UMD Researcher Elected to the National Academy of Education

“Peggy Carr’s election to the National Academy of Education reflects the importance of her leadership and contributions to education research and policy,” said UMD President Darryll J. Pines. “Her impactful work is shaping how student achievement is measured and understood nationwide, and we are proud to have her on our campus.”

Until last year, Carr was commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences; she was the first woman and first person of color to lead NCES. Before that, she was the associate commissioner of the Assessment Division for NCES for nearly 20 years. Among her duties, she oversaw national and international large-scale assessments, including the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), known as the Nation’s Report Card. 

Under Carr’s leadership, the NAEP expanded to all 50 U.S. states and became recognized as the gold standard in large-scale assessments, measuring math, reading, writing and science achievement in grades 4, 8 and 12 so that educators, researchers and policymakers can compare student performance over time and across states and districts. She also led the transition of NAEP from paper-based to digital formats, making the assessments more accessible to learners of all backgrounds, including students with disabilities and multilingual learners. 

“Dr. Carr is a pioneering leader in the field of educational assessment, and I am so pleased that the National Academy of Education has recognized her impact on education,” said Kimberly Griffin, dean of the College of Education. “Her dedication and innovation have provided countless educators and leaders with solid data, helping them shape programs and policies to support students’ diverse needs and strengths.” 

Over her 35-year career at the Department of Education, Carr also served as the chief statistician for its Office for Civil Rights. Prior to joining the federal government, she was a professor of statistics and research methodology at Howard University. In addition, she helped shape educational assessment globally as vice chair of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Governing Board for the Programme for International Student Assessment. Her research centers around student achievement, equity, assessment methodology, biostatistics and psychology, and she has taught graduate-level courses in statistics and quantitative and qualitative research methodology for more than 15 years. 

“Election to the National Academy of Education is a profound honor,” said Carr. “Throughout my career in public service, I have worked alongside—and learned from—many academy members whose scholarship has shaped education research and policy for generations. I am deeply humbled to join this distinguished community at a moment when rigorous evidence and thoughtful leadership are more essential than ever.”

Carr has received numerous honors and awards, including the American Educational Research Association’s Distinguished Public Service Award in 2022, the Secretary of Education’s Golden Apple Award for exceptional service in 2016 and the Presidential Meritorious Executive Rank Award in 2008.