforce stood at 4,133 workers before the cuts. That number has since been reduced to 2,183.
“I appreciate the work of the dedicated public servants and their contributions to the Department,” McMahon said at the time of the cuts. “This is a significant step toward restoring the greatness of the United States education system.”
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