[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 856 Engrossed in House (EH)]
103d CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 856
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To improve education in the United States by promoting excellence in
research, development, and the dissemination of information.
103d CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 856
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To improve education in the United States by promoting excellence in
research, development, and the dissemination of information.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Educational
Research, Development, and Dissemination Excellence Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
TITLE I--GENERAL PROVISIONS REGARDING OFFICE OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH
AND IMPROVEMENT
Sec. 101. General provisions.
Sec. 102. Assistant Secretary for Educational Research and Improvement.
Sec. 103. Savings provision.
Sec. 104. Existing grants and contracts.
TITLE II--NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH POLICY AND PRIORITIES BOARD
Sec. 201. Establishment within Office of Educational Research and
Improvement.
TITLE III--NATIONAL RESEARCH INSTITUTES
Sec. 301. Establishment within Office of Educational Research and
Improvement.
TITLE IV--NATIONAL EDUCATION DISSEMINATION SYSTEM
Sec. 401. Establishment within Office of Educational Research and
Improvement.
TITLE V--NATIONAL LIBRARY OF EDUCATION
Sec. 501. Establishment within Office of Educational Research and
Improvement.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds as follows with respect to improving education
in the United States:
(1) A majority of public schools in the United States are
failing to adequately prepare their students. To achieve the
national education goals set forth by the President and the
governors of the States, an overwhelming campaign for
educational improvement must be mounted in order to set in
motion many strategies and models designed to encourage and
support school restructuring. The Federal Government must
support an extensive program of educational research,
development, dissemination, replication and assistance to
identify and support the best responses for the challenges
ahead. A significant investment in attaining a deeper
understanding of the processes of learning and schooling and
developing new ideas holds the best hope of making a
substantial difference to the lives of every school and student
in the United States. The Office of Educational Research and
Improvement of the Department of Education should be at the
center of this campaign in order to coordinate such efforts.
(2) The Federal role in educational research has been
closely identified with youths who are socioeconomically
disadvantaged, belong to a language minority, or are disabled.
However, in 1988, the Federal commitment to education was
sufficient to serve not more than--
(A) 1 out of every 5 low-income children in need of
preschool education;
(B) 2 out of every 5 children in need of
remediation;
(C) 1 out of every 4 children in need of bilingual
education; and
(D) 1 out of every 20 youths in need of job
training.
(3) The failure of the Federal Government to adequately
invest in educational research and development has denied the
Nation a sound foundation on which to design school
improvements, leading to a history of faddism and failed
experimentation resulting in a dearth of research in the area
of educationally at-risk students. This situation is of
particular concern because at least half of the public school
students in 25 of the largest cities of the United States are
minority children, and demographers project that, by 2005,
almost all urban public school students will be minority
children or other children in poverty.
(4) The investment goal of the Federal research,
development, and dissemination function should be at least 1
percent of the total amount of funds spent on education
nationally.
(5) Nationwide model programs and reliable interventions
should be demonstrated and replicated, and for such purposes,
programs should be established to conduct research and
evaluations, and to disseminate information.
(6) The Office of Educational Research and Improvement must
develop a national dissemination policy that will advance the
goal of placing a national treasure chest of research results,
models, and materials at the disposal of the Nation's education
decisionmakers.
(7) A National Educational Research Policy and Priorities
Board should be established to ensure that an educational
research and dissemination agenda is developed and implemented
without partisan political interference.
(8) Existing research and development entities should adopt
expanded, proactive roles and new institutions must be created
to promote knowledge development necessary to accelerate the
application of research knowledge to high priority areas.
(9) Greater use should be made of existing technologies in
efforts to improve the Nation's educational system, including
efforts to disseminate research findings.
(10) Minority educational researchers are inadequately
represented throughout the Department of Education, but
particularly in the Office of Educational Research and
Improvement. The Office therefore must assume a leadership
position in the recruitment, retention, and promotion of
qualified minority educational researchers.
(11) The coordination of the mission of the Office of
Educational Research and Improvement with that of other
components of the Department of Education is critical. It must
improve the coordination of the educational research,
development, and dissemination function with those of other
Federal agencies.
TITLE I--GENERAL PROVISIONS REGARDING OFFICE OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH
AND IMPROVEMENT
SEC. 101. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
Section 405 of the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C.
1221e) is amended to read as follows:
``office of educational research and improvement
``Sec. 405. (a) Declaration of Policy Regarding Educational
Opportunity.--
``(1) In general.--The Congress declares it to be the
policy of the United States to provide to every individual an
equal opportunity to receive an education of high quality
regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability,
national origin, or social class. Although the American
educational system has pursued this objective, it has not
attained the objective. Inequalities of opportunity to receive
high quality education remain pronounced. To achieve the goal
of quality education requires the continued pursuit of
knowledge about education through research, development,
improvement activities, data collection, synthesis, technical
assistance, and information dissemination. While the direction
of American education remains primarily the responsibility of
State and local governments, the Federal Government has a clear
responsibility to provide leadership in the conduct and support
of scientific inquiry into the educational process.
``(2) Mission of office.--
``(A) The mission of the Office of Educational
Research and Improvement shall be to provide national
leadership in--
``(i) expanding fundamental knowledge and
understanding of education;
``(ii) promoting excellence and equity in
education; and
``(iii) monitoring the state of education.
``(B) The mission of the Office shall be
accomplished in collaboration with researchers,
teachers, school administrators, parents, students,
employers, and policymakers.
``(b) Purpose and Structure of Office.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the Office
of Educational Research and Improvement, shall carry out the
policies set forth in subsection (a). In carrying out such
policies, the Secretary shall be guided by the priorities
established by the Board of Governors established in section
405A.
``(2) Administrative structure.--The Office shall be
administered by the Assistant Secretary and shall include--
``(A) the National Educational Research Policy and
Priorities Board established by section 405A;
``(B) the national research institutes established
by section 405B;
``(C) the national education dissemination system
established by section 405C;
``(D) the National Library of Education established
by section 405D;
``(E) the National Center for Education Statistics
established by section 406; and
``(F) such other units as the Secretary deems
appropriate to carry out the purposes of the Office.
``(3) Priorities in research and development.--The Office
shall, in accordance with the provisions of this section, seek
to improve education in the United States through concentrating
the resources of the Office on the following priority research
and development needs:
``(A) The education of at-risk students.
``(B) The education and development of young
children.
``(C) Student achievement in elementary and
secondary school.
``(D) Postsecondary education, libraries, and
lifelong learning for adults.
``(E) The improvement of schools through the
restructuring and reform of school governance,
policymaking, finance and management at the State,
local, school building, and classroom level.
``(c) Appointment of Employees.--
``(1) In general.--The Assistant Secretary may appoint, for
terms not to exceed three years (without regard to the
provisions of title 5 of the United States Code governing
appointment in the competitive service) and may compensate
(without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter
III of chapter 53 of such title relating to classification and
General Schedule pay rates) such scientific or technical
employees of the Office as the Assistant Secretary considers
necessary to accomplish its functions, provided that--
``(A) at least 60 days prior to the appointment of
any such employee, public notice is given of the
availability of such position and an opportunity is
provided for qualified individuals to apply and compete
for such position;
``(B) the rate of basic pay for such employees does
not exceed the maximum rate of basic pay payable for
positions at GS-15, as determined in accordance with
section 5376 of title 5, United States Code;
``(C) the appointment of such employee is necessary
to provide the Office with scientific or technical
expertise which could not otherwise be obtained by the
Office through the competitive service; and
``(D) the total number of such employees does not
exceed one-fifth of the number of full-time, regular
scientific or professional employees of the Office.
``(2) Reappointment of employees.--The Assistant Secretary
may reappoint employees described in paragraph (1) upon
presentation of a clear and convincing justification of need,
for one additional term not to exceed 3 years. All such
employees shall work on activities of the Office and shall not
be reassigned to other duties outside the Office during their
term.
``(d) Authority to Publish.--
``(1) In general.--The Assistant Secretary is authorized to
prepare and publish such information, reports, and documents as
may be of value in carrying out the purposes of sections 405
through 405D without further clearance or approval by the
Secretary or any other office of the Department.
``(2) Quality assurance.--In carrying out such authority,
the Assistant Secretary shall--
``(A) establish such procedures as may be necessary
to assure that all reports and publications issued by
the Office are of the highest quality; and
``(B) provide other offices of the Department with
an opportunity to comment upon any report or
publication prior to its publication when its contents
relate to matters for which such office has
responsibility.
``(e) Biennial Report on Activities of Office.--The Assistant
Secretary shall transmit to the President and the Congress by not later
than December 30 of every other year a biennial report which shall
consist of--
``(1) a description of the activities carried out by and
through each research institute during the fiscal years for
which such report is prepared and any recommendations and
comments regarding such activities as the Assistant Secretary
considers appropriate;
``(2) a description of the activities carried out by and
through the national education dissemination system established
by section 405C during the fiscal years for which such report
is prepared and any recommendations and comments regarding such
activities as the Assistant Secretary considers appropriate;
``(3) such written comments and recommendations as may be
submitted by the Board concerning the activities carried out by
and through each of the institutes and the national education
dissemination system during the fiscal years for which such
report is prepared and how such activities relate to the
Research Policies and Priorities Plan developed by the Board;
``(4) a description of the coordination activites
undertaken pursuant to section 405(f) during the fiscal years
for which such report is prepared;
``(5) recommendations for legislative and administrative
changes necessary to improve the coordination of all
educational research, development, and dissemination activities
carried out within the Federal Government, particularly within
the priority research and development needs identified in
section 405(b)(3); and
``(6) such additional comments, recommendations, and
materials as the Assistant Secretary considers appropriate.
``(f) Coordination.--With the advice and assistance of the Board,
the Assistant Secretary shall establish and maintain an ongoing program
of activities designed to improve the coordination of education
research, development, and dissemination and activities within the
Department and within the Federal Government, particularly within the
priority research and development needs identified in section
405(b)(3), in order to--
``(1) minimize duplication in education research,
development, and dissemination carried out by the Federal
Government;
``(2) maximize the value of the total Federal investment in
education research, development, and dissemination; and
``(3) enable all entities engaged in education research,
development, and dissemination within the Federal Government to
interact effectively as partners and take full advantage of the
diverse resources and proficiencies which each entity has
available.
``(g) Activities Required With Respect to Coordination.--In
carrying out such program of coordination, the Assistant Secretary
shall compile (and thereafter regularly maintain) and make available a
comprehensive inventory of all education research, development,
dissemination activities, and expenditures being carried out by the
Federal Government within the priority research and development needs
identified in section 405(b)(3).
``(h) Standards for Conduct and Evaluation of Research.--
``(1) In general.--In consultation with the Board, the
Assistant Secretary shall develop such standards as may be
necessary to govern the conduct and evaluation of all research,
development, and dissemination activities carried out by the
Office to assure that such activities meet the highest
standards of professional excellence. In developing such
standards, the Assistant Secetary shall review the procedures
utilized by the National Institutes of Health, the National
Science Foundation, and other Federal agencies engaged in
research and development and shall also actively solicit
recommendations from the the National Academy of Sciences, the
American Educational Research Association and members of the
general public.
``(2) Contents of standards.--Such standards shall at a
minimum--
``(A) require that a system of peer review be
utilized by the Office--
``(i) in reviewing and evaluating all
applications for grants and cooperative
agreements and bids for those contracts which
exceed $100,000;
``(ii) in evaluating and assessing the
performance of all recipients of grants from
and cooperative agreements and contracts with
the Office; and
``(iii) in reviewing and designating
exemplary and promising programs in accordance
with section 405C(d);
``(B)(i) specify the composition of peer review
panels, the criteria for the selection of members of
such panels, and describe the means by which potential
members shall be identified so as to assure that such
panels are broadly representative of individuals with
expertise in matters relevant to the purposes of each
such panel;
``(ii) prohibit the consideration of partisan
affiliation in the selection of any member of a peer
review panel;
``(iii) describe the general procedures which shall
be used by each peer review panel in its operations;
``(iv) prohibit the participation by a member of a
peer review panel in the review of any application in
which such member has any financial interest; and
``(v) require that transcripts, minutes, and other
documents made available to or prepared for or by a
peer review panel will be available for public
inspection to the extent consistent with the Freedom of
Information Act, the Federal Advisory Committee Act,
the Privacy Act, and other laws;
``(C)(i) describe the procedures which shall be
utilized in evaluating applications for grants,
proposed cooperative agreements, and contract bids;
``(ii) specify the criteria and factors which shall
be considered in making such evaluations; and
``(iii) provide that any decision to fund a grant,
contract, or cooperative agreement out of its order of
ranking by a peer review panel shall be first fully
justified in writing and that copies of such
justification shall be transmitted to the Board, unless
such action is required by some other provision of law;
``(D)(i) describe the procedures which shall be
utilized in reviewing educational programs which have
been identified by or submitted to the Secretary for
evaluation in accordance with section 405C(d); and
``(ii) specify the criteria which shall be used in
recommending programs as exemplary and promising; and
``(E)(i) require that the performance of all
recipients of grants from and contracts and cooperative
agreements with the Office shall be periodically
evaluated, both during and at the conclusion of their
receipt of assistance;
``(ii) describe the procedures and means by which
such evaluations shall be undertaken, including--
``(I) the frequency of such evaluations;
``(II) the criteria, outcome measures, and
other factors which shall be taken into
account; and
``(III) measures to assure that on-site
evaluations of performance shall be utilized to
the extent appropriate and whenever
practicable; and
``(iii) provide that the results of such
evaluations shall be taken into account prior to any
decision to continue, renew, or provide new funding to
the entity being reviewed.
``(3) Publication and promulgation of standards.--
``(A) The Assistant Secretary shall publish
proposed standards--
``(i) which meet the requirements of
subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of paragraph
(2) not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of the Educational Research,
Development, and Dissemination Excellence Act;
``(ii) which meet the requirements of
paragraph (2)(D) not later than 2 years after
such date; and
``(iii) which meet the requirements of
subparagraph (E) of paragraph (2) not later
than 3 years after such date;
``(B) Following the publication of such proposed
standards, the Assistant Secretary shall solicit
comments from interested members of the public with
respect to such proposed standards for a period of not
more than 120 days. After giving due consideration to
any comments which may have been received, the
Assistant Secretary shall transmit such standards to
the Board for its review and approval.
``(C) Upon the approval of the Board, the Assistant
Secretary shall transmit final standards to the
Secretary which meet the requirements of the particular
subparagraphs of paragraph (2) for which they were
developed. Such standards shall be binding upon all
activities carried out with funds appropriated under
section 405.
``(i) Additional Responsibilities of the Assistant Secretary.--In
carrying out the activities and programs of the Office, the Assistant
Secretary shall--
``(1) be guided by the Research Priorities Plan developed
by the Board;
``(2) ensure that there is broad and regular public and
professional involvement from the educational field in the
planning and carrying out of the Office's activities, including
establishing teacher advisory boards for any program office,
program or project of the Office as the Assistant Secretary
deems necessary;
``(3) ensure that the selection of research topics and the
administration of the program are free from undue partisan
political influence; and
``(4) ensure that all statistics and other data collected
and reported by the Office shall be collected, cross-tabulated,
analyzed, and reported by sex within race or ethnicity and
socioeconomic status whenever feasible (and when such data
collection or analysis is not feasible, ensure that the
relevant report or document includes an explanation as to why
such data collection or analysis is not feasible).
``(j) Definitions.--For purposes of this section and sections 405A
through 405D:
``(1) The term `Assistant Secretary' means the Assistant
Secretary for Educational Research and Improvement established
by section 202 of the Department of Education Organization Act.
``(2) The term `at-risk student' means a student who,
because of limited English proficiency, poverty, geographic
location, or educational or economic disadvantage, faces a
greater risk of low educational achievement and has greater
potential for dropping out of school.
``(3) The term `Board' means the National Educational
Research Policy and Priorities Board.
``(4) The term `educational research' includes basic and
applied research, development, planning, surveys, assessments,
evaluations, investigations, experiments, and demonstrations in
the field of education and other fields relating to education.
``(5) The term `development'--
``(A) means the systematic use, adaptation, and
transformation of knowledge and understanding gained
from research to create alternatives, policies,
products, methods, practices, or materials which can
contribute to the improvement of educational practice;
and
``(B) includes the design and development of
prototypes and the testing of such prototypes for the
purposes of establishing their feasibility,
reliability, and cost-effectiveness.
``(6) The term `technical assistance' means the provision
of external assistance to facilitate the adoption or
application of the knowledge gained from educational research
and development and includes--
``(A) problem analysis and diagnosis;
``(B) assistance in finding, selecting, or
designing suitable solutions and approaches to
problems;
``(C) training in the installation and
implementation of products, programs, policies,
practices, or technologies; and
``(D) such other assistance as may be necessary to
encourage the adoption or application of such
knowledge.
``(7) The term `dissemination' means the transfer of
knowledge and products gained through research and includes--
``(A) the use of communication techniques to
increase awareness of such knowledge and products;
``(B) the provision of comparative and evaluative
information necessary to enable educators, school
administrators, and others to assess and make informed
judgments about the relevance and usefulness of such
knowledge and products in specific settings; and
``(C) the provision of technical assistance needed
to adapt, apply, and utilize such knowledge and
products in specific educational settings.
``(8) The term `national education dissemination system'
means the activities carried out by the Office of Reform
Assistance and Dissemination established by section 405C.
``(9) The term `Office' means the Office of Educational
Research and Improvement established in section 209 of the
Department of Education Organization Act.
``(10) The term `national research institute' means an
institute established in section 405B.
``(11) The terms `United States' and `State' include the
District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
``(k) Authorization of Appropriations.--
``(1) National institutes.--
``(A) For the purpose of carrying out section 405B,
there is authorized to be appropriated $37,000,000 for
fiscal year 1994.
``(B) For the purpose of carrying out the
provisions of section 405B relating to the National
Institute for Student Achievement, there are authorized
to be appropriated $20,000,000 for fiscal year 1995,
and such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years
1996 and 1997.
``(C) For the purpose of carrying out the
provisions of section 405B relating to the National
Institute for the Education of At-Risk Students, there
are authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 for
fiscal year 1995, and such sums as are necessary for
each of fiscal years 1996 and 1997.
``(D) For the purpose of carrying out the
provisions of section 405B relating to the National
Institute for Innovation in Educational Governance,
Finance, Policy-Making, and Management, there are
authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 for fiscal
year 1995, and such sums as are necessary for each of
fiscal years 1996 and 1997.
``(E) For the purpose of carrying out the
provisions of section 405B relating to the National
Institute for Early Childhood Development and
Education, there are authorized to be appropriated
$20,000,000 for fiscal year 1995, and such sums as are
necessary for each of fiscal years 1996 and 1997.
``(F) For the purpose of carrying out the
provisions of section 405B relating to the National
Institute of Postsecondary Education, Libraries, and
Lifelong Learning, there are authorized to be
appropriated $20,000,000 for fiscal year 1995, and such
sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 1996 and
1997.
``(2) National education dissemination system.--
``(A)(i) For the purpose of carrying out
subsections (b)(2) through (g) of section 405C, there
are authorized to be appropriated $22,000,000 for
fiscal year 1994, and such sums as are necessary for
each of the fiscal years 1995 through 1997.
``(ii) Of the amount appropriated under clause (i)
for any fiscal year, the Secretary shall make available
not less than $7,175,000 to carry out subsection (f) of
section 405C (relating to clearinghouses).
``(B) For the purpose of carrying out subsection
(h) of section 405C (relating to regional educational
laboratories), there are authorized to be appropriated
$37,000,000 for fiscal year 1994, and such sums as are
necessary for each of the fiscal years 1995 through
1997. Of the amounts appropriated under the preceding
sentence for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall
obligate not less than 25 percent to carry out such
purpose with respect to rural areas (including schools
funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs which are
located in rural areas).
``(C) For the purpose of carrying out subsection
(j) of section 405C (relating to the teacher research
dissemination network) there are authorized to be
appropriated $30,000,000 for fiscal year 1994, and such
sums as are necessary for each of the fiscal years 1995
through 1997.
``(D) For the purpose of carrying out subsection
(i) of section 405C (relating to the Goals 2000
Community Partnerships program), there are authorized
to be appropriated $30,000,000 for fiscal year 1994,
$50,000,000 for fiscal year 1995, and such sums as are
necessary for each of the fiscal years 1996 and 1997.
``(3) National educational research policy and priorities
board.--Of the amounts appropriated under paragraphs (1) and
(2) for any fiscal year, the Secretary shall make available 2
percent of such amounts, or $1,000,000, whichever is less, to
the Board for the purpose of carrying out section 405A.
``(4) Allocations for grants, cooperative agreements, and
contracts.--Of the amounts appropriated under paragraph (1) or
(2) for any fiscal year, not less than 95 percent shall be
expended to carry out the purposes described in such paragraphs
through grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts.
``(5) Limitations on appropriations.--No amounts are
authorized to be appropriated under paragraph (1) or (2) for
fiscal year 1995 or any fiscal year thereafter unless the Board
has been appointed in accordance with section 405A.
``(6) Grant authorized.--From the amounts appropriated
under paragraph (1) for fiscal year 1995, the Secretary is
authorized, in accordance with the provisions of this
paragraph, to award a grant of not more than $5,000,000 to a
public or private institution, agency or organization for a
period not to exceed five years for the purpose of conducting a
State-by-State poll to determine the perceptions of recent
graduates of secondary schools, their instructors in
institutions of higher education, parents of recent such
graduates, and employers of recent such graduates on how well
schools have prepared students for further education or
employment. The grant shall be awarded on a competitive basis
and shall be matched on a two-to-one basis, with the Federal
Government contributing one-third of the total costs of the
poll.''.
SEC. 102. ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH AND IMPROVEMENT.
Subsection (b) of section 202 of the Department of Education
Organization Act is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) by striking subparagraph (E); and
(B) by redesignating subparagraphs (F) and (G) as
subparagraphs (E) and (F), respectively; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(3) There shall be in the Department an Assistant Secretary for
Educational Research and Improvement who shall be--
``(A) appointed by the President, by and with the consent
of the Senate; and
``(B) selected in consultation with the National
Educational Research Policy and Priorities Board from among
individuals who--
``(i) are distinguished educational researchers;
``(ii) have proven management ability; and
``(iii) have substantial knowledge of education
within the United States.''.
SEC. 103. SAVINGS PROVISION.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, contracts for the
regional educational laboratories, education resources information
clearinghouses and research and development centers assisted under
section 405 of the General Education Provisions Act on the date of the
enactment of this Act shall remain in effect until the termination date
of such contracts.
SEC. 104. EXISTING GRANTS AND CONTRACTS.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, grants and contracts
for the research and development centers assisted under section 405 of
the General Education Provisions Act on the date of enactment of this
Act shall remain in effect until the termination date of such grants or
contracts, as the case may be, except that such grants and contracts
may be extended to implement the provisions of this Act.
TITLE II--NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH POLICY AND PRIORITIES BOARD
SEC. 201. ESTABLISHMENT WITHIN OFFICE OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH AND
IMPROVEMENT.
Part A of the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1221e et
seq.) is amended by inserting after section 405 the following new
section:
``national educational research policy and priorities board
``Sec. 405A. (a) In General.--There is established within the
Office a National Educational Research Policy and Priorities Board
(hereafter in this section referred to as the `Board').
``(b) Functions.--It shall be the responsibility of the Board,
acting through the Assistant Secretary--
``(1) to determine priorities that should guide the work of
the Office and provide guidance to the Congress in its
oversight of the Office;
``(2) to review and approve standards for the conduct and
evaluation of all research, development, and dissemination
carried out under the auspices of the Office pursuant to
sections 405 through 405C; and
``(3) to regularly review, evaluate, and publicly comment
upon, the implementation of its recommended priorities and
policies by the Department and the Congress.
``(c) Research Priorities Plan.--In cooperation with the Assistant
Secretary, the Board shall--
``(1) survey and assess the state of knowledge in education
research, development and dissemination to identify disciplines
and areas of inquiry within the priority research, development
and dissemination needs identified in section 405(b)(3) in
which the state of knowledge is insufficient and which warrant
further investigation, taking into account the views of both
education researchers and practicing educators;
``(2) consult with the National Education Goals Panel and
other authorities on education to identify national priorities
for the improvement of education;
``(3) actively solicit recommendations from education
researchers, teachers, school administrators, cultural leaders,
parents, and others throughout the Nation through such means as
periodic regional forums;
``(4) provide recommendations for the development,
maintenance, and assurance of a strong infrastructure for
education, research, and development in the United States; and
``(5) on the basis of such recommendations, develop a
research priorities program which shall recommend priorities
for the investment of the resources of the Office over the next
5-, 10-, and 15-year periods, including as priorities those
areas of inquiry in which further research, development and
dissemination--
``(A) is necessary to attain the goals for the
improvement of education identified in paragraph (2);
``(B) promises to yield the greatest practical
benefits to teachers and other educators in terms of
improving education; and
``(C) will not be undertaken in sufficient scope or
intensity by the other Federal and non-Federal entities
engaged in education research and development.
``(d) Contents of Plan--
``(1) In general.--The research and priorities plan
described in subsection (c) shall, at a minimum--
``(A) set forth specific objectives which can be
expected to be achieved as a result of a Federal
investment in the priorities set forth in the plan;
``(B) include recommendations with respect to
research and development on cross-cutting issues which
should be carried out jointly by 2 or more of the
research institutes; and
``(C) include an evaluative summary of the
educational research and development activities
undertaken by the Federal government during the
preceding 2 fiscal years which shall describe--
``(i) what has been learned as a result of
such activities;
``(ii) how such new knowledge or
understanding extends or otherwise relates to
what had been previously known or understood;
``(iii) the implications of such new
knowledge or understanding for educational
practice and school reform; and
``(iv) any development, reform, and other
assistance activities which have utilized such
knowledge or understanding and the effects of
such efforts.
``(2) Report.--
``(A) Not later than 6 months after the first
meeting of the Board and October 1 of every second year
thereafter, the Assistant Secretary shall publish a
report specifying the proposed research priorities of
the Office and allow a 60-day period beginning on the
date of the publication of the report for public
comment and suggestions.
``(B) Not later than 90 days after the expiration
of the 60-day period referred to in subparagraph (A),
the Assistant Secretary shall submit to the President
and the Congress a report specifying the research
priorities of the Office and any public comment and
suggestions obtained under such subparagraph.
``(e) Additional Responsibilities of the Board.--It shall also be
the responsibility of the Board to--
``(1) provide advice and assistance to the Assistant
Secretary in carrying out the coordination activities described
in section 405;
``(2) make recommendations to the Assistant Secretary of
persons qualified to fulfill the responsibilities of the
Director for each research institute established by section
405B after making special efforts to identify qualified women
and minorities and soliciting and giving due consideration to
recommendations from professional associations and interested
members of the public;
``(3) advise and make recommendations to the President with
respect to individuals who are qualified to fulfill the
responsibilities of the Assistant Secretary for the Office of
Educational Research and Improvement; and
``(4) review and approve standards for the conduct and
evaluation of research developed by the Assistant Secretary
pursuant to subsection (h) of section 405.
``(f) Standing Subcommittees.--
``(1) Establishment; functions.--The Board shall establish
a standing subcommittee for each of the Institutes established
by subsection (a) of section 405B and for the Office of Reform
Assistance and Dissemination established by subsection (b) of
section 405C which shall advise, assist, consult with and make
recommendations to the Assistant Secretary, the Board, the
Director of such entity and the Congress on matters related to
the activities carried out by and through such entities.
``(2) Composition.--
``(A) Each standing subcommittee shall consist of 3
members of the Board and 6 additional individuals
appointed by the Board who have significant experience
in and knowledge of the disciplines relevant to the
purposes of the entity for which the subcommittee is
established.
``(B) The Board shall assure that the membership of
each subcommittee includes both educational researchers
and persons who are knowledgeable about the research,
development and dissemination needs of practitioners,
including classroom teachers, school administrators,
and members of State or local boards of education.
``(g) Powers of the Board.--In carrying out its functions, powers,
and responsibilities, the Board--
``(1) shall, without regard to the provisions of title 5,
United States Code, relating to the appointment and
compensation of officers or employees of the United States,
appoint a director to be paid at a rate not to exceed the rate
of basic pay payable for level V of the Executive Schedule who
shall assist in carrying out and managing the activities of the
Board and perform such other functions the Board determines to
be necessary and appropriate;
``(2) shall hire its own staff through routine government
procedures;
``(3) may arrange for the detail of staff personnel and
utilize the services and facilities of any agency of the
Federal Government;
``(4) may enter into contracts, or make other arrangements
as may be necessary to carry out its functions;
``(5) may review any grant, contract, or cooperative
agreement made or entered into by the Office;
``(6) may, to the extent otherwise permitted by law, obtain
directly from any department or agency of the United States
such information as it deems necessary to carry out its
responsibilities;
``(7) may convene workshops and conferences, collect data,
and establish subcommittees which may be composed of members of
the Board and nonmember consultants (including employees of the
Department) with expertise in the particular area addressed by
such subcommittees; and
``(8) shall establish such rules and procedures to govern
its operations as it considers appropriate, to the extent
otherwise permitted by law.
``(h) Membership in General.--
``(1) Qualifications.--The members of the Board shall be
eminent persons who, by virtue of their training, experience,
and background, are exceptionally qualified to appraise the
educational research and development effort of the Nation and
to establish policies and priorities to govern future Federal
investment in educational research, development, and
dissemination.
``(2) Broad representation.--Due consideration shall be
given to the gender, race, and ethnicity of appointees to
assure that the Board is broadly representative of the
diversity of the Nation.
``(3) Limitation.--A voting member of the Board may not
serve on any other governing or advisory board within the
Department of Education.
``(4) Conflict of interest.--A voting member of the Board
shall be considered a special Government employee for the
purposes of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978.
``(i) Secretarial Appointments.--The Board shall consist of 18
members appointed by the Secretary. Of the members of the Board--
``(1) seven shall be appointed from among researchers in
the field of education who have been nominated by the National
Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Education
(giving due consideration to recommendations made by the
American Educational Research Association), including persons
who are among the leading authorities on early childhood
education and the education of at-risk students;
``(2) five shall be outstanding field-based professional
educators;
``(3) one shall be a Chief State School Officer;
``(4) one shall be a local education agency school
superintendent or principal;
``(5) one shall be a member of a State or local board of
education or Bureau of Indian Affairs-funded school board;
``(6) one shall be a professional librarian, school library
media specialist, library administrator, or library science
educator;
``(7) one shall be a parent with extensive experience in
promoting parental involvement in education; and
``(8) one shall be an individual from business and industry
with significant experience in promoting private sector
involvement in education.
``(j) Requirements for Nominations by the National Academy of
Sciences and the National Academy of Education.--
``(1) In general.--In making nominations for the members of
the Board described in subsection (i)(1), the National Academy
of Sciences and the National Academy of Education--
``(A) may not nominate any individual who is an
elected officer or employee of such organizations; and
``(B) shall each nominate not less than 5
individuals for each of the positions on the Board for
which such organization has responsibility for making
nominations.
``(2) Request for additional nominations.--In the event
that the Secretary determines that none of the individuals
nominated by the National Academy of Sciences or the National
Academy of Education meets the qualifications for membership on
the Board specified in subsection (i), the Secretary may
request that such organization make additional nominations.
``(k) Nominations for Board Membership.--Prior to appointing any
member of the Board, the Secretary shall actively solicit and give due
consideration to recommendations of persons qualified for membership on
the board from the National Education Association, the American
Federation of Teachers, the National Parent-Teachers Association, the
American Library Association, the American Association of School
Administrators, the National Association of State Boards of Education,
the National Indian School Board Association, the Association of
Community Tribal Schools, the National Indian Education Association,
and other education-related organizations and interested members of the
public.
``(l) Ex Officio Members.--The ex officio, nonvoting members of the
Board shall include the Assistant Secretary and may also include--
``(1) the Director of Research for the Department of
Defense;
``(2) the Director of Research for the Department of Labor;
``(3) the Director of the National Science Foundation;
``(4) the Director of the National Institutes of Health;
``(5) the chair of the National Endowment for the Arts;
``(6) the chair of the National Endowment for the
Humanities;
``(7) the Librarian of Congress; and
``(8) the Director of the Office of Indian Education
Programs of the Department of the Interior.
``(m) Chair.--The Board shall select a Chair from among its
appointed members who shall serve for a renewable term of 2 years.
``(n) Terms of Office.--
``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and
(3), the term of office of each voting member of the Board
shall be 5 years.
``(2) Exceptions.--
``(A) Any individual appointed to fill a vacancy
occurring on the Board prior to the expiration of the
term for which the predecessor of the individual was
appointed shall be appointed for the remainder of the
term. A vacancy shall be filled in the same manner in
which the original appointment was made.
``(B) The terms of office of the members of the
Board who first take office after the date of the
enactment of the Educational Research, Development, and
Dissemination Excellence Act shall, as designated by a
random selection process at the time of appointment, be
as follows:
``(i) 2 years for each of 6 members of the
Board.
``(ii) 3 years for each of 6 members of the
Board.
``(iii) 5 years for each of 6 members of
the Board.
``(3) Prohibition on certain consecutive terms.--An
individual who has been a member of the Board for 10
consecutive years shall thereafter be ineligible for
appointment during the 5-year period beginning on the date of
the expiration of the 10th year.
``(o) Meetings of Board.--
``(1) Initial meeting.--The Secretary shall ensure that the
first meeting of the Board is held not later than May 15, 1994.
``(2) Subsequent meetings.--The Board shall meet quarterly,
at the call of the Chair, and when at least one-third of the
members of the Board make a written request to meet.
``(3) Quorum.--A majority of the Board shall constitute a
quorum.
``(4) Open meetings.--The Government in the Sunshine Act (5
U.S.C. 552b) shall apply to meetings of the Board.''.
TITLE III--NATIONAL RESEARCH INSTITUTES
SEC. 301. ESTABLISHMENT WITHIN OFFICE OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH AND
IMPROVEMENT.
Part A of the General Education Provisions Act, as amended by
section 201 of this Act, is amended by inserting after section 405A the
following new section:
``national research institutes
``Sec. 405B. (a) Establishment of Institutes.--In order to fulfill
the research and development purposes of the Office, and to carry out,
in accordance with the standards established by the Board, a program of
high-quality and rigorously evaluated research and development that is
capable of improving Federal, State, Indian tribal, and local education
policies and practices, there are established within the Office the
following institutes:
``(1) The National Institute for the Education of At-Risk
Students.
``(2) The National Institute for Innovation in Educational
Governance, Finance, Policy-Making, and Management.
``(3) The National Institute for Early Childhood
Development and Education.
``(4) The National Institute on Student Achievement.
``(5) The National Institute on Postsecondary Education,
Libraries, and Lifelong Education.
``(b) Directors.--
``(1) In general.--Each Institute established by subsection
(a) shall be headed by a Director who shall be appointed by the
Assistant Secretary from among persons who have significant
experience and expertise in the disciplines relevant to the
purposes of such Institute. Prior to making such appointment,
the Assistant Secretary shall solicit and give due
consideration to recommendations made by the Board of persons
qualfied to fulfill the position.
``(2) Term of office.--The Director of each Institute shall
serve for a renewable term of 3 years.
``(3) Reporting.--Each Director shall report directly to
the Assistant Secretary regarding the activities of the
Institute and shall work with the other directors to promote
research syntheses across the Institutes.
``(c) Authorities and Duties.--
``(1) In general.--The Assistant Secretary is authorized to
conduct research, development, demonstration, and evaluation
activities to carry out the purposes for which such Institute
was established--
``(A) directly;
``(B) through grants, contracts, and cooperative
agreements with institutions of higher education,
regional educational laboratories, public and private
organizations, institutions, agencies, and individuals,
which may include--
``(i) grants to support research and
development centers which are--
``(I) awarded competitively for a
period of not less than 6 and not more
than 10 years;
``(II) funded at not less than
$2,000,000 annually in order to support
a full range of basic research, applied
research and dissemination activities,
which may also include development
activities; and
``(III) established by institutions
of higher education, by institutions of
higher education in consortium with
public agencies or private nonprofit
organizations, or by interstate
agencies established by compact which
operate subsidiary bodies established
to conduct postsecondary educational
research and development;
``(ii) public-private research partnerships
established by a State or local education
agency, Bureau of Indian Affairs-funded school,
or tribal department of education, in concert
with a private organization and a team of
educational researchers, for which the Federal
share shall be limited to not more than 50
percent of the total costs of the project;
``(iii) meritorious unsolicited proposals
for educational research and related
activities;
``(iv) proposals that are specifically
invited or requested by the Assistant
Secretary, on a competitive basis; and
``(v) dissertation grants, awarded for a
period of not more than 2 years and in a total
amount not to exceed $20,000 to graduate
students in the sciences, humanities, and the
arts to support research by such scholars in
the field of education;
``(C) through the provision of technical
assistance; and
``(D) through the award of fellowships to support
graduate study in educational research by qualified
African-American, Hispanic, American Indian and Alaska
Native, and other individuals from groups which have
been traditionally underrepresented in the field of
educational research which shall--
``(i) be awarded on the basis of merit for
a period of 3 years; and
``(ii) provide stipends to each fellow in
an amount which shall be set at a level of
support comparable to that provided by the
National Science Foundation Graduate
Fellowships, except that such amounts shall be
adjusted as necessary so as not to exceed each
fellow's demonstrated level of need.
``(2) Scope and focus of activities.--In carrying out the
purposes for which each Institute is established, the Assistant
Secretary shall--
``(A) maintain an appropriate balance between
applied and basic research;
``(B) significantly expand the role of field-
initiated research in meeting the Nation's education
research and development needs by reserving not less
than 15 percent of the amounts available to each
Institute in any fiscal year to support field-initiated
research described in clauses (iii) through (v) of
paragraph (1);
``(C) provide for and maintain a stable foundation
of long-term research and development on core issues
and concerns conducted through university-based
research and development centers by reserving not less
than one-third of the amounts available to each
Institute in any fiscal year to support such research
and development centers;
``(D) support and provide research information that
leads to policy formation for State legislatures, State
and local boards of education and other policy and
governing bodies, to assist such entities in
identifying and developing effective policies to
promote student achievement and school improvement; and
``(E) coordinate the Institute's activities with
the activities of the regional educational laboratories
and with other educational service organizations in
designing the Institute's research agenda and projects
in order to increase the responsiveness of such
Institute to the needs of teachers and the educational
field and to bring research findings directly into
schools to ensure greatest access at the local level to
the latest research developments.
``(3) Requirements regarding financial assistance.--No
grant, contract, or cooperative agreement may be made under
this section unless--
``(A) sufficient notice of the availability of, and
opportunity to compete for, assistance has first been
provided to potential applicants through notice
published in the Federal Register or other appropriate
means;
``(B) it has been evaluated through peer review in
accordance with the standards developed pursuant to
subsection (h) of section 405;
``(C) it will be evaluated in accordance with the
standards developed pursuant to subsection (h) of
section 405;
``(D) in the case of a grant, contract, or
cooperative agreement which exceeds $500,000 for a
single fiscal year or $1,000,000 for more than one
fiscal year, the Secretary has complied with the
requirements of paragraph (4); and
``(E) in the case of a grant, contract, or
cooperative agreement to support a research and
development center, all applications for such
assistance have been evaluated by independent experts
according to standards and criteria which include--
``(i) whether applicants have assembled a
critical mass of high quality researchers
sufficient to achieve the mission of the
center;
``(ii) whether the proposed organizational
structure and arrangements will facilitate
achievement of the mission of the center;
``(iii) whether there is a substantial
staff commitment to the work of the center;
``(iv) whether the directors and staff will
devote adequate time to center activities; and
``(v) review of the contributions of
primary researchers (other than researchers at
the proposed center) to evaluate the
appropriateness of such primary researcher's
experiences and expertise in the context of the
proposed center activities, and the adequacy of
such primary researcher's time commitment to
achievement of the mission of the center.
``(4) Board review of certain proposed grant and contract
actions.--The Assistant Secretary may not solicit any contract
bid or issue a request for proposals or applications for any
grant or cooperative agreement the amount of which exceeds
$500,000 in any single fiscal year or which exceeds an
aggregate amount of $1,000,000 for more than one fiscal year
unless the Board has had an opportunity to review such proposed
grant, contract, or cooperative agreement action and to provide
written comments to the Assistant Secretary with respect to
whether--
``(A) the purposes and scope of the proposed action
are consistent with the Research Priorities Plan; and
``(B) the methodology and approach of the proposed
action are sound and adequate to achieve its stated
objectives.
``(5) Historically underutilized researchers and
institutions.--The Assistant Secretary shall establish and
maintain initiatives and programs to increase the participation
in the activities of each Institute of groups of researchers
and institutions that have been historically underutilized in
Federal educational research activities, including--
``(A) researchers who are women, African-American,
Hispanic, American Indian and Alaska Native, or other
ethnic minorities;
``(B) promising young or new researchers in the
field, such as postdoctoral students and recently
appointed assistant or associate professors;
``(C) historically black colleges and universities,
tribally controlled community colleges, and other
institutions of higher education with large numbers of
minority students;
``(D) institutions of higher education located in
rural areas; and
``(E) institutions and researchers located in
States and regions of the Nation which have
historically received the least Federal support for
educational research and development.
``(6) Additional authorities.--The Assistant Secretary--
``(A) may obtain (in accordance with section 3109
of title 5 but without regard to the limitation in such
section on the period of service) the services of
experts or consultants with scientific or professional
qualifications in the disciplines relevant to the
purposes of such Institute;
``(B) may use, with their consent, the services,
equipment, personnel, information, and facilities of
other Federal, State, or local public agencies, with or
without reimbursement therefor;
``(C) may accept voluntary and uncompensated
services; and
``(D) may accept unconditional gifts made to the
Office to support its activities.
``(d) National Institute for the Education of At-Risk Students.--
``(1) Findings.--The Congress finds as follows:
``(A) The rate of decline in our urban schools is
escalating at a rapid pace. Student performance in most
inner city schools grows worse each year. At least half
of all students entering ninth grade fail to graduate 4
years later and many more students from high-poverty
backgrounds leave school with skills that are
inadequate for today's workplace. In 1988 the average
National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)
reading score of white 17 year-olds was approximately
20 points higher than that of African-American 17 year-
olds and 25 points higher than that of Hispanic 17
year-olds. None of the existing Federal educational
research and development programs are adequately
addressing this obvious emergency.
``(B) Rural schools enroll a disproportionately
large share of the Nation's poor and at-risk students
and yet often lack the means to address effectively the
needs of these children. Intensive efforts must be made
to overcome the problems of geographic isolation,
declining population, inadequate financial resources
and other impediments to the educational success of
children residing in rural areas.
``(C) By the year 2000, an estimated 3.4 million
school age children with limited English language
proficiency will be entering the school system. The
Federal Government must develop effective policies and
programs to address the educational needs of this
growing population of children who are at increased
risk for educational failure.
``(D) An educational emergency exists in those
urban and rural areas where there are large
concentrations of children who live in poverty. The
numbers of educationally disadvantaged children will
substantially increase by the year 2020, when the
number of impoverished children alone will be 16.5
million, a 33 percent increase over the 12.4 million
children in poverty in 1987.
``(E) American Indian and Alaska Native students
are keenly at-risk of educational failure, with
demonstrated high dropout, illiteracy and poverty
rates, and cultural, linguistic, social and geographic
isolation. The estimated 400,000 Indian and Alaska
Native student population from over 500 Indian and
Alaska Native tribes, is small and scattered throughout
remote reservations and villages in 32 States, and in
off-reservation rural and urban communities where
Indians constitute but a small percentage of public
school student bodies. To meaningfully address the
special educational needs of this historically under-
served population, the existing research and
development system must be opened to Indian and Alaska
Native people to identify needs and design ways to
address such needs.
``(F) Minority scholars as well as institutions and
groups that have been historically committed to the
improvement of the education of at-risk students need
to be more fully mobilized in the effort to develop a
new generation of programs, models, practices, and
schools capable of responding to the urgent needs of
students who are educationally at-risk.
``(2) Purpose.--It shall be the purpose of the Institute
for the Education of At-Risk Students to carry out a
coordinated and comprehensive program of research and
development to provide nonpartisan, research-based leadership
to the Nation as it seeks to improve educational opportunities
for students who are at-risk for educational failure,
particularly children who reside in inner city and rural areas,
and on Indian reservations, and children of limited English
proficiency. Such program shall--
``(A) undertake research necessary to provide a
sound basis from which to identify, develop, evaluate,
and assist others to replicate and adapt interventions,
programs, and models which promote greater achievement
and educational success by at-risk students, such as--
``(i) methods of instruction and
educational practices (including community
services) which improve the achievement and
retention of at-risk students;
``(ii) means by which parents and community
resources and institutions (including cultural
institutions) can be utilized to support and
improve the achievement of at-risk students;
``(iii) the training of teachers and other
educational professionals and paraprofessionals
to work more effectively with at-risk students;
``(iv) the most effective uses of
technology in the education of at-risk
students;
``(v) programs designed to promote gender
equity in schools that serve at-risk students;
and
``(vi) methods of assessing the achievement
of students which are sensitive to cultural
differences, provide multiple methods of
assessing student learning, support student
acquisition of higher order capabilities, and
enable identification of the effects of
inequalities in the resources available to
support the learning of children throughout the
Nation; and
``(B) maximize the participation of those schools
and institutions of higher education that serve the
greatest number of at-risk students in inner city and
rural areas, and on Indian reservations, including
model collaborative programs between schools and school
systems, institutions of higher education, cultural
institutions, and community organizations.
``(3) Comprehensive research program.--The Institute shall
support a diverse and comprehensive program of research and
development which shall include research related to the
educational needs of--
``(A) at-risk students who reside in urban areas;
``(B) at-risk students who reside in rural areas;
``(C) children with limited English language
proficiency; and
``(D) Indian and Alaska Native students.
``(4) Consultation with indian and alaska native
educators.--All research and development activities supported
by the Institute which relate to the education of Indian and
Alaska Native students shall be developed in close consultation
with Indian and Alaska Native researchers and educators,
tribally controlled community colleges, tribal departments of
education, and others with expertise in the needs of Indian and
Native Alaska students.
``(e) National Institute for Innovation in Educational Governance,
Finance, Policy-Making, and Management.--
``(1) Findings.--The Congress finds as follows:
``(A) Many elementary and secondary schools in the
United States--
``(i) are structured according to models
that are ineffective and rely on notions of
management and governance that may be outdated
or insufficient for the challenges of the next
century; and
``(ii) are unsuccessful in equipping all
students with the knowledge and skills needed
to succeed as citizens and in the working
world.
``(B) New approaches are needed in the governance
and management of elementary and secondary education
with the United States at the State, local, school
building and classroom level.
``(C) Not enough is known about the effects of
various systems of school governance and management on
student achievement to provide sound guidance to
policymakers as they pursue school restructuring and
reform.
``(D) A concentrated Federal effort is needed to
support research, development, demonstration, and
evaluation of approaches to school governance, finance
and management which promise to improve education
equity and excellence throughout the Nation.
``(2) Purpose.--It shall be the purpose of the National
Institute on Innovation in Educational Governance, Finance,
Policy-Making, and Management to carry out a coordinated and
comprehensive program of research and development to provide
nonpartisan, research-based leadership to the Nation as it
seeks to improve student achievement through school
restructuring and reform. Such program shall--
``(A) undertake research necessary to provide a
sound basis from which to identify, develop and
evaluate approaches in governance, finance, policy-
making, and management at the State, local, tribal,
school building and classroom level which promise to
improve educational equity and excellence, such as--
``(i) open enrollment programs, magnet
schools and other systems through which parents
may select the public schools and educational
programs in which their children are enrolled;
``(ii) innovative school design, including
lengthening the school day and the school year,
reducing class size and building professional
development into the weekly school schedule;
``(iii) effective approaches to organizing
learning;
``(iv) effective ways of grouping students
for learning so that a student is not labeled
or stigmatized in ways that may impede such
student's achievement;
``(v) effective approaches to organizing,
structuring, and financing vocational
education;
``(vi) the provision of financial and other
rewards and incentives based on performance to
improve student achievement;
``(vii) the use of regulatory flexibility
on the State or district level to promote
innovation and school restructuring;
``(viii) school-based management;
``(ix) the restructuring of school finance
systems at the State and local level to promote
greater equity in the distribution of resources
for education and to maximize the allocation of
such resources to support direct learning;
``(x) expanding the role of teachers in
policymaking and administration at the school
and district-wide level;
``(xi) programs designed to increase the
involvement of parents and families in the
management and governance of schools and the
education of their children;
``(xii) effective approaches to increasing
the representation of women and minorities
among leadership and management positions in
education;
``(xiii) approaches to systemic reforms
involving the coordination of multiple policies
of each level of government to promote higher
levels of student achievement;
``(xiv) approaches to coordinated services
for children; and
``(xv) policies related to school to work
transitions and preparing noncollege-bound
students; and
``(B) undertake research and development activities
necessary to provide information on the skills required
for successful educational leadership at the State,
tribal, and local level and to enhance the ability of
school leaders and administrators to improve the
educational environment for all students.
``(3) Research on educational choice.--In carrying out the
duties of the Institute, the Assistant Secretary shall conduct
or support research on whether and to what extent the quality
of education in the United States would be improved by
providing public funds to parents for the costs of attendance
of their children at the elementary and secondary schools of
the parents' choice.
``(f) National Institute for Early Childhood Development and
Education.--
``(1) Findings.--The Congress finds as follows:
``(A) The Nation has set as a goal that all
children should arrive at school ready to learn.
``(B) Despite efforts to expand and improve
preschool programs, many children still reach school
age unprepared to benefit from formal education
programs.
``(C) Early intervention for disadvantaged children
from conception to age five has been shown to be a
highly cost-effective strategy for reducing later
expenditures on a wide variety of health,
developmental, and educational problems that often
interfere with learning. Long-term studies of the
benefits of preschool education have a demonstrated
return on investment ranging from three to six dollars
for every one dollar spent.
``(D) The Federal government should play a central
role in providing research-based information on early
childhood education models which enhance children's
development and ultimately their success in school.
``(2) Purpose.--The purpose of the National Institute for
Early Childhood Development and Education is to carry out a
comprehensive program of research and development to provide
nonpartisan, research-based leadership to the Nation as it
seeks to improve early childhood development and education.
Such program shall identify, develop, evaluate, and assist
others to replicate sound policies and practices that may
include--
``(A) social and educational development of all
infants, toddlers, and preschool children;
``(B) the role of parents and the community in
promoting the successful social and educational
development of children from birth to age five;
``(C) training and preparation of teachers and
other professional and paraprofessional preschool and
child care workers;
``(D) the structure and environment of early
childhood education and child care settings which lead
to improved social and educational development;
``(E) practices and approaches which sustain the
benefits of effective preschool and child care
programs;
``(F) effective learning methods and curriculum for
early childhood learning, including access to current
materials in libraries;
``(G) the importance of family literacy and
parental involvement in student learning;
``(H) the impact that outside influences have on
learning, including television, and drug and alcohol
abuse; and
``(I) methods for integrating learning in settings
other than the classroom, such as within families and
communities, with a special emphasis on character
development and the value of hard work.
``(3) Certain requirements.--In carrying out the activities
of the Institute, the Assistant Secretary shall--
``(A) place special emphasis on the special early
childhood education needs of at-risk children, children
with disabilities, and girls; and
``(B) ensure that its research and development
program provides information that can be utilized in
improving the major Federal early childhood education
programs, including Head Start, Even Start, chapter 1
preschool programs, and part H of the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act, and Bureau of Indian
Affairs early childhood development programs.
``(g) National Institute on Student Achievement.--
``(1) Findings.--The Congress finds as follows:
``(A) The current achievement levels of students in
the Nation are far below those that might indicate
competency in challenging subject matter in English,
mathematics, science, history, and geography and other
areas, or across the subject areas.
``(B) Very few students demonstrate that they can
use their minds well. In recent assessments, more
students are gaining basic skills, yet fewer are
demonstrating a grasp of higher-level applications of
those skills.
``(C) During the past 20 years, relatively little
has changed in how students are taught. Despite much
research suggesting better alternatives, classrooms are
still dominated by textbooks, teacher lectures, and
short-answer activity sheets and unequal patterns of
student attention.
``(D) Despite progress in narrowing the gaps, the
differences in performance between white students and
their minority counterparts remain unacceptably large.
While progress has been made in reducing the gender gap
in mathematics, it still remains at higher levels of
problem solving. Too little progress has been made in
reducing gender performance gaps favoring males in
science and females in writing.
``(2) Purpose.--The purpose of the National Institute on
Student Achievement is to carry out a coordinated and
comprehensive program of research and development to provide
research-based leadership to the Nation as it seeks to improve
student achievement in English, mathematics, science, history,
geography, and other subject areas and across the boundaries of
the subject areas. Such program shall--
``(A) identify, develop, and evaluate innovative
and exemplary methods to improve student knowledge at
all levels in English, mathematics, science, history,
geography, civics and government, foreign languages,
arts and humanities, economics, and other subject
areas, such as--
``(i) student learning and assessment in
various subject matters;
``(ii) the effects of organizational
patterns on the delivery of instruction,
including issues of grouping and tracking,
ungraded classrooms, and on the effects of
various pedagogies, including the issues of
technology in education;
``(iii) the best methods of teacher
preparation;
``(iv) methods to improve the process of
reading, the craft of writing, the growth of
reasoning skills, and the development of
information-finding skills;
``(v) enabling students to develop higher
order thinking skills;
``(vi) methods to teach effectively all
students in mixed-ability classrooms;
``(vii) curriculum, instruction, and
assessment, in vocational education;
``(viii) the impact and effectiveness of
Federal, State, and local efforts to provide
gender-fair educational opportunities to
elementary and secondary students; and
``(ix) programs, policies, approaches which
promote gender equity in elementary and
secondary education;
``(B) conduct basic and applied research in the
areas of human learning, cognition, and performance,
including research and development on the education
contexts which promote excellence in learning and
instruction, and motivational issues which provide a
key to learning;
``(C) identify, develop, and evaluate programs
designed to enhance academic achievement and narrow
racial and gender performance gaps in a variety of
subject areas, including research and development on
methods of involving parents in their children's
education and ways to involve business, industry and
other community partners in promoting excellence in
schools; and
``(D) include a comprehensive, coordinated program
of research and development in the area of assessment
which--
``(i) addresses such issues as--
``(I) the validity, reliability,
generalizability, fairness, costs,
relative merits, and most appropriate
uses of various approaches and methods
of assessing student learning and
achievement;
``(II) methods and approaches to
assessing student opportunities to
learn (including the quality of
instruction and the availability of
resources necessary to support
learning) and evaluating the quality of
school environment;
``(III) the design, development,
evaluation, and validation of model
performance-based and other alternative
or innovative formats or uses of
assessments;
``(IV) the impact of high-stakes
uses of assessment on student
performance and motivation, narrowing
of curriculum, teaching practices, and
test integrity;
``(V) the fairness and impact of
various methods of assessment on
children of different races,
ethnicities, gender, socioeconomic
status, English language proficiencies,
and children with other special needs;
``(VI) standards of performance,
quality, and validity for various
methods of assessment and the means by
which such standards should be
developed;
``(VII) current and emerging
testing practices of State and local
education agencies within the United
States, as well as other nations;
``(VIII) the diverse effects, both
intended and unintended, of assessments
as actually used in the schools,
including effects on curriculum and
instruction, effects on equity in the
allocation of resources and
opportunities, effects on equity of
outcomes, effects on other procedures
and standards for judging students and
practitioners and possible inflation of
test scores;
``(IX) identifying and evaluating
how students with limited English
language proficiency and students with
disabilities are included and
accommodated in the various assessment
programs of State and local education
agencies; and
``(X) the feasibility and validity
of comparing or equating the results of
different assessments;
``(ii) reflects recommendations made by the
National Education Goals Panel (provided such
panel has been authorized by law);
``(iii) complies with the `Standards for
Educational and Psychological Tests' developed
by the American Psychological Association, the
National Council on Measurement in Education,
and the American Educational Research
Association;
``(iv) is consistent with the `Criteria for
Evaluation of Student Assessment Systems'
developed by the National Forum on Assessment;
and
``(v) complies with the `Code of Fair
Testing Practices in Education' developed by
the Joint Committee on Testing Practices.
For purposes of this subparagraph, the term `development' means
the development of prototypes for the purposes of research and
evaluation.
``(h) National Institute for Postsecondary Education, Libraries,
and Lifelong Learning.--
``(1) Findings.--The Congress finds as follows:
``(A) The American system of postsecondary
education is foremost in the world in its achievement
of both academic excellence and equity in access, but
maintaining that preeminence requires renewed efforts
to strengthen the quality of postsecondary education.
Disappointing student performance on achievement tests
and licensure examinations, declining rates of
persistence and completion among minorities, and other
troubling trends in the quality of postsecondary
education must be addressed by the Nation as part of
its overall drive to improve American education.
``(B) The need to improve our Nation's economic
productivity to meet the competitive challenges of a
new, international economy, coupled with high levels of
mobility in the United States labor market and
demographic changes in the workforce, now demands more
and higher quality programs of learning and training in
the American workplace.
``(C) The more than 1,000,000 men and women
incarcerated in the Nation's prisons and jails are
among the most severely educationally disadvantaged in
the United States, with high rates of functional
illiteracy and extremely low levels of educational
attainment. Since an estimated 90 percent of these
individuals are expected to be released by the end of
the decade, the Nation must act to assure that our
correctional system has the means to equip these
Americans with the knowledge and skills they will need
to participate productively in our society.
``(D) The development of a `Nation of Students'
capable of and committed to the pursuit of formal and
informal lifelong learning is essential to sustain both
national and individual economic success and to provide
a nurturing environment in which all children and youth
can learn and achieve. Historically the most effective
community resource for lifelong learning, the Nation's
public library system must expand and restructure its
delivery of services to take full advantage of the
potential of new information technologies to meet the
needs of learning communities.
``(2) Purpose.--The purpose of the National Institute for
Postsecondary Education, Libraries, and Lifelong Learning is to
promote greater coordination of Federal research and
development on issues related to adult learning and to carry
out a program of research and development in adult learning to
provide nonpartisan, research-based leadership to the Nation as
it seeks to improve libraries, postsecondary education, and
lifelong learning throughout the United States. Such program--
``(A) shall promote greater coordination,
cooperation, and interaction among entities within the
Federal Government which support research and
development related to postsecondary education,
libraries, and lifelong learning;
``(B) shall enable greater collaboration among
entities within the Federal Government which support
research and development related to postsecondary
education, libraries, and lifelong learning by
supporting research and development projects which are
carried out jointly by such entities;
``(C) shall support research and development in
those areas of postsecondary education, libraries, and
lifelong learning which are not being addressed
sufficiently by other entities within the Federal
Government;
``(D) may include basic and applied research,
development, replication, and evaluation activities in
such areas as--
``(i) methods of assessing and evaluating
individual, program, and institutional
performance;
``(ii) the uses and applications of new
technologies to improve program effectiveness
and enhance student learning;
``(iii) practices, policies, and programs
which address the unique needs of adult
learners, including--
``(I) institutional and classroom
policies and practices at the
postsecondary level necessary to
improve matriculation, persistence,
achievement and graduation by students
who are economically disadvantaged,
ethnic and racial minorities, women,
older, working, and who have children;
``(II) instructional practices and
programs which are effective in
correctional settings;
``(III) new models of service
delivery for public library systems
which expand opportunities for lifelong
learning;
``(IV) effective programs and
approaches which promote greater access
to and success by minorities in
postsecondary programs which prepare
them for scientific, technical,
teaching, and health career fields;
``(V) effective approaches to work-
based learning; and
``(VI) the most effective training
methods for adults to upgrade education
and vocational skills;
``(iv) the effectiveness of Historically
Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally-
Controlled Indian Community Colleges, women's
colleges, and other special mission
institutions in fulfilling their mission of
providing access and equal opportunity in
higher education;
``(v) the quality of higher education at
all levels and the roles and responsibilities
of regional and national accrediting agencies
in assuring the quality and relevance of
academic goals and objectives established by
institutions of higher education;
``(vi) approaches to improving the
productivity of colleges, community colleges,
universities, and other postsecondary
institutions;
``(vii) financial barriers to postsecondary
educational opportunity, including--
``(I) the role of Federal programs
authorized under title IV of the Higher
Education Act and State grant and work
programs in mitigating such barriers;
``(II) the impact of the rising
total cost of postsecondary education
on access to higher education; and
``(III) the extent and impact of
student reliance on loans to meet the
costs of higher education;
``(viii) opportunities for adults to
continue their education beyond higher
education and graduate school, in the context
of lifelong learning and information-finding
skills; and
``(ix) preparing students for a lifetime of
work, the ability to adapt through retraining
to the changing needs of the work force and the
ability to learn new tasks.
``(3) Involvement of certain agencies and organizations.--
In promoting coordination and collaboration on research and
development on issues related to postsecondary education,
libraries, and lifelong learning, the Institute shall, as
appropriate, seek the involvement of--
``(A) within the Department of Education--
``(i) the Office of Library Programs;
``(ii) the Office of Correctional
Education;
``(iii) the Office of Vocational and Adult
Education;
``(iv) the National Institute on Disability
and Rehabilitation Research; and
``(v) the Office of Postsecondary
Education;
``(B) the National Institute for Literacy;
``(C) the National Board for Professional Teaching
Standards;
``(D) the Employment and Training Administration of
the Department of Labor;
``(E) the Administration for Children and Families
within the Department of Health and Human Services;
``(F) the National Institutes of Health;
``(G) the National Endowment for Humanities;
``(H) the National Endowment for the Arts;
``(I) the Bureau of Prisons of the Department of
Justice;
``(J) the Department of Commerce;
``(K) the Department of Defense; and
``(L) the Office of Indian Education Programs of
the Department of the Interior.
``(4) In addition to the responsibilities described in
paragraph (2), the Assistant Secretary shall ensure that the
activities of the existing National Center on Literacy are
fully coordinated with those of the National Institute for
Literacy.
``(i) Coordination of Research on Cross-Cutting Issues.--The
Assistant Secretary shall promote the coordination of research and
development activities among the Institutes established by subsection
(a) to investigate those cross-cutting disciplines and areas of
inquiry, such as assessment, the use of technology and the training of
teachers and school administrators, which are relevant to the missions
of more than one of the Institutes. Such activities shall--
``(1) address cross-cutting disciplines and areas of
inquiry which have been proposed by the Assistant Secretary and
are consistent with the research priorities identified by the
Board;
``(2) be carried out jointly (1) by any one of the
Institutes and--
``(A) one (or more) of the Institutes;
``(B) the National Center for Education Statistics;
or
``(C) any research and development entity
administered by other offices of the Department of
Education or by any other Federal agency or Department;
and
``(3) meet all the standards set by the Assistant Secretary
and the Board for other research and development conducted by
the Office.
``(j) Program on Teaching and Teacher Education.--
``(1) In general.--The Assistant Secretary, in accordance
with the requirements of this subsection, shall undertake a
comprehensive, coordinated program of research in the area of
teaching, teacher education, and professional development.
``(2) Certain purposes of program.--In carrying out the
program established under paragraph (1), the Assistant
Secretary shall conduct, directly or through grants and
contracts, basic and applied research and analytical activities
to further knowledge about, make recommendations, and improve--
``(A) the ability of classroom teachers and schools
to assist new and diverse populations of students in
successfully assimilating into the classroom
environment;
``(B) the working conditions of teachers and other
educational practitioners, which may include such
topics as--
``(i) teacher isolation;
``(ii) professional resources available to
teachers;
``(iii) continuing educational and
professional opportunities available to
teachers;
``(iv) physical facilities and equipment,
such as office space, telephone, computer
access, and fax machines and television cable
access available to teachers in the work
environment;
``(v) opportunities for teachers to share
information and resources with other teachers
and education professionals;
``(vi) opportunities for advanced learning
experience; and
``(vii) the reduction of stress in the
teaching profession;
``(C) institutional program renewal and
instruction;
``(D) restructuring of State certification of
teachers and teacher education standards; and
``(E) assisting in the development of teacher
certification standards by Indian tribal departments of
education.
``(3) Certain activities.--In carrying out the program
established under paragraph (1), the Assistant Secretary--
``(A) shall work with institutions of higher
education engaged in the preparation of teachers and
professional organizations of teacher educators and
practitioners to encourage institutional program
renewal and restructuring;
``(B) may conduct, directly or through grants and
contracts research on--
``(i) effective and reflective teaching for
the preparation and continuing education of
teachers;
``(ii) the use of computing and multi-made
technology to advance the understanding and
abilities of teacher educators and classroom
teachers;
``(iii) the development and appraisal of
curriculum and curriculum materials for the
initial and continuing education of teachers
and teacher educators; and
``(iv) strengthening the evaluation and
dissemination of information on programs for
continuing professional education and renewal
of those who educate teachers for initial or
advanced licensure or certification; and
``(C) shall work with the national regional
education laboratories, the ERIC clearinghouses,
national education research library, and the National
Center for Education Statistics to maximize information
available, to prevent unnecessary duplication of
efforts and resources, and to ensure the results of the
centers work are widely available.
``(k) Research on Educational Technology.--The Assistant Secretary
shall undertake a comprehensive, coordinated program of research and
development in the area of the uses and applications of technology in
education. Such program--
``(1) may support basic and applied research and
development, analysis, evaluation in the area of the uses and
applications of technology to education, including--
``(A) the capabilities of current and emerging
technologies and their possible uses in education;
``(B) the uses and applications of technology--
``(i) to improve instruction within all
content areas in the school curriculum;
``(ii) to educate more effectively at-risk
students and other students with special needs;
``(iii) to improve education in rural
communities and other remote areas;
``(iv) to improve the assessment of student
learning and achievement;
``(v) to deliver preservice and inservice
training for teachers, librarians, and school
administrators; and
``(vi) to deliver and improve professional
development and continuing education programs;
``(C) the cost and educational effectiveness of
technologies used in education;
``(D) effective models and approaches for providing
the preservice and inservice training and technical
assistance necessary to enable teachers, librarians,
and school administrators, cultural organizations, and
others to use technology effectively in education;
``(E) the identification of barriers to greater use
of technologies in education and potential approaches
to eradicating or mitigating such barriers;
``(F) methods and approaches which can be utilized
by teachers, school administrators, and education
policymakers, and educational programs in cultural
institutions to evaluate the quality and most
appropriate uses of software and other technologies
designed for use in education; and
``(G) approaches to organizing and managing schools
and classrooms to make the most effective use of
technology in education; and
``(2) shall be coordinated with related research and
development activities undertaken by the Office of Special
Education Programs, the National Science Foundation, the
Department of Defense, and other Federal agencies.
``(l) Transitional Provisions.--
``(1) Temporary reorganizations.--Upon the enactment of the
Educational Research, Development and Dissemination Excellence
Act, the Secretary shall reorganize the research and
development functions and activities of the Office into
administrative units the purposes of which shall be the same as
those for each of the national research institutes established
in subsection (a). Such administrative units shall be
responsible for planning and providing for the establishment of
such institutes and shall cease to exist on the dates upon
which each of the relevant institutes is established. The
provisions of subsection (c) (relating to authorities and
duties) shall apply to all activities undertaken by each such
administrative unit.
``(2) Dates for establishment of institutes.--The National
Institute for the Education of At-Risk Students, the National
Institute for Innovation in Educational Governance, Finance,
Policy-Making, and Management, the National Institute for Early
Childhood Development and Education, the National Institute on
Student Achievement, and the National Institute on
Postsecondary Education, Libraries, and Lifelong Learning shall
each be established effective October 1, 1994.''.
TITLE IV--NATIONAL EDUCATION DISSEMINATION SYSTEM
SEC. 401. ESTABLISHMENT WITHIN OFFICE OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH AND
IMPROVEMENT.
Part A of the General Education Provisions Act, as amended by
section 301 of this Act, is amended by inserting after section 405B the
following new section:
``national education dissemination system
``Sec. 405C. (a) In General.--
``(1) Findings.--The Congress finds as follows:
``(A) In order to improve the American educational
system for all students, achieve the national education
goals, and provide for greater educational equity,
policymakers, administrators, teachers, and parents
must have ready access to the best information and
methods available as a result of educational research
and development.
``(B) The Office of Educational Research and
Improvement should have as one of its primary purposes
the dissemination of such information and methods in
order to assist the national education reform effort.
``(C) All current resources within the Office, the
Department, and other agencies that can help accomplish
this goal should be coordinated by the Assistant
Secretary so as to form a systematic process to
accomplish these objectives.
``(D) Education research has the capacity to
improve teaching and learning in our Nation's schools,
however, teachers need training in the developmental
skills necessary to translate research into practice
and to allow them to become a cadre of knowledgeable
practitioners and leaders in educational improvement.
``(E) Adequate linkages between research and
development providers and practitioners are essential
to ensuring that research on effective practice is
useful, disseminated and supported with technical
assistance to all educators, and that all educators are
partners in the research and development process.
``(2) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to--
``(A) create a national system of dissemination,
development, and educational improvement in order to
create, adapt, identify, validate, and disseminate to
educators, parents, and policymakers those educational
programs that have potential or have been shown to
improve educational opportunities for all students; and
``(B) empower and increase the capacity of teachers
to participate in the research and development process.
``(3) Definition of educational program.--For the purposes
of this section, the term `educational program' includes
educational policies, research findings, practices, and
products.
``(b) Establishment of Office.--
``(1) In general.--There is established within the Office
an Office of Reform Assistance and Dissemination (in this
section referred to as the `Dissemination Office') through
which the Secretary shall carry out all functions and
activities described in this section.
``(2) Certain duties.--The Dissemination Office shall--
``(A) identify educational programs that may merit
being designated as exemplary or promising educational
programs;
``(B) based solely on the educational merits and
promise of such programs, select those to be designated
as exemplary or promising;
``(C) provide technical and financial assistance to
individuals and organizations in the process of
developing promising educational programs in the
priority areas identified in section 405(b)(3), but who
might not, without such assistance, be able to complete
necessary development and assessment activities;
``(D) nationally disseminate information regarding
the exemplary and promising programs to educators,
parents, and policymakers through a variety of means,
including existing Department activities, education
associations and networks, and communication
technologies;
``(E) provide training and technical assistance
regarding the implementation and adoption of such
exemplary and promising programs by interested
entities; and
``(F) carry out a program of research on models for
successful knowledge dissemination, and utilization,
and strategies for reaching education policymakers,
practitioners, and others interested in education.
``(3) Additional duties.--The Dissemination Office shall
carry out and contain the following functions and activities:
``(A) A process for the identification of
educational programs that work.
``(B) The educational resources information
clearinghouses.
``(C) Dissemination through new technologies.
``(D) Smartline.
``(E) The regional educational laboratories.
``(F) Teacher Research Dissemination Network.
``(G) The Goals 2000 Community Partnerships
Program.
``(H) The existing National Diffusion Network and
its Developer-Demonstrator and State Facilitator
projects.
``(I) Such other programs or entities the Secretary
determines are consistent with the purposes for which
the Dissemination Office is established.
``(c) Identification of Programs.--
``(1) In general.--The Assistant Secretary shall establish
a process through which successful educational programs are
actively sought out for possible dissemination through the
national educational dissemination system. Such process shall,
at a minimum, have the capability to--
``(A) work closely with the research institutes,
centers, regional educational laboratories, the
National Diffusion Network and its Developer-
Demonstrator and State Facilitator projects, learning
grant institutions established under the Goals 2000
Community Partnerships Program, department-supported
technical assistance providers, and other entities to
identify successful educational programs at the
regional, State, local, or classroom level;
``(B) review successful educational programs
supported by the Department through all of its
programs, including Chapter 1, Even Start, Drug-Free
Schools and Communities Act of 1986, the Individuals
With Disabilities Education Act, Bilingual Education,
Indian Education, the Women's Educational Equity Act,
and Adult and Vocational Education;
``(C) through cooperative agreements, review for
possible inclusion in the system educational programs
administered by the Departments of Health and Human
Services (particularly the Head Start program), Labor
and Defense, the National Science Foundation, the
Department of the Interior (particularly the Office of
Indian Education Programs), and any other appropriate
Federal agency; and
``(D) provide for an active outreach effort to
identify successful educational programs through
cooperative arrangements with State and local education
agencies, teachers and teacher organizations,
curriculum associations, foundations, private schools,
institutions of higher education, and other entities
that could enhance the ability of the Secretary to
identify programs for possible inclusion in the
dissemination system.
``(2) Priority programs.--In carrying out this subsection,
the Secretary shall place a priority on identifying programs,
products, and practices related to the priority research and
development needs identified in section 405(b)(3).
``(d) Designation of Exemplary and Promising Programs.--
``(1) In general.--The Assistant Secretary, in consultation
with the Board, shall establish 1 or more panels of
appropriately qualified experts and practitioners to--
``(A) evaluate educational programs that have been
identified by the Secretary under subsection (c) or
that have been submitted to the Secretary for such
evaluation by some other individual or organization;
and
``(B) recommend to the Secretary programs that
should be designated as exemplary or promising
educational programs.
``(2) Considerations in making recommendations.--In
determining whether an educational program should receive a
recommendation under paragraph (1), a panel established under
such paragraph shall consider--
``(A) whether, based on empirical data, which may
include but shall not be limited to test results, the
program is effective and should thus be designated as
exemplary and disseminated through the national
dissemination system; or
``(B) whether there is sufficient evidence to lead
a panel of experts and practitioners to believe that
the program shows promise for improving student
achievement and should thus be designated as promising
and disseminated through the national dissemination
system while it continues to be evaluated.
``(3) Requirement regarding approval of programs.--In
seeking out programs for approval under paragraph (2), the
Assistant Secretary shall seek programs that may be implemented
at the State, local, and classroom level.
``(4) Requirements regarding panels.--
``(A) A panel shall not eliminate a program from
consideration under this subsection based solely on the
fact that it does not have one specific type of
supporting data, such as test scores.
``(B) The Assistant Secretary may not designate a
program as exemplary or promising unless a panel
established under paragraph (1) has recommended that
the program be so designated.
``(C) The Secretary shall establish such panels
under paragraph (1) as may be necessary to ensure that
each program identified or submitted for evaluation is
evaluated.
``(D) Not less than \2/3\ of the membership of a
panel established under paragraph (1) shall consist of
individuals who are not officers or employees of the
United States. Members of panels under paragraph (1)
who are not employees of the United States shall
receive compensation for each day engaged in carrying
out the duties of the panel as well as compensation for
their expenses.
``(e) Dissemination of Exemplary and Promising Programs.--
``(1) In general.--In order to ensure that programs
identified as exemplary or promising are available for adoption
by the greatest number of teachers, schools, local and State
education agencies, and Bureau of Indian Affairs-funded
schools, the Assistant Secretary shall utilize the capabilities
of--
``(A) the education resources information
clearinghouses;
``(B) Smartline;
``(C) the regional educational laboratories;
``(D) the National Diffusion Network;
``(E) entities established under the Goals 2000
Community Partnerships Program;
``(F) department-supported technical assistance
providers;
``(G) the National Library of Education; and
``(H) other public and private nonprofit entities,
including existing education associations and networks,
that have the capability to assist educators in
adopting exemplary and promising programs.
``(2) Requirements for assistant secretary.--In carrying
out paragraph (1), the Assistant Secretary shall ensure that
all such entities are--
``(A) kept apprised of the availability of specific
programs for dissemination;
``(B) provided technical assistance, if necessary,
to carry out this dissemination function; and
``(C) involved in the national education
dissemination system as specified by law.
``(f) Education Resources Information Clearinghouses.--
``(1) In general.--The Assistant Secretary shall establish
a system of 16 education resource information clearinghouses
having, at a minimum, the functions and scope of work as the
clearinghouses had on the date of the enactment of the
Educational Research, Development, and Dissemination Excellence
Act.
``(2) Additional functions.--In addition to those functions
already being carried out by the clearinghouses, such
clearinghouses may--
``(A) periodically produce interpretive summaries,
digests, and syntheses of the results and findings of
education-related research and development; and
``(B) contain and make available to users
information concerning those programs designated as
exemplary and promising under subsection (c).
``(3) Coordination of activities.--The Assistant Secretary
shall assure that the functions and activities of such
clearinghouses are coordinated with the activities of the
research institutes, the regional educational laboratories,
learning grant institutions, other clearinghouses supported by
the Department, the National Diffusion Network, and other
appropriate entities within the Office and the Department.
``(4) Special responsibilities of the secretary.--To assure
that the information provided through such clearinghouses is
fully comprehensive, the Secretary shall--
``(A) require that all reports, studies, and other
resources produced directly or by grant or contract
with the Department of Education are made available to
clearinghouses;
``(B) establish cooperative agreements with the
Departments of Defense, Health and Human Services,
Interior, and other Federal agencies to assure that all
education-related reports, studies, and other resources
produced directly or by grant or contract with the
Federal Government are made available to such
clearinghouses; and
``(C) devise an effective system for maximizing the
identification, synthesis, and dissemination of
information related to the needs of Indian and Alaska
Native children.
``(5) Copyright prohibited.--
``(A) No clearinghouse or other entity receiving
assistance under this subsection may copyright or
otherwise charge a royalty or other fee that--
``(i) is for the use or redissemination of
any database, index, abstract, report, or other
information produced with assistance under this
subsection; and
``(ii) exceeds the incremental cost of
disseminating such information.
``(B) For purposes of subparagraph (A), the
incremental cost of dissemination does not include any
portion of the cost of collecting, organizing, or
processing the information which is disseminated.
``(g) Dissemination Through New Technologies.--
``(1) In general.--The Assistant Secretary is authorized to
award grants or contracts in accordance with this subsection to
support the development of materials, programs, and resources
which utilize new technologies and techniques to synthesize and
disseminate research and development findings and other
information which can be used to support educational
improvement.
``(2) Sources of materials and research about teaching and
learning for improving nationwide education (smartline).--
``(A) Electronic network.--The Assistant Secretary,
acting through the Office of Reform Assistance and
Dissemination, shall establish and maintain an
electronic network which shall, at a minimum, link--
``(i) each office of the Department of
Education;
``(ii) the research institutes established
by section 405B;
``(iii) the National Center for Education
Statistics;
``(iv) the National Library of Education;
and
``(v) entities engaged in research,
development, dissemination, and technical
assistance under grant, contract, or
cooperative agreement with the Department of
Education.
``(B) Certain requirements for network.--The
network described in subparagraph (A) shall--
``(i) to the extent feasible, build upon
existing national, regional, and State
electronic networks and support video,
telecomputing, and interactive communications;
``(ii) at a minimum, have the capability to
support electronic mail and file transfer
services;
``(iii) be linked to and accessible to
other users, including State and local
education agencies, institutions of higher
education, museums, libraries, and others
through the Internet and the National Research
and Education Network; and
``(iv) be provided at no cost (excluding
the costs of necessary hardware) to the
contractors and grantees described in clause
(v) of subparagraph (A) and to educational
institutions accessing such network through the
Internet and the National Research and
Education Network.
``(C) Information resources.--The Assistant
Secretary, acting through the Office of Reform
Assistance and Dissemination, may make available
through the network described in subparagraph (A)--
``(i) information about grant and contract
assistance available through the department;
``(ii) an annotated directory of current
research and development activities and
projects being undertaken with the assistance
of the Department;
``(iii) information about publications
published by the Department and, to the extent
feasible, the full text of such publications;
``(iv) statistics and data published by the
National Center for Education Statistics;
``(v) syntheses of research and development
findings;
``(vi) a directory of other education-
related electronic networks and databases,
including information about the means by which
they may be accessed;
``(vii) a descriptive listing of materials
and courses of instruction provided by
telecommunications partnerships assisted under
the Star Schools program;
``(viii) resources developed by the ERIC
Clearinghouses;
``(ix) education-related software
(including video) which is in the public
domain;
``(x) a listing of instructional materials
available through telecommunications to local
education agencies through the Public
Broadcasting Service and State educational
television networks; and
``(xi) such other information and resources
the Assistant Secretary considers useful and
appropriate.
``(D) Evaluations regarding other functions of
network.--The Assistant Secretary shall also undertake
projects to test and evaluate the feasibility of using
the network described in subparagraph (A) for--
``(i) the submission of applications for
assistance to the Department; and
``(ii) the collection of data and other
statistics through the National Center for
Education Statistics.
``(E) Training and technical assistance.--The
Assistant Secretary, acting through the Office of
Reform Assistance and Dissemination, shall--
``(i) provide such training and technical
assistance as may be necessary to enable the
contractors and grantees described in clause
(v) of subparagraph (A) to participate in the
electronic network described in such
subparagraph; and
``(ii) work with the National Science
Foundation to provide, upon request, assistance
to State and local education agencies, the
Department of the Interior's Office of Indian
Education Programs, tribal departments of
education, State library agencies, libraries,
museums, and other educational institutions in
obtaining access to the Internet and the
National Research and Education Network.
``(h) Regional Educational Laboratories.--
``(1) Regional educational laboratories.--The Assistant
Secretary shall enter into contracts with public or private
nonprofit entities to establish a networked system of 10
regional educational laboratories which serve the needs of each
region of the Nation in accordance with the provisions of this
subsection. For the purposes of this subsection, the term
`region' means 1 of the 10 geographic regions set forth in
section 2(a) of part 707 of title 34, Code of Federal
Regulations (34 CFR 707.2(a)), as published in number 157 of
volume 53 of the Federal Register on August 15, 1988.
``(2) Duties.--Each regional educational laboratory
receiving assistance under this subsection shall, with such
assistance, assist State education agencies, intermediate
education agencies, local school districts, and schools funded
by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in implementing broad-based,
systemic school improvement strategies through the use of
applied research and development activities. The regional
educational laboratories shall support such system-wide reform
efforts through--
``(A) the development of a plan for identifying
needs and for serving the needs of the region by
conducting a continuing survey of the educational
needs, strengths and weaknesses within the region,
including a process of open hearings to solicit the
views of schools, teachers, administrators, parents,
local educational agencies, librarians, and State
educational agencies within the region;
``(B) the dissemination of information about
programs designated as exemplary and promising under
subsection (c) and other appropriate programs and
practices;
``(C) the provision of support and technical
assistance in--
``(i) replicating and adapting such
exemplary and promising practices;
``(ii) the development of high-quality,
challenging curriculum frameworks;
``(iii) the development of valid, reliable,
fair systems of assessment which are based upon
State, local, or Bureau of Indian Affairs-
funded school curriculum frameworks and reflect
recent advances in the field of educational
assessment;
``(iv) the improvement of professional
development strategies to assure that all
teachers are prepared to teach a challenging
curriculum;
``(v) expanding and improving the use of
technology in education to improve teaching and
learning;
``(vi) the development of alternatives for
restructuring school finance systems to promote
greater equity in the distribution of
resources; and
``(vii) the development of alternative
administrative structures which are more
conducive to planning, implementing, and
sustaining school reform and improved
educational outcomes;
``(D) the development of educational programs and
practices that address State, regional, or Indian
tribal needs in relating to their school reform
efforts;
``(E) facilitating communication between
educational experts, school officials, and teachers,
parents, and librarians, to enable such individuals to
assist schools to develop a plan to meet the national
education goals;
``(F) bringing teams of experts together to develop
and implement school improvement plans and strategies;
``(G) the provision of training in--
``(i) the field of education research and
related areas;
``(ii) the use of new educational methods;
and
``(iii) the use of information-finding
methods, practices, techniques, and products
developed in connection with such training for
which the regional educational laboratory shall
be authorized to support internships and
fellowships and to provide stipends; and
``(H) the provision of support and technical
assistance (upon their request) to State facilitators
funded through the National Diffusion Network.
``(3) Networking.--In order to improve the efficiency and
effectiveness of the regional laboratories, the governing
boards of the ten regional laboratories shall establish and
maintain a network to--
``(A) share information about the activities each
is carrying out;
``(B) plan joint activities that would meet the
needs of multiple regions;
``(C) create a strategic plan for the development
of activities undertaken by the laboratories to reduce
redundancy and increase collaboration and resource-
sharing in such activities; and
``(D) otherwise devise means by which the work of
the individual laboratories could serve national, as
well as regional, needs.
``(4) Additional duties.--Each regional education
laboratory receiving assistance under this subsection shall
carry out the following activities:
``(A) Collaborate with the Institutes established
under section 405B in order to--
``(i) maximize the use of research
conducted through the Institutes in the work of
such laboratory;
``(ii) keep the Institutes apprised of the
work of the regional educational laboratories
in the field; and
``(iii) inform the Institutes about
additional research needs identified in the
field.
``(B) Consult with the State educational agencies
and library agencies in the region in developing the
plan for serving the region.
``(C) Develop strategies to utilize schools as
critical components in reforming education and
revitalizing rural communities in the United States.
``(D) Report and disseminate information on
overcoming the obstacles faced by rural educators and
rural schools.
``(E) Identify successful educational programs that
have either been developed by such laboratory in
carrying out its functions or that have been developed
or used by others within the region served by the
laboratory and make such information available to the
Secretary and the network of regional laboratories so
that they may be considered for inclusion in the
national education development and dissemination
system.
``(5) Certain requirements.--In carrying out its
responsibilities, each regional educational laboratory shall--
``(A) establish a governing board that--
``(i) is the sole entity that--
``(I) guides and directs the
laboratory in carrying out the
provisions of this subsection and
satisfying the terms and conditions of
the contract award; and
``(II) determines the regional
agenda of the laboratory, consistent
with the priority research and
development needs identified in section
405(b)(3); and
``(ii) reflects a balanced representation
of the States in the region, as well as the
interests and concerns of regional
constituencies;
``(B) comply with the standards established by the
Assistant Secretary and the Board under section 405A;
``(C) coordinate its activities, collaborate, and
regularly exchange information with the institutes
established under section 405C, the National Diffusion
Network, and its Developer Demonstrator and State
Facilitator projects, learning grant institutions and
district education agents assisted under subsection
(i), the ERIC Clearinghouses, and other entities
engages in technical assistance and dissemination
activities which are supported by other Offices of the
Department of Education; and
``(D) allocate its resources to and within each
State in a manner which reflects the need for
assistance, taking into account such factors as the
proportion of economically disadvantaged students, the
increased cost burden of service delivery in areas of
sparse populations, and any special initiatives being
undertaken by State, intermediate, local education
agencies, or Bureau of Indian Affairs-funded schools
which may require special assistance from the
laboratory.
``(6) Evaluations.--The Assistant Secretary shall provide
for periodic, independent evaluations of each of the
laboratories in carrying out the duties described in paragraph
(1) in accordance with the standards developed by the Assistant
Secretary and the Board and transmit the results of such
evaluations to the relevant committees of the Congress, the
Board, and the appropriate regional educational laboratory
board.
``(7) Invitation regarding competition for awards of
assistance.--Prior to awarding a grant or entering into a
contract under this section, the Secretary shall invite
applicants, including the existing regional educational
laboratories, to compete for such award through notice in the
Federal Register and in the publication of the Department of
Commerce known as the Commerce Business Daily.
``(8) Application for assistance.--Each application for
assistance under this subsection shall--
``(A) cover not less than a 5-year period;
``(B) describe how the applicant would carry out
the activities required by this subsection; and
``(C) contain such additional information as the
Secretary may reasonably require.
``(9) Rule of construction.--No regional educational
laboratory receiving assistance under this subsection shall, by
reason of the receipt of that assistance, be ineligible to
receive any other assistance from the Department as authorized
by law.
``(10) Advance payment system.--Each regional educational
laboratory shall participate in the advance payment system at
the Department of Education.
``(i) Goals 2000 Community Partnerships Program.--
``(1) Purpose.--The purpose of the Goals 2000 Community
Partnerships program is to improve the quality of learning and
teaching in the Nation's most impoverished urban and rural
communities by supporting sustained collaborations between
universities, schools, businesses, and communities which apply
and utilize the results of educational research and
development.
``(2) Grants for goals 2000 community partnerships.--The
Assistant Secretary is authorized to make grants to eligible
entities to support the establishment of Learning Grant
Institutions and District Education Agents and the activities
authorized under this subsection within eligible communities.
``(3) Definition of eligible entity and eligible
community.--For the purposes of this subsection:
``(A) The term `eligible entity' includes any
institution of higher education, regional education
laboratory, National Diffusion Network project,
national research and development center, public or
private nonprofit corporation, or any consortium
thereof that--
``(i) has demonstrated experience,
expertise and commitment in serving the
educational needs of at-risk students; and
``(ii) is, by virtue of its previous
activities, knowledgeable about the unique
needs and characteristics of the community to
be served.
``(B) The term `eligible community' means a unit of
general purpose local government (such as a city,
township, or village), a nonmetropolitan county, tribal
village, or a geographically distinct area (such as a
school district, school attendance area, ward, precinct
or neighborhood), or any group of such entities that--
``(i) has a population of not less than
200,000 and not more than 300,000; and
``(ii) in which not less than one-half of
the school-age children have family incomes
which are below the poverty line, as determined
by the 1990 United States Census, participation
in the National School Lunch program, or other
current, reliable data concerning family
income.
``(4) Goals 2000 community partnerships.--Each learning
grant institution receiving assistance under this subsection
shall establish a Goals 2000 community partnership to carry out
the activities authorized under this subsection. Such
partnership--
``(A) shall include the participation of one or
more local educational agencies, institutions of higher
education, community-based organizations, parents,
teachers, and the business community;
``(B) may include the participation of human,
social service and health care agencies, Head Start and
child care agencies, libraries, museums, employment and
training agencies, and the State educational agency or
tribal department of education; and
``(C) shall be broadly representative of all
segments of the community in which the activities will
be carried out.
``(5) Comprehensive goals 2000 plan.--Each Goals 2000
Community Partnership shall develop a comprehensive plan for
assuring educational success and high achievement for all
students in the community. Each such plan shall--
``(A) adopt the 6 national educational goals;
``(B) identify additional needs and goals for
educational improvement within the community;
``(C) focus on helping all students reach
challenging content and student performance standards;
``(D) be consistent with the State and local plan
for system-wide education improvement developed
pursuant to the Goals 2000: Educate America Act;
``(E) establish a comprehensive community-wide plan
for achieving such goals; and
``(F) develop a means for measuring the progress of
the community in meeting such goals for improvement.
``(6) Implementation of community-wide plan.--Each Goals
2000 Community Partnership shall, utilizing the District
Education Agent, provide assistance in implementing the
community-wide plan for educational improvement by--
``(A) supporting innovation, restructuring, and
continuous improvement in educational practice by--
``(i) disseminating information throughout
the community about exemplary and promising
educational programs, practices, products, and
policies;
``(ii) evaluating the effectiveness of
federally funded educational programs within
the community and identifying changes in such
programs which are likely to improve student
achievement;
``(iii) identifying, selecting and
replicating exemplary and promising educational
programs, practices, products, and policies in
both in and out-of-school settings;
``(iv) applying educational research to
solve specific problems in the classroom, home
and community which impede learning and student
achievement; and
``(v) supporting research and development
by teachers, school administrators, and other
practitioners which promise to improve teaching
and learning and the organization of schools;
``(B) improving the capacity of educators, school
administrators, child care providers and other
practitioners to prepare all students to reach
challenging standards and to attain the goals set out
in the comprehensive community-wide plan through such
means as--
``(i) the training of prospective and
novice teachers (including preschool and early
childhood educators) in a school setting under
the guidance of master teachers and teacher
educators;
``(ii) training and other activities to
promote the continued learning and professional
development of experienced teachers, related
services personnel, school administrators to
assure that they develop the subject matter and
pedagogical expertise needed to prepare all
students to reach challenging standards;
``(iii) training and other activities to
increase the ability of prospective, novice,
and experienced teachers to teach effectivenly
at-risk students, students with disabilities,
students with limited English language
proficiency, and students from diverse cultural
backgrounds; and
``(iv) programs to enhance teaching and
classroom management skills, including school-
based management skills, of novice,
prospective, and experienced teachers;
``(C) promoting the development of an integrated
system of service delivery to children from birth
through age 18 and their families by facilitating
linkages and cooperation among--
``(i) local education agencies;
``(ii) health and social services agencies
and providers;
``(iii) juvenile justice and criminal
justice agencies;
``(iv) providers of employment training;
and
``(v) child care, Head Start, and other
early childhood agencies; and
``(D) mobilizing the resources of the community in
support of student learning and high achievement by
facilitating effective partnerships and collaboration
among--
``(i) local education agencies;
``(ii) postsecondary educational
institutions;
``(iii) public libraries;
``(iv) parents;
``(v) community-based organizations,
neighborhood associations, and other civic and
community organizations;
``(vi) child care, Head Start, and other
early childhood agencies;
``(vii) churches, synagogues and other
religious institutions;
``(viii) labor organizations; and
``(ix) business and industry.
``(7) Additional requirements.--In carrying out its
responsibilities under this subsection, each partnership
receiving assistance under this subsection shall--
``(A) appoint a District Education Agent who shall
be responsible, on a full-time basis, for directing the
implementation of the community-wide plan. Such
individual shall have significant experience and
expertise in the field of education in--
``(i) addressing the needs of at-risk
students; and
``(ii) conducting educational research and
promoting the application of the results of
such research to educational practice;
``(B) provide for such other professional and
support personnel as may be necessary to implement the
community-wide plan under the direction of the District
Education Agent; and
``(C) coordinate its activities and work
cooperatively with the National Diffusion Network State
facilitators, regional laboratories, and other
components of the Office to utilize most effectively
Federal research, development, and dissemination
resources in implementing the community-wide plan.
``(8) Application for grants.--Any eligible entity desiring
a grant under this subsection shall submit an application to
the Assistant Secretary at such time, in such manner, and
accompanied by such information as the Assistant Secretary may
reasonably require. Each such application shall--
``(A) include a comprehensive plan for meeting the
objectives and requirements of this subsection; and
``(B) provide evidence of support for the
application from local elected officials, the State
education agency, the local education agency, parents,
local community leaders, businesses, and other
appropriate organizations.
``(9) Priority in making grants; duration and amount of
grant.--Each grant made under this subsection shall be--
``(A) awarded on a competitive basis, with first
priority given to those applications from communities
with the greatest percentage of school-age children in
families with poverty-level incomes;
``(B) made for a 5-year period, with funding for
the second and each successive year in this period
conditioned upon a determination by the Assistant
Secretary that the grant recipient has complied with
the conditions of the grants during the previous year;
and
``(C) an amount equal to not less than $1,000,000
per year.
``(10) Limitation of one grant per congressional
district.--Not more than one grant shall be awarded within a
single congressional district.
``(11) Technical assistance; evaluations.--In administering
the program authorized under this subsection, the Assistant
Secretary shall, either directly or through grant or contract
with an eligible nonprofit agency--
``(A) upon request, provide technical assistance to
eligible entities to assist in the development of a
comprehensive plan to meet the requirements of this
subsection and in the preparation of applications for
assistance;
``(B) regularly provide technical assistance to
learning grant institutions receiving assistance under
this subsection to assist with the development and
implementation of the community-wide plan for
educational improvement;
``(C) provide for an independent evaluation of the
activities assisted under this subsection, including--
``(i) the impact of the Goals 2000
Community Partnerships program on children and
families within each community, including (but
not limited to) effects on the extent of
educational achievement, rates of school
retention and completion, and enrollment in
program postsecondary educational programs; and
``(ii) whether an intensified effort to
apply and utilize educational research within a
limited geographic area significantly improves
student learning and achievement; and
``(D) plan for the expansion of the Goals 2000
Community Partnerships program throughout the remainder
of the Nation beginning in fiscal year 1998.
``(j) Teacher Research Dissemination Network.--
``(1) Findings.--The Congress finds that--
``(A) education research, including research funded
by the Office, is not having the impact on the Nation's
schools that such research should;
``(B) relevant education research and resulting
solutions are not being adequately disseminated to the
teachers that need such research and solutions;
``(C) there are not enough linkages between the
research and development centers assisted under this
section, the regional educational laboratories
described in subsection (k), the National Diffusion
Network State facilitators, the Education Resources
Information Clearinghouses, and the public schools, to
ensure that research on effective practice is
disseminated and technical assistance provided to all
teachers;
``(D) the average teacher has almost no time to
plan or engage in a professional dialogue with such
teacher's peers about strategies for improving
learning;
``(E) teachers do not have direct access to
information systems or networks;
``(F) teachers have little control over what in-
service education teachers will be offered; and
``(G) individual teachers are not encouraged to
move beyond the walls of their classrooms to identify
and use outside resources.
``(2) Program authorized.--
``(A) The Assistant Secretary shall enter into
contracts with regional educational laboratories, in
partnership with 1 or more institutions of higher
education in each State of its region, the National
Diffusion Network, and other entities with demonstrated
experience, expertise, and commitment in the areas of
teacher research or teacher professional development,
such as the national research and development centers,
professional teacher organizations, and other qualified
organizations and associations, in the region to carry
out activities described in paragraph (3).
``(B) The Assistant Secretary shall enter into
contracts under this subsection in an equitable manner
and shall provide assistance on the basis of the number
of schools, teachers, and students in each regional
educational laboratory region with attention given to
populations with special needs and the increased cost
burden of service delivery in regions of sparse
population.
``(C) Contracts under this subsection shall be
awarded for a period of not less than 3 years.
``(3) Program activities.--
``(A) Each regional partnership described in
paragraph (2)(A) entering into a contract under this
subsection shall carry out programs of providing
training to teachers relevant to the needs and problems
of the schools and school districts where teachers, who
participate in the programs, serve. The purpose of such
programs shall be to--
``(i) educate teachers on how to acquire
information about education research findings
and best practices;
``(ii) provide teachers with current
education research and development theory,
skills, and practice as shall enable them to
modify, design, develop, and adapt such
findings and practices to effect local district
and classroom outcomes that improve education;
``(iii) enable teachers to become actively
involved in the applied research and
development process;
``(iv) provide teachers the ability to
become leaders in the utilization of applied
research and to become active participants in
the Federal research and development
partnership;
``(v) enhance the ability of teachers to
evaluate and choose effective education
programs and curricula; and
``(vi) facilitate collaboration between the
teacher change agent and the National Diffusion
Network State facilitator.
``(B) Teachers that participate in training
assisted under this subsection shall be known as
`teacher change agents'.
``(C) The program described in subparagraph (A)
shall provide teacher change agents with training
during the summer and at such other times as agreed to
by the district, which shall--
``(i) give teacher change agents knowledge
and guidance in using the existing educational
improvement services and resources funded by
the United States Department of Education and
other major research organizations, including
the products and work of the regional
educational laboratories, professional teacher
organizations, the National Diffusion Network,
institutions of higher education, the
Educational Research Information Centers,
National Research Centers, National Research
Institutes, State Departments of Education,
local education agencies, and other nonprofit
organizations participating in the improvement
of education;
``(ii) provide teacher change agents with
indepth knowledge about a number of products,
programs, and processes developed by entities
described in clause (i) that the teacher change
agents judge most relevant to the needs of the
district or districts they will serve;
``(iii) inform teacher change agents about
government programs, including, but not limited
to, programs in government agencies other than
the Department of Education, which offer
research opportunities, fellowships, and
funding; and
``(iv) provide teacher change agents with
instruction in technical assistance skills in
order to increase their capacity to aid
district and school site teacher teams
responsible for leading school improvement
activities at the district and school site
level.
``(D) The school year activities described in
subparagraph (A) shall provide teacher change agents
participating in such program during the school year
with--
``(i) opportunities to meet with other
teacher change agents to exchange experiences;
``(ii) additional training or assistance as
needed or requested;
``(iii) updates in education research,
application, and findings; and
``(iv) opportunities to provide feedback
into the educational research infrastructure
regarding needed research and ways to improve
the development and dissemination of
information.
``(E) The regional partnership program may support
educational improvement and reform activities such as--
``(i) training in applied research
methodologies;
``(ii) assistance in conducting applied
research;
``(iii) teacher research sabbaticals;
``(iv) video conferencing for additional
training in order to reduce travel time and
expenses;
``(v) training in developing and
implementing effective teacher in-service
training;
``(vi) training in change management,
including strategies for restructuring schools,
building local capacity, and generally
strengthening the culture of schools so that
schools are conducive and supportive of change,
including training in interpersonal and
leadership skills; and
``(vii) training in the appropriate use of
technology to assist classroom teachers.
``(F) Teacher responsibilities.--Teacher change
agents shall, during the school year--
``(i) meet with other teachers and district
or school site teacher teams to provide other
teachers with knowledge about how to acquire
information regarding education research
findings and best practices, including what
resources are available from the Department of
Education and how to obtain products and
technical services from the Department;
``(ii) meet with the National Diffusion
Network State Facilitator to coordinate and not
duplicate efforts in the dissemination of
exemplary educational programs;
``(iii) help interested schools identify
resources needed to address the school's needs
and act as liaison between the school and the
appropriate resource entities, such as regional
educational laboratories, centers, national
institutes, institutions of higher education,
professional teacher organizations, scholars,
consultants, and other schools and school
districts that may be of assistance;
``(iv) teach other teachers how to use the
products, programs, and processes in which the
teacher was trained pursuant to paragraph
(2)(C)(II);
``(v) work with other teachers and teacher
teams to adapt identified exemplary practices,
programs, and research results to implement
school site or classroom improvements as
desired, and provide follow-up activities
throughout a 2-year period to ensure the
successful adaptation and implementation of
such programs in local schools; and
``(vi) inform teachers about how they can
obtain Federal research funding, fellowships,
and sabbaticals.
``(G) Application.--
``(i) In general.--Each regional
partnership desiring a contract under this
subsection shall submit to the Secretary an
application at such time, in such manner, and
accompanied by such information as the
Assistant Secretary may reasonably require.
``(ii) Contents.--Each application
described in clause (i) shall--
``(I) contain a plan acceptable to
affected States and local education
agencies for conducting the program to
be assisted under this section;
``(II) contain assurances that the
partnership requirements are fulfilled;
``(III) contain assurances that
both district and school site teacher
teams will be established to work in
conjunction with the teacher change
agent;
``(IV) contain a plan for the
selection of district and school site
teacher team participants and others as
deemed appropriate by the teacher
change agent and the regional
partnership;
``(V) contain assurances that the
regional partnership, in conjunction
with the participating school
districts, shall provide each teacher
change agent with a stipend for the
entire calendar year commensurate with
such teacher's salary and travel
expenses, to permit a teacher to
participate in such program without
incurring loss of income;
``(VI) contain assurances that each
teacher change agent participating in
the program shall receive an award of
not more than $10,000 to be used by
such teacher during the school year of
such teacher's participation to
purchase materials, support, and
coordinate with other teachers or site
teacher teams in the school district;
``(VII) contain assurances that
such regional partnerships shall
provide not more than $5,000 to each
school district or group of school
districts having an individual from
such district or districts
participating in the program assisted
under this section for each of the 2
years following such participation to
enable such school district or
districts to continue efforts to
improve dissemination of effective
practices and programs within the
district or districts;
``(VIII) contain assurances that
representatives of State educational
agencies, intermediate educational
agencies, teacher centers, teacher
educators at institutions of higher
education, and school district in-
service or curriculum specialists will
be eligible to participate in the
program assisted under this section if
such individuals pay the cost of their
participation; and
``(IX) contain an assurance that
such regional partnership shall permit
a teacher to participate in the program
only after such partnership determines
that the teacher will be afforded a
full opportunity by the district to
perform such teacher's responsibilities
described in paragraph (3)(F).
``(4) Teacher selection and eligibility.--
``(A) Nomination.--Teacher participants in the
program assisted under this subsection shall be
nominated by their peers at the school district level.
``(B) Eligibility.--Each school district or group
of school districts desiring to have teachers from such
district or districts participate in the program
assisted under this subsection shall provide the
regional partnership with the names of such teachers,
and an indication of the type of issues or problems on
which each such teacher would like to receive
information and training.
``(C) Selection.--
``(i) Teacher participants shall be
selected by the regional partnerships in
consultation with the State educational
agencies in the region. Teacher participants
shall be selected in such a manner so as to
ensure an equitable representation of such
teachers by State and school enrollment within
the region.
``(ii) The number of teachers selected each
year shall be determined in accordance with the
amount of funding received by the regional
partnership.
``(5) Independent evaluation.--
``(A) In general.--The Assistant Secretary shall
provide for an independent evaluation of the program
assisted under this subsection to determine the net
impact and cost effectiveness of the program and the
reactions of teachers and school districts
participating in such program, including any career
plan changes of participating teachers.
``(B) Date.--The evaluation described in
subparagraph (A) shall be submitted to the Congress
within 6 months after the completion of the third year
of the program.
``(C) Funding.--The Assistant Secretary may reserve
not more than $250,000 of the amount appropriated under
section 405(i)(2)(E) to carry out the evaluation
described in this paragraph.''.
TITLE V--NATIONAL LIBRARY OF EDUCATION
SEC. 501. ESTABLISHMENT WITHIN OFFICE OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH AND
IMPROVEMENT.
Part A of the General Education Provisions Act, as amended by
section 401 of this Act, is amended by inserting after section 405C the
following new section:
``national library of education
``Sec. 405D. (a) In General.--There is established within the
Office a National Library of Education (hereafter in this section
referred to as the `Library'), which shall be maintained as a
governmental activity.
``(b) Functions of Library.--The functions of the Library are--
``(1) to provide a central location within the Federal
Government for information about education;
``(2) to provide comprehensive reference services on
matters related to education to employees of the Department of
Education and its contractors and grantees, other Federal
employees, and members of the public; and
``(3) to promote greater cooperation and resource sharing
among providers and repositories of education information in
the United States.
``(c) One-Stop Information and Referral Service.--The Library shall
establish and maintain a central information and referral service to
respond to telephonic, mail and electronic and other inquiries from the
public concerning--
``(1) programs and activities of the Department of
Education;
``(2) publications produced by the Department of Education
and, to the extent feasible, education related publications
produced by the Departments of Labor, Health and Human
Services, and other Federal agencies;
``(3) services and resources available to the public
through the Office, including the ERIC Clearinghouses, the
research institutes, and the national education dissemination
system;
``(4) statistics and other information produced by the
National Center for Education Statistics; and
``(5) referrals to additional sources of information and
expertise about educational issues which may be available
through educational associations and foundations, the private
sector, colleges and universities, libraries and bibliographic
databases.
The Library shall maintain and actively publicize a toll-free telephone
number through which public inquiries to the Library may be made.
``(d) Comprehensive Reference Services.--The Library shall, to the
extent feasible, provide for the delivery of a full range of reference
services on subjects related to education to employees of the
Department and its contractors and grantees, other Federal employees,
and members of the general public. Such services may include--
``(1) specialized subject searches;
``(2) search and retrieval of electronic databases;
``(3) document delivery by mail and facsimile transmission;
``(4) research counseling, bibliographic instruction, and
other training services;
``(5) interlibrary loan services; and
``(6) selective dissemination of information services.
The Library shall first give priority in the provision of reference
services to requests made by employees of the Department.
``(e) Cooperation and Resource Sharing.--The Library shall promote
greater cooperation and resource sharing among libraries and archives
with significant collections in the area of education through such
means as--
``(1) the establishment of information and resource sharing
networks among such entities;
``(2) the development of a national union list of education
journals held by education libraries throughout the United
States;
``(3) the development of directories and indexes to
textbook and other specialized collections held by education
libraries throughout the United States; and
``(4) cooperative efforts to preserve, maintain and promote
access to items of special historical value or interest.
``(f) Administration.--The Library shall be administered by an
Executive Director who shall--
``(1) be appointed by the Assistant Secretary from among
persons with significant training or experience in library and
information science;
``(2) serve for a renewable term of 5 years; and
``(3) be paid at not less than the minimum rate of basic
pay payable for GS-15 of the General Schedule.
``(g) Task Force.--
``(1) In general.--The Assistant Secretary shall appoint a
task force of librarians, scholars, teachers, parents, and
school leaders (hereafter in this paragraph referred to as the
`Task Force') to provide advice on the establishment of the
Library.
``(2) Preparation of plan.--The Task Force shall prepare a
workable plan to establish the Library and to implement the
requirements of this section.
``(3) Certain authorities.--The Task Force may identify
other activities and functions for the Library to carry out,
except that such functions shall not be carried out until the
Library is established and has implemented the requirements of
this section.
``(4) Report.--The Task Force shall prepare and submit to
the Assistant Secretary not later than 6 months after the first
meeting of the Task Force a report on the activities of the
Library.
``(h) Transfer of Functions.--There are hereby transferred to the
Library all functions of--
``(1) the Department of Education Research Library;
``(2) the Department of Education Reference Section; and
``(3) the Department of Education Information Branch.
``(i) Collection Development Policy.--Not later than 180 days after
the enactment of the Educational Research, Development, and
Dissemination Excellence Act, the Assistant Secretary shall promulgate
a comprehensive collection development policy to govern the Library's
operations, acquisitions, and services to users. Such collection
development policy shall--
``(1) be consistent with the functions of the Library set
out in subsection (b);
``(2) emphasize the acquisition and maintenance of a
comprehensive collection of reference materials; and
``(3) avoid unnecessary duplication by putting a priority
on meeting the information needs of the Library's users through
cooperation and resource-sharing with other entities with
significant collections in the field of education.
``(j) Arrearage and Preservation.--On the basis of the collection
development policy promulgated under subsection (h), the Executive
Director shall develop a multiyear plan which shall set forth goals and
priorities for actions needed to--
``(1) eliminate within 3 years the arrearage of uncataloged
books and other materials in the Library's collections; and
``(2) respond effectively and systematically to the
preservation needs of the Library's collections, relying,
whenever possible, upon cooperative efforts with other
institutions to preserve and maintain the usability of books
and materials in the Library's collections.''.
Passed the House of Representatives August 2, 1993.
Attest:
Clerk.
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