The Education Department's new Institute for Education Sciences was set up to take policy guidance and expert advice from a fifteen member National Board for Education Sciences, nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. A superb first batch of members has now been confirmed for that potentially influential board, including such eminent analysts as Caroline Hoxby, Eric Hanushek, Sally Shaywitz, Richard Milgram, and Herbert Walberg, and such astute policy leaders as Phil Handy, Carol D'Amico and Beth Ann Bryan. The nation is fortunate to have such a terrific bunch steering the IES, and we trust that Institute director Grover (Russ) Whitehurst will gratefully receive and follow their advice.