Education Research Center advisory board declines marriage/divorce data request as submitted

The Education Research Center advisory board on Sept. 25 declined a researcher’s request to add marriage and divorce records to an existing project, saying the addition appeared to constitute a new research question and raised PII concerns. Board member Celeste moved to decline the supplemental data request as submitted; the board approved the motion. The researcher, who identified themself as Brianna, said the new outcome was motivated by a recent presentation and described the addition as another adult outcome that could relate to long‑run effects of immigrant exposure in schools. Board members pressed the applicant to explain how marriage and divorce data link to the original project aims, which focused on educational, economic and political outcomes. Celeste and other board members said the proposed data appear to ask a new research question and recommended the researcher either rewrite the request to show how the outcome fits the original project or submit it as a separate proposal. The board also noted the requested items are on the ERC list of potentially identifying supplemental data and recommended the researcher work with staff to reduce identifiability or clarify the FERPA exception that would apply. The board’s action was procedural — declining the supplemental request as written — and did not block future resubmission. Board members said a revised write‑up should specify the new research question, justify benefits to Texas, and describe how any PII concerns would be mitigated. Members present discussed next steps for the applicant and staff involvement in shaping a permissible resubmission.