Newsletter Archive
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One Year In: The Cost of Rolling Back Federal LGBTQ Data
February 25, 2026Read Morea discussion between Melanie Klein and Caroline Medina
Melanie: Here at dataindex.us, we’re tracking how the Trump administration’s actions are reshaping federal data collection – and what that means in real life. To dig into the impact of the administration’s removal of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) measures, we sat down with Caroline Medina, Senior Advisor for Data Policy at Movement Advancement Project (MAP). Caroline shares their perspective on what these changes mean for policymakers, researchers, advocates, and LGBTQ communities across the country, drawing on MAP’s recent report: The Federal SOGI Data Landscape Under the Second Trump Administration.
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Take Action! Civics Assessment Framework for the NAEP and More
February 23, 2026by Meghan MauryRead MoreSurvey Framework of the Week: Civics Assessment Framework for the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The NAEP Civics Assessment measures students’ knowledge and skills in democratic citizenship, government, and American constitutional democracy and asks questions about their opportunities to learn and their engagement with civics in and outside of school. In preparation for a potential update, ED is requesting input on whether the framework needs updating, why updates might be needed, and what a revision should include.
Comments due March 27.Every time the government makes a change to a survey or a form — or introduces a new survey or form — you have the right to weigh in on that decision. The Take Action! newsletter highlights surveys or forms the government is changing, renewing, or introducing. Click the links to tell the government what you think about the changes they are making.
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The Legal Pathway for Disposing Federal Data Assets and What You Can Do About It
February 20, 2026by Chris MarcumRead MoreBoth dataindex.us and the Data Rescue Project care deeply about the preservation and public accessibility of federal data. While much of our attention has focused on making these data assets available to the public, motivated by the threat of data loss, we might also ask: how could agencies properly dispose of data assets under the law?
Federal data assets are, ultimately, federal records of information. The Federal Records Act (FRA) of 1950 is the principal statute governing how federal agencies must manage records throughout their lifecycle, including their final disposition. The FRA requires agencies to establish record management programs and to work with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to ensure that records documenting agency functions are retained and properly disposed of. It covers the creation, maintenance, and disposal of Federal records, whether in paper or digital/electronic form.
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Take Action! National Special Education Spending Study and More
February 18, 2026by Meghan MauryRead MoreStudy of the Week: National Special Education Spending Study. This new study will produce estimates for what is spent on special education services for students with disabilities (SWDs), both overall and by disability category, including expenditures made by states, districts, and schools. The NSSES also will provide policymakers and special education administrators with an up-to-date understanding of the key factors that influence special education spending, what this spending pays for, and to what extent federal appropriations from the IDEA cover special education spending.
Comments due March 30.Every time the government makes a change to a survey or a form — or introduces a new survey or form — you have the right to weigh in on that decision. The Take Action! newsletter highlights surveys or forms the government is changing, renewing, or introducing. Click the links to tell the government what you think about the changes they are making.
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Register for Rapid Response Data Briefing: 2026 Census Test
February 13, 2026Read MoreDid you know that planning for the 2030 Census is already underway, and a critical test – the 2026 Census Test – has been announced. Unfortunately, many of the plans for that test have been scaled back. The Federal Register Notice — accepting public comments until March 5, 2026 — offers an important opportunity to weigh in on that test.
Join our Rapid Response Data Briefing to learn what's in the 2026 Census Test, why it’s important, the risks it’s facing, and how you can support this essential step toward the 2030 Census.