NIER started out as the National Institute for Educational Research in June 1949 and conducted basic and practical research surveys concerning education.
 In January 2001, following the central government restructuring, the institute was restructured and reorganized to become a comprehensive policy research body with a new name the "National Institute for Educational Policy Research". The purpose of the changes was to strengthen the role and characteristics of the institute as a research organization which contributes to the promotion and formulation of educational policy plans. The Curriculum Research Center and the Guidance and Counseling Research Center were established to work together with the governmment to carry out more specialized research surveys, as well as to enhance the support and recommendation functions of the institute.

June 1949	The National Institute for Educational Research is established
May 1972	The Science Education and Research Center is established
May 1987	The Educational Information Center is established
May 1989	Restructuring and reorganization of the research centers
January 2001	Renamed the National Institute for Educational Policy Research Restructured and reorganized in accordance with the reorganization of government ministries The Curriculum Research Center and the Guidance and Counseling Research Center are established
April 2001	The Practical Social Education Research Center is established The Educational Resources Research Center is reorganized
April 2004	The Educational Facilities Research Center is established
April 2006	Mid-term goals are formulated An academic ability survey group is set up in the Curriculum Research Center
January 2008	Moves to the current building (Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)

158	* As of the end of FY2009 (except double-assigned personnel)

Cost e.g. administration costs	1,796,061,000yen
Cost e.g. projects	2,228,273,000yen
Total	4,024,334,000yen
Other external funds (Science research costs)	67,060,000yen * FY2009 budget