Sold a Story, Episode 14: What Happened to the Science? | Uncomplicate Ed
The Gist
In 2025, the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), the research arm of the U.S. Department of Education, experienced massive cuts
Nearly 90% of IES staff were removed or reassigned, and key offices were shut down
IES has historically funded the research behind the science of reading and other evidence-based practices
The episode explores what these cuts mean for educational research, literacy progress, and future classroom practice
What Is the Institute of Education Sciences?
The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Education. It was created in 2002 and is responsible for funding, conducting, and sharing education research.
IES has supported much of the work behind what is now known as the “science of reading,” including research by figures such as:
Barbara Foorman
Reid Lyon
Nancy Madden
Mark Seidenberg
Through long-term studies, large-scale data collection, and a focus on evidence, IES helped bring clarity to what works in education and what doesn’t.
What Happened in 2025?
According to the podcast, major changes to IES came quickly and without warning.
In March 2025:
Employees were locked out of their computers
Offices were shut down
Contracts and studies were abruptly canceled
Within weeks, roughly 90% of IES staff were removed or reassigned. At the time the episode aired, some programs were still in limbo, and many research projects had lost funding or support.
Why Does This Matter?
IES funded long-term, peer-reviewed research that helped educators and policymakers make evidence-based decisions. The podcast points out that:
Cutting research means fewer answers to current and future questions
Existing studies were lost or halted mid-way
Fewer people may choose to pursue careers in education research going forward
The concern isn’t just about what was lost, but also about what may never be explored now that the infrastructure is gone.
Was IES Perfect?
Even strong supporters of IES acknowledge that many of its findings never made it into everyday classrooms. Research was often published, peer-reviewed, and praised, but it didn’t always reach the people doing the work with students.
We uncomplicate the research for you.
What We Do at Uncomplicate Ed
At Uncomplicate Ed, our mission is to close that gap. We take research-backed practices and make them clear, usable, and relevant for the educators who need them most. Whether we’re training teachers on the science of learning or supporting leaders in building instructional clarity, our work is built on turning strong research into everyday practice.
We don’t just summarize findings. We translate them into real-world moves that make sense in today’s classrooms. Because when educators understand the “why” and the “how,” students benefit. That’s what makes the learning stick, and that’s why we do what we do.
Who Should Listen
If you’re a teacher, coach, administrator, or anyone working in education, this episode offers important insight into how research is funded and how that impacts the tools and strategies available to educators.
Whether or not you’ve followed every detail of the science of reading conversation, Episode 14 helps you understand where a lot of that science came from and what could be at risk moving forward.
Listen to the Full Episode
You can listen to Sold a Story, Episode 14: “The Cuts” here:
https://features.apmreports.org/sold-a-story/episode-14/
To learn more about the podcast and earlier episodes, visit:
https://features.apmreports.org/sold-a-story/
TL;DR
Episode 14 of Sold a Story, titled “The Cuts,” reports on the quiet but significant dismantling of the Institute of Education Sciences in early 2025. IES has been a major funder of reading research in the U.S., and its sudden disruption has already impacted ongoing studies, staffing, and data collection. The episode explores how this moment could slow or even reverse recent progress in evidence-based instruction, especially in reading.
