Carmela Wallinone

The government has been running high school longitudinal studies since the early 1970s.

Students answer survey questions during school and then repeatedly in later years.

Policymakers use that data to help students be successful.

Elise Christopher ran these studies for years at the Department of Education.

In February, the Trump administration scrapped the high school studies contracts.

A Department of Education spokesperson said the agency is reviewing the studies, quote, return on investment for taxpayers.

For NPR News, I'm Carmela Wallinone.