[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3392 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 3392

     To reauthorize the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002, the 
    Educational Technical Assistance Act of 2002, and the National 
  Assessment of Educational Progress Authorization Act, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            December 4, 2023

  Mr. Sanders (for himself and Mr. Cassidy) introduced the following 
  bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, 
                     Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
     To reauthorize the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002, the 
    Educational Technical Assistance Act of 2002, and the National 
  Assessment of Educational Progress Authorization Act, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Advancing Research in Education 
Act'' or the ``AREA Act''.

SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
Sec. 3. Short title; table of contents for public law.
                   TITLE I--EDUCATION SCIENCES REFORM

Sec. 101. References.
Sec. 102. Redesignations.
Sec. 103. Definitions.
              PART A--The Institute of Education Sciences

Sec. 111. Establishment.
Sec. 112. Functions.
Sec. 113. Office of the Director.
Sec. 114. Priorities.
Sec. 115. Plans; education researcher pipeline.
Sec. 116. National Board for Education Sciences.
Sec. 117. Commissioners of the National Education Centers.
Sec. 118. Agreements.
Sec. 119. Director biennial report.
Sec. 120. Transparency.
             PART B--National Center for Education Research

Sec. 131. Establishment.
Sec. 132. Commissioner for Education Research.
Sec. 133. Duties.
Sec. 134. Standards for conduct and evaluation of research.
            PART C--National Center for Education Statistics

Sec. 141. Establishment.
Sec. 142. Commissioner for Education Statistics.
Sec. 143. Duties.
Sec. 144. Performance of duties.
Sec. 145. Reports.
Sec. 146. Dissemination.
Sec. 147. Cooperative education statistics partnerships.
Sec. 148. Statewide longitudinal data systems.
Sec. 149. Data innovation grants.
   PART D--National Center for Education Evaluation and Evidence Use

Sec. 151. National Center for Education Evaluation and Evidence Use.
         PART E--National Center for Special Education Research

Sec. 161. Establishment.
Sec. 162. Commissioner for Special Education Research.
Sec. 163. Duties.
Sec. 164. Standards for conduct and evaluation of research.
                       PART F--General Provisions

Sec. 171. Repeals and redesignation.
Sec. 172. Interagency data sources and formats.
Sec. 173. Prohibitions.
Sec. 174. Confidentiality.
Sec. 175. Availability of data.
Sec. 176. Performance management.
Sec. 177. Vacancies.
Sec. 178. Scientific or technical employees.
Sec. 179. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 180. Conforming amendments.
               TITLE II--EDUCATIONAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

Sec. 201. Educational technical assistance.
         TITLE III--NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS

Sec. 301. References.
Sec. 302. National Assessment Governing Board.
Sec. 303. National Assessment of Educational Progress.
Sec. 304. Definitions.
Sec. 305. Authorization of appropriations.

SEC. 3. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR PUBLIC LAW.

    Section 1 of the Act of November 5, 2002 (Public Law 107-279; 116 
Stat. 1940) is amended to read as follows:

``SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    ``(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the `Education 
Sciences and Technical Assistance Act of 2002'.
    ``(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

``Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
                  ``TITLE I--EDUCATION SCIENCES REFORM

``Sec. 101. Short title.
``Sec. 102. Definitions.
             ``Part A--The Institute of Education Sciences

``Sec. 111. Establishment.
``Sec. 112. Functions.
``Sec. 113. Delegation.
``Sec. 114. Office of the Director.
``Sec. 115. Priorities.
``Sec. 115A. Plans.
``Sec. 115B. Education researcher pipeline.
``Sec. 116. National Board for Education Sciences.
``Sec. 117. Commissioners of the National Education Centers.
``Sec. 118. Agreements.
``Sec. 119. Director biennial report.
``Sec. 120. Competitive awards.
``Sec. 121. Transparency.
            ``Part B--National Center for Education Research

``Sec. 131. Establishment.
``Sec. 132. Commissioner for Education Research.
``Sec. 133. Duties.
``Sec. 134. Standards for conduct and evaluation of research.
           ``Part C--National Center for Education Statistics

``Sec. 141. Establishment.
``Sec. 142. Commissioner for Education Statistics.
``Sec. 143. Duties.
``Sec. 144. Performance of duties.
``Sec. 145. Reports.
``Sec. 146. Dissemination.
``Sec. 147. Cooperative education statistics partnerships.
``Sec. 148. State defined.
``Sec. 149. Grant program for statewide longitudinal data systems.
``Sec. 150. Data innovation grants.
  ``Part D--National Center for Education Evaluation and Evidence Use

``Sec. 151. Establishment.
``Sec. 152. Commissioner for Education Evaluation and Evidence Use.
``Sec. 153. Duties.
``Sec. 154. Evaluations.
``Sec. 155. What Works Clearinghouse and related functions.
``Sec. 156. Evidence use activities.
``Sec. 157. Regional educational laboratories for applied research, 
                            development, and evidence use.
        ``Part E--National Center for Special Education Research

``Sec. 161. Establishment.
``Sec. 162. Commissioner for Special Education Research.
``Sec. 163. Duties.
``Sec. 164. Standards for conduct and evaluation of research.
                      ``Part F--General Provisions

``Sec. 171. Interagency data sources and formats.
``Sec. 172. Prohibitions.
``Sec. 173. Confidentiality.
``Sec. 174. Availability of data.
``Sec. 175. Performance management.
``Sec. 176. Authority to publish.
``Sec. 177. Vacancies.
``Sec. 178. Scientific or technical employees.
``Sec. 179. Voluntary service.
``Sec. 180. Rulemaking.
``Sec. 181. Copyright.
``Sec. 182. Authorization of appropriations.
              ``TITLE II--EDUCATIONAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

``Sec. 201. Short title.
``Sec. 202. Definitions.
``Sec. 203. Coordination of technical assistance.
``Sec. 204. Coordination between comprehensive centers and regional 
                            educational laboratories.
``Sec. 205. Priorities.
``Sec. 206. Governing boards.
``Sec. 207. Comprehensive centers.
``Sec. 208. Focus centers.
``Sec. 209. Evaluations.
``Sec. 210. Authorization of appropriations
        ``TITLE III--NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS

``Sec. 301. Short title.
``Sec. 302. National Assessment Governing Board.
``Sec. 303. National Assessment of Educational Progress.
``Sec. 304. Definitions.
``Sec. 305. Authorization of appropriations.
                   ``TITLE IV--AMENDATORY PROVISIONS

``Sec. 401. Redesignations.
``Sec. 402. Amendments to Department of Education Organization Act.
``Sec. 403. Repeals.
``Sec. 404. Conforming and technical amendments.
``Sec. 405. Orderly transition.
``Sec. 406. Impact aid.''.

                   TITLE I--EDUCATION SCIENCES REFORM

SEC. 101. REFERENCES.

    Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this title an 
amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal 
of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to 
be made to a section or other provision of the Education Sciences 
Reform Act of 2002 (20 U.S.C. 9501 et seq.).

SEC. 102. REDESIGNATIONS.

    The Act (20 U.S.C. 9501 et seq.) is amended by redesignating 
sections 151 through 158, 171 through 174, 175 through 177, and 181 
through 194, as sections 141 through 148, 151 through 154, 161 through 
163, and 171 through 184, respectively.

SEC. 103. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 102 (20 U.S.C. 9501) is amended--
            (1) by striking paragraph (1), and inserting the following:
            ``(1) In general.--
                    ``(A) ESEA terms.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The terms `dual or 
                        concurrent enrollment program', `early college 
                        high school', `elementary school', `English 
                        learner', `local educational agency', `multi-
                        tier system of supports', `other staff', 
                        `paraprofessional', `school leader', `secondary 
                        school', `Secretary', `specialized 
                        instructional support personnel', `State 
                        educational agency', and `universal design for 
                        learning' have the meanings given those terms 
                        in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary 
                        Education Act of 1965.
                            ``(ii) Subgroup of students.--The term 
                        `subgroup of students'--
                                    ``(I) means each subgroup of 
                                students described in section 
                                1111(h)(1)(C)(ii) of the Elementary and 
                                Secondary Education Act of 1965; and
                                    ``(II) includes first generation 
                                college students, as defined in section 
                                402A(h) of the Higher Education Act of 
                                1965.
                            ``(iii) Charter school.--The term `charter 
                        school' has the meaning given the term in 
                        section 4310(2) of the Elementary and Secondary 
                        Education Act of 1965.
                    ``(B) IDEA terms.--
                            ``(i) Child with a disability.--The term 
                        `child with a disability' has the meaning given 
                        the term in section 602 of the Individuals with 
                        Disabilities Education Act.
                            ``(ii) Infant or toddler with a 
                        disability.--The term `infant or toddler with a 
                        disability' has the meaning given the term in 
                        section 632 of the Individuals with 
                        Disabilities Education Act.
                    ``(C) Adult education and family literacy act 
                terms.--The terms `adult education' and `adult 
                education and literacy activities' have the meanings 
                given the terms in section 203 of the Adult Education 
                and Family Literacy Act (29 U.S.C. 3272).'';
            (2) in paragraph (2)(B), by inserting ``or the 
        identification of evidence-based practices'' after ``field of 
        education'';
            (3) in paragraph (5), by striking ``Affairs'' and inserting 
        ``Education'';
            (4) by striking paragraphs (17) and (21);
            (5) by redesignating paragraphs (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), 
        (11), (12), (13), (14), (15), (16), (18), (19), (20), (22), and 
        (23), as paragraphs (8), (9), (10), (11), (12), (14), (17), 
        (19), (21), (22), (24), (25), (28), (29), (30), and (31), 
        respectively;
            (6) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following:
            ``(6) Bureau-funded school.--The term `Bureau-funded 
        school' has the meaning given the term in section 1141 of the 
        Education Amendments of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 2021).
            ``(7) Career and technical education.--The term `career and 
        technical education' has the meaning given the term in section 
        3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 
        2006.'';
            (7) in paragraph (8), as redesignated by paragraph (5), by 
        striking ``means an entity established under section 203 of the 
        Educational Technical Assistance Act of 2002'' and inserting 
        ``has the meaning given the term in section 202'';
            (8) in paragraph (10), as redesignated by paragraph (5)--
                    (A) by inserting ``evidence-based'' before 
                ``products or processes''; and
                    (B) by striking ``teaching'' and all that follows 
                through the period at the end and inserting ``teaching 
                and learning, that lead to the improvement of student 
                outcomes, including the academic skills of students, 
                and that may be replicable in heterogeneous local 
                educational contexts.'';
            (9) in paragraph (12), as redesignated by paragraph (5)--
                    (A) by inserting ``principals, other school 
                leaders,'' after ``teachers,''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``specialized instructional 
                support personnel, other staff, early childhood 
                educators, administrators of early childhood education 
                programs, faculty, student support staff, 
                paraprofessionals,'' after ``other practitioners,'';
            (10) by inserting after paragraph (12) the following:
            ``(13) Early childhood education program.--The term `early 
        childhood education program' has the meaning given the term in 
        section 103 of the Higher Education Act of 1965.'';
            (11) in paragraph (14), as redesignated by paragraph (5), 
        by striking ``providing,'' and all that follows through the 
        period at the end and inserting ``providing services to 
        children in an early childhood education program.'';
            (12) by inserting after paragraph (14), as redesignated by 
        paragraph (5), the following:
            ``(15) Evidence-based.--The term `evidence-based' means any 
        educational activity, strategy, intervention, or policy design 
        that demonstrates a statistically significant effect on 
        improving relevant outcomes for intended beneficiaries at the 
        individual, classroom, program, school, institutional, 
        education, or workforce system level based on evidence from at 
        least 1 well-designed and well-implemented study capable of 
        causal inference, particularly randomized-control trials.
            ``(16) Evidence use.--The term `evidence use' means 
        activities that build the capacity of practitioners to 
        effectively understand evidence-based practices and 
        scientifically valid research--
                    ``(A) to comprehend the design principles of 
                evidence-based practices and identify, select, 
                implement, and adapt such practices in heterogeneous 
                local educational contexts;
                    ``(B) to support high-quality teaching and learning 
                and the continuous improvement of education systems; 
                and
                    ``(C) which may be informed by the synthesis of an 
                evidence base related to a specific activity, strategy, 
                intervention, or policy design, based on consistent 
                findings across multiple studies or sites to support 
                the generality of results and conclusions.'';
            (13) in paragraph (17), as redesignated by paragraph (5), 
        by striking ``(including teachers and other practitioners) and 
        that conforms to standards'' and inserting ``in collaboration 
        with practitioners or education system leaders and that 
        conforms to the principles'';
            (14) by inserting after paragraph (17), as redesignated by 
        paragraph (5), the following:
            ``(18) Geographic region.--The term `geographic region' 
        means each of the 10 geographic regions served by the regional 
        educational laboratories.'';
            (15) by inserting after paragraph (19), as redesignated by 
        paragraph (5), the following:
            ``(20) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian Tribe' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
        Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).'';
            (16) by inserting after paragraph (22), as redesignated by 
        paragraph (5), the following:
            ``(23) Minority-serving institution.--The term `minority-
        serving institution' means an institution of higher education 
        described in section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 
        1965.'';
            (17) in paragraph (24), as redesignated by paragraph (5), 
        by striking ``section 133(c)'' and inserting ``section 
        133(g)'';
            (18) by striking paragraph (25), as redesignated by 
        paragraph (5), and inserting the following:
            ``(25) Principles of scientifically valid research.--The 
        term `principles of scientifically valid research' means 
        research standards that--
                    ``(A) apply rigorous, systematic, and objective 
                methodology to obtain reliable and valid knowledge 
                relevant to the needs of students, families, 
                practitioners, education system leaders, and 
                policymakers;
                    ``(B) present findings and make claims that are 
                appropriate to, and supported by, the methods that have 
                been employed; and
                    ``(C) include, appropriate to the research being 
                conducted--
                            ``(i) use of research designs and methods 
                        appropriate to the research question posed;
                            ``(ii) use of systematic, empirical methods 
                        that draw on observation or experiment;
                            ``(iii) use of data analyses that are 
                        adequate to support the general findings;
                            ``(iv) making claims of causal 
                        relationships only in random assignment 
                        experiments or other designs (to the extent 
                        such designs substantially eliminate plausible 
                        competing explanations for the obtained 
                        results);
                            ``(v) consistency of findings across 
                        multiple studies or sites to support the 
                        generality of results and conclusions;
                            ``(vi) presentation of studies and methods 
                        in sufficient detail and clarity to allow for 
                        replication or, at a minimum, to offer the 
                        opportunity to build systematically on the 
                        findings of the research; and
                            ``(vii) acceptance by a peer-reviewed 
                        journal or critique by a panel of independent 
                        experts through a comparably rigorous, 
                        objective, and scientific review.'';
            (19) by inserting after paragraph (25), as redesignated by 
        paragraph (5), the following:
            ``(26) Priorities.--The term `priorities' means the 
        priorities proposed by the Director and approved by the Board 
        under section 115.
            ``(27) Regional educational laboratory.--The term `regional 
        educational laboratory' means a regional educational laboratory 
        established under section 157.'';
            (20) in paragraph (28), as redesignated by paragraph (5), 
        by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following:
                    ``(B) provides an adequate description of the 
                programs evaluated, the study sample, the individual or 
                multiple sites in which a program was evaluated, and, 
                to the extent possible, examines the relationship 
                between program implementation and program impacts, 
                including why or why not such impact occurred, and the 
                contextual factors that may influence program 
                impact;'';
            (21) in paragraph (29), as redesignated by paragraph (5), 
        by striking ``scientifically based research standards'' and 
        inserting ``principles of scientifically valid research'';
            (22) by striking paragraph (30), as redesignated by 
        paragraph (5), and inserting the following:
            ``(30) State.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `State' includes 
                (except as provided in section 148) each of the 50 
                States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of 
                Puerto Rico, the freely associated states, and the 
                outlying areas.
                    ``(B) Outlying area.--The term `outlying area' has 
                the meaning given such term in section 1121(c) of the 
                Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
                    ``(C) Freely associated states.--The term `freely 
                associated states' means the Republic of the Marshall 
                Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the 
                Republic of Palau.'';
            (23) by striking paragraph (31), as redesignated by 
        paragraph (5), and inserting the following:
            ``(31) Technical assistance.--The term `technical 
        assistance' means--
                    ``(A) assistance in evidence use, including 
                professional development, high-quality training, and 
                other supports to implement evidence-based practices 
                and strategies leading to--
                            ``(i) improved educational opportunities 
                        and approaches to teaching and learning that 
                        are based on scientifically valid research; and
                            ``(ii) improved planning, design, 
                        adaptation, and implementation of programs;
                    ``(B) assistance in interpreting, analyzing, and 
                utilizing data, statistics, and evaluations;
                    ``(C) assistance in identifying and applying to 
                research funding opportunities provided by the 
                Institute; or
                    ``(D) other assistance necessary to encourage the 
                improvement of teaching and learning through the 
                applications of techniques supported by scientifically 
                valid research.''; and
            (24) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(32) Tribal college or university.--The term `Tribal 
        College or University' has the meaning given the term in 
        section 316 of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
            ``(33) Tribal organization.--The term `Tribal organization' 
        has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
        Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
            ``(34) Youth with a disability.--The term `youth with a 
        disability' has the meaning given the term in section 7 of the 
        Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 705).''.

              PART A--THE INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION SCIENCES

SEC. 111. ESTABLISHMENT.

    Section 111 (20 U.S.C. 9511) is amended--
            (1) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
    ``(b) Mission.--
            ``(1) In general.--The mission of the Institute is to 
        provide national leadership in expanding fundamental knowledge 
        and understanding of education from early childhood through 
        postsecondary study (including special education, adult 
        education, and labor market outcomes), in order to provide 
        students, families, practitioners, education system leaders, 
        researchers, policymakers, and the general public with reliable 
        information and research about--
                    ``(A) the condition and progress of education in 
                the United States;
                    ``(B) educational practices that support learning 
                to improve student outcomes, including academic 
                achievement and access to high-quality educational 
                opportunities for all students, particularly for each 
                subgroup of students; and
                    ``(C) the effectiveness of Federal and other 
                education programs.
            ``(2) Carrying out mission.--In carrying out the mission 
        described in paragraph (1), the Institute shall--
                    ``(A) compile statistics, develop evidence-based 
                products, promote evidence use, and conduct research, 
                evaluations, and wide dissemination in a manner that is 
                responsive to the educational challenges facing 
                students, families, practitioners, and education system 
                leaders; and
                    ``(B) ensure that such activities--
                            ``(i) conform to high standards of quality, 
                        integrity, and accuracy; and
                            ``(ii) are objective, secular, neutral, and 
                        nonideological and are free of partisan 
                        political influence and bias on the basis of 
                        race, religion, color, national origin, sex, or 
                        disability.''; and
            (2) in subsection (c)(3)(C), by striking ``the National 
        Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance'' and 
        inserting ``the National Center for Education Evaluation and 
        Evidence Use''.

SEC. 112. FUNCTIONS.

    Section 112 (20 U.S.C. 9512) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``section 194'' and inserting ``section 
        182''; and
            (2) by striking paragraphs (1) through (4) and inserting 
        the following:
            ``(1) conduct and support scientifically valid research 
        activities, including basic research, applied research, and 
        field-initiated research, statistics activities, scientifically 
        valid education evaluation, development, wide dissemination, 
        and evidence use;
            ``(2) support collaborative identification and development 
        of research questions, designs, and methods among researchers, 
        students, families, practitioners, education system leaders, 
        and policymakers, and widely disseminate the findings and 
        results of scientifically valid research in education to such 
        individuals and within the Department and the Federal 
        Government;
            ``(3) promote the use, development, and application of 
        knowledge gained from scientifically valid research activities 
        to improve student outcomes, including academic achievement, 
        particularly for each subgroup of students;
            ``(4) strengthen the national, State, regional, and local 
        capacity to conduct, develop, and widely disseminate activities 
        described in paragraph (1), including by increasing the 
        participation of researchers and institutions that have been 
        historically underrepresented in Federal education research 
        activities of the Institute, including historically Black 
        colleges and universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, 
        and other minority-serving institutions;''.

SEC. 113. OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR.

    Section 114 (20 U.S.C. 9514) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``Except as provided in 
        subsection (b)(2), the'' and inserting ``The'';
            (2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
    ``(b) Term.--
            ``(1) In general.--
                    ``(A) 6-year term.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (B), the Director shall serve for a term 
                of 6 years, beginning on the date of appointment of the 
                Director.
                    ``(B) Exception.--If a successor to the Director 
                has not been named as of the date of expiration of the 
                Director's term, the Director may serve for not more 
                than an additional 1-year period, beginning on the day 
                after the date of expiration of the Director's term, or 
                until a successor has been appointed under subsection 
                (a), whichever occurs first.
            ``(2) Recommendations.--The Board shall make 
        recommendations to the President with respect to the 
        appointment of a Director under subsection (a).'';
            (3) in subsection (d), by striking ``productivity and 
        leadership'' and inserting ``productivity, leadership, and 
        support for wide dissemination and evidence use'';
            (4) in subsection (f)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``principles of 
                scientifically valid research and applicable'' before 
                ``standards'';
                    (B) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(3) To coordinate education research and related 
        activities carried out by the Institute with such research and 
        activities carried out by other agencies within the Department 
        and the Federal Government in order ensure such activities--
                    ``(A) support high-quality teaching and learning 
                for students, particularly for each subgroup of 
                students; and
                    ``(B) are responsive to the educational challenges 
                facing students, families, practitioners, and education 
                system leaders.'';
                    (C) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``and evidence 
                use'' after ``statistics activities'';
                    (D) in paragraph (5)--
                            (i) by striking ``necessary'' and inserting 
                        ``and maintain high-quality and timely''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``section 116(b)(3)'' and 
                        inserting ``section 116(b)(4)'';
                    (E) in paragraph (6), by striking ``section 183 of 
                this title'' and inserting ``section 173'';
                    (F) in paragraph (7), by striking ``racial, 
                cultural, gender, or regional bias'' and inserting 
                ``bias on the basis of race, religion, color, national 
                origin, sex, or disability'';
                    (G) by striking paragraph (8) and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(8) To undertake initiatives and programs to increase the 
        participation of researchers and institutions that have been 
        historically underrepresented in Federal education research 
        activities of the Institute, including historically Black 
        colleges or universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, or 
        other minority-serving institutions.'';
                    (H) in paragraph (9), by striking ``and 
                comprehensive centers'' and inserting ``, technical 
                assistance centers supported by the Department, and 
                comprehensive centers, to increase evidence use among 
                practitioners, education system leaders, and 
                policymakers'';
                    (I) in paragraph (10), by striking ``input from'' 
                and inserting ``engagement with''; and
                    (J) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(13) To ensure that information, statistics, products, 
        and publications of the Institute are prepared in a timely 
        manner and are widely disseminated to practitioners, education 
        system leaders, and policymakers in formats that are high 
        quality, easily accessible, understandable, and actionable.''; 
        and
            (5) in subsection (h), by striking ``by the Secretary'' and 
        all that follows through the period at the end and inserting 
        ``by the Secretary--
            ``(1) review the products and publications of other offices 
        of the Department to certify that evidence-based claims about 
        those products and publications are scientifically valid; and
            ``(2) accurately synthesize and effectively communicate the 
        research base of evidence-based practices that address 
        educational challenges facing students, families, 
        practitioners, and education system leaders.''.

SEC. 114. PRIORITIES.

    Section 115 (20 U.S.C. 9515) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 115. PRIORITIES.

    ``(a) In General.--The Director shall, not less often than every 6 
years, propose to the Board priorities for the Institute after--
            ``(1) first engaging with the Committee on Health, 
        Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee 
        on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives, 
        and engaging with practitioners, education system leaders, and 
        policymakers;
            ``(2) subsequent to the consultation and engagement under 
        paragraph (1), reviewing public comments submitted in 
        accordance with subsection (b); and
            ``(3) subsequent to reviewing public comments under 
        paragraph (2), identifying priority topics under subsection 
        (c).
    ``(b) Public Comment.--Before submitting to the Board proposed 
priorities for the Institute, the Director shall--
            ``(1) make such priorities available to the public for 
        comment for not less than 60 days (including by electronic 
        means such as posting in an easily accessible manner on the 
        Institute's website and through publishing such priorities in 
        the Federal Register);
            ``(2) ensure that the public comments were considered in 
        developing the priorities submitted by the Director to the 
        Board; and
            ``(3) provide to the Board a copy of each such public 
        comment submitted.
    ``(c) Priority Topics.--After reviewing public comments submitted 
in accordance with subsection (b), the Director shall identify priority 
topics that may require long-term research or that are focused on 
understanding and solving particular education problems and issues, 
including those associated with the goals and requirements of the Head 
Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.), the Child Care and Development 
Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9857 et seq.), the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965, the Individuals with Disabilities 
Education Act, the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act 
of 2006, the Higher Education Act of 1965, and the Adult Education and 
Family Literacy Act (29 U.S.C. 3271 et seq.), which may include--
            ``(1) supporting high-quality teaching and learning, 
        including through school and system design and instructional 
        strategies, in order to provide students, particularly each 
        subgroup of students, access to high-quality educational 
        opportunities and to improve educational outcomes, particularly 
        student academic achievement; and
            ``(2) increasing the identification and development of 
        evidence-based practices or policies, including the use of 
        science of learning and human development for meeting students' 
        needs and supporting improved outcomes.
    ``(d) Approval.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days, to the greatest 
        extent practicable, after the date the Board receives proposed 
        priorities under subsection (a), the Board shall, under a 
        majority vote of a quorum of the Board, approve or disapprove 
        the priorities, including any necessary revision of those 
        priorities.
            ``(2) Consistency.--The Board shall ensure that priorities 
        of the Institute and the National Education Centers are 
        consistent with the mission of the Institute.
    ``(e) Final Priorities.--The Director shall make the final 
priorities approved by the Board under subsection (d) widely available 
to the public, including by electronic means such as posting in an 
easily accessible manner on the Department's website.''.

SEC. 115. PLANS; EDUCATION RESEARCHER PIPELINE.

    Part A (20 U.S.C. 9511 et seq.) is amended by inserting after 
section 115 the following:

``SEC. 115A. PLANS.

    ``(a) Approval of Commissioners' Plans.--
            ``(1) Approval.--Not later than 30 days after the date the 
        Director receives a plan submitted under section 133(b), 
        143(b), 153(b), or 163(b), the Director shall approve such 
        plan, including requiring any necessary revision of such plan.
            ``(2) Consistency.--The Director shall ensure that each 
        plan approved under paragraph (1) is consistent with the 
        mission of the corresponding National Education Center.
    ``(b) Institute's Plan and Report.--Not later than 90 days after 
the date the Board approves priorities under section 115, the Director 
shall--
            ``(1) in consultation with each Commissioner of a National 
        Education Center and the Board--
                    ``(A) develop a plan for addressing such priorities 
                across the Institute's activities and functions, in 
                accordance with the requirements of this title; and
                    ``(B) incorporate in such plan each plan approved 
                by the Director in accordance with subsection (a);
            ``(2) submit a report containing the Institute's plan 
        described in paragraph (1) to the Committee on Health, 
        Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Committee on 
        Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Education and 
        the Workforce and the Committee on Appropriations of the House 
        of Representatives; and
            ``(3) make such report widely available to the public 
        (including by electronic means such as posting in an easily 
        accessible manner on the Department's website).
    ``(c) Briefing.--At the time of submission of a report required 
under subsection (b)(2), the Director shall provide a briefing to the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Committee 
on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
Representatives on the contents of the report.

``SEC. 115B. EDUCATION RESEARCHER PIPELINE.

    ``(a) In General.--In accordance with section 112(4), the Institute 
shall carry out initiatives and programs--
            ``(1) to strengthen the national capacity to carry out 
        high-quality research, evaluation, and statistics related to 
        education by expanding the education researcher pipeline; and
            ``(2) to increase the participation of researchers and 
        institutions that have been historically underrepresented in 
        Federal education research activities of the Institute, 
        including historically Black colleges and universities, Tribal 
        Colleges and Universities, and other minority-serving 
        institutions.
    ``(b) Fellowships.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Director shall establish and 
        maintain--
                    ``(A) research, evaluation, and statistics 
                fellowships in institutions of higher education (which 
                may include the establishment of such fellowships in 
                historically Black colleges and universities, Tribal 
                Colleges and Universities, and other minority-serving 
                institutions) that support--
                            ``(i) graduate and postdoctoral study 
                        onsite at the Institute or at the institution 
                        of higher education; and
                            ``(ii) early career researchers; and
                    ``(B) fellowships in new and emerging areas of 
                study.
            ``(2) Recruitment.--In establishing the fellowships under 
        paragraph (1), the Director shall ensure that women and 
        minorities are actively recruited for participation.
    ``(c) Coordination.--In carrying out this section, the Director 
shall ensure that the activities of the National Education Centers are 
coordinated effectively.''.

SEC. 116. NATIONAL BOARD FOR EDUCATION SCIENCES.

    Section 116 (20 U.S.C. 9516) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 116. NATIONAL BOARD FOR EDUCATION SCIENCES.

    ``(a) Establishment.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Institute shall have a board of 
        directors, which shall be known as the National Board for 
        Education Sciences.
            ``(2) Transition.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the 
                date of enactment of the Advancing Research in 
                Education Act, the Secretary shall appoint a Board in 
                accordance with this section as in effect on the date 
                of enactment of the Advancing Research in Education 
                Act.
                    ``(B) Transition authority.--The Secretary shall 
                take such steps as may be necessary to ensure an 
                orderly transition to the Board, as authorized under 
                subparagraph (A), from the Board, as in effect on the 
                day before the date of enactment of the Advancing 
                Research in Education Act, which may include adjusting 
                term limits of members on the Board.
                    ``(C) Existing board members.--In carrying out 
                subparagraph (A), the Secretary may--
                            ``(i) remove members who served on the 
                        Board on the day before the date of enactment 
                        of the Advancing Research in Education Act who 
                        were appointed in accordance with this title 
                        prior to such date of enactment; and
                            ``(ii) appoint members who served on the 
                        Board on the day before the date of enactment 
                        of the Advancing Research in Education Act.
    ``(b) Duties.--The duties of the Board are the following:
            ``(1) To advise and consult with the Director on the 
        policies of the Institute on an ongoing basis.
            ``(2) To advise on the research, evaluation, statistics, 
        development, and evidence use dissemination activities planned 
        or carried out by the Director and the Institute and make 
        recommendations to ensure such activities are responsive to the 
        educational challenges facing students, families, 
        practitioners, and education system leaders.
            ``(3) To consider and approve priorities proposed by the 
        Director under section 115 to guide the work of the Institute 
        in accordance with the timelines specified in such section.
            ``(4) To advise the Director on high-quality and timely 
        procedures for technical and scientific peer review of the 
        activities of the Institute.
            ``(5) To advise the Director on improving or promoting the 
        use, usefulness, and impact of activities to be supported by 
        the Institute, including the general areas of research to be 
        carried out by the National Center for Education Research and 
        the National Center for Special Education Research.
            ``(6) To present to the Director such recommendations as it 
        may find appropriate for--
                    ``(A) strengthening education research from early 
                childhood through postsecondary study;
                    ``(B) improving evidence use and dissemination; and
                    ``(C) the staffing and funding of the Institute.
            ``(7) To advise the Director on the funding of applications 
        for grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements for research 
        and the process for high-quality and timely peer review.
            ``(8) To advise and regularly evaluate the work of the 
        Institute on the basis that--
                    ``(A) scientifically valid research, development, 
                evaluation, and statistical analysis are consistent 
                with principles of scientifically valid research or the 
                applicable standards for such activities under this 
                title; and
                    ``(B) activities related to the development of 
                practices, wide dissemination, and evidence use are 
                effectively carried out.
            ``(9) To advise the Director on ensuring that activities 
        conducted or supported by the Institute are objective, secular, 
        neutral, and nonideological and are free of partisan political 
        influence and bias on the basis of race, religion, color, 
        national origin, sex, or disability.
            ``(10) To solicit advice and information from those in the 
        education field, particularly practitioners, education system 
        leaders, policymakers, and researchers, to recommend to the 
        Director topics that require long-term, sustained, systematic, 
        programmatic, and integrated research efforts, consistent with 
        the priorities and mission of the Institute.
            ``(11) To advise the Director on opportunities for the 
        participation in, and the advancement of, women, minorities, 
        and persons with disabilities, and institutions that have been 
        historically underrepresented in Federal education research 
        activities of the Institute, including community colleges, 
        historically Black colleges and universities, Tribal Colleges 
        and Universities, and other minority-serving institutions.
            ``(12) To recommend to the Director ways to enhance 
        strategic partnerships and collaborative efforts among other 
        Federal and State research agencies.
            ``(13) To recommend to the Director individuals to serve as 
        Commissioners of the National Education Centers.
    ``(c) Composition.--
            ``(1) Voting members.--The Board shall have 9 voting 
        members appointed by the Secretary.
            ``(2) Advice.--The Secretary shall solicit advice regarding 
        individuals to serve on the Board from the members of the Board 
        serving on the date of the solicitation, the National Academies 
        of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, and organizations that 
        have knowledge of individuals who are highly-qualified to 
        appraise scientifically valid research, statistics, evaluation, 
        development, dissemination, and evidence use.
            ``(3) Nonvoting ex officio members.--The Board may have the 
        following nonvoting ex officio members:
                    ``(A) The Director of the Institute of Education 
                Sciences.
                    ``(B) Each of the Commissioners of the National 
                Education Centers.
                    ``(C) The Director of the National Institute of 
                Child Health and Human Development.
                    ``(D) The Director of the Census.
                    ``(E) The Commissioner of Labor Statistics.
                    ``(F) The Director of the National Science 
                Foundation.
            ``(4) Appointed membership.--
                    ``(A) Qualifications.--Members appointed under 
                paragraph (1) shall be highly qualified to appraise 
                education research, statistics, evaluations, or 
                development, and shall include the following 
                individuals:
                            ``(i) Not fewer than 4 researchers in the 
                        field of statistics, evaluation, social 
                        sciences, or physical and biological sciences, 
                        with demonstrated experience in carrying out 
                        and effectively communicating scientifically 
                        valid research on education matters.
                            ``(ii) At least 1 practitioner who is a 
                        school-based professional educator, teacher, 
                        principal, other school leader, local 
                        educational agency superintendent, or member of 
                        a local board of education or Bureau-funded 
                        school board.
                            ``(iii) At least 1 State leader who is 
                        knowledgeable about the educational challenges 
                        facing students, families, practitioners, and 
                        education system leaders, who may be a chief 
                        State school officer, State postsecondary 
                        education executive, or member of a State board 
                        of education.
                            ``(iv) At least 1 individual with expertise 
                        in special education research and research on 
                        children with disabilities in educational 
                        settings.
                    ``(B) Terms.--Each member shall serve for a term of 
                6 years, except that--
                            ``(i) the terms of members appointed in 
                        accordance with subsection (a)(2) shall be--
                                    ``(I) 6 years for each of 3 
                                members;
                                    ``(II) 4 years for each of 3 
                                members; and
                                    ``(III) 2 years for each of 3 
                                members;
                            ``(ii) no member shall serve for more than 
                        2 consecutive terms; and
                            ``(iii) in a case in which a successor to a 
                        member has not been appointed as of the date of 
                        expiration of the member's term, the member may 
                        serve for an additional 1-year period, 
                        beginning on the day after the date of 
                        expiration of the member's term, or until a 
                        successor has been appointed under paragraph 
                        (1), whichever occurs first.
                    ``(C) Vacancies.--The Secretary shall fill any 
                vacancy to the Board in the manner in which the 
                original appointment was made. Any member appointed to 
                fill a vacancy on the Board occurring before the 
                expiration of the term for which the member's 
                predecessor was appointed shall be appointed only for 
                the remainder of that term.
                    ``(D) Conflict of interest.--A voting member of the 
                Board shall be considered a special Government employee 
                for the purposes of chapter 131 of title 5, United 
                States Code.
            ``(5) Chair.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Board shall elect a chair 
                from among the members of the Board through a majority 
                vote of a quorum.
                    ``(B) Terms.--The chair shall serve in such role 
                for a term of 2 years, and may be re-elected in 
                accordance with subparagraph (A).
                    ``(C) Chair vacancy.--If the chair has been vacant 
                for more than 3 months, at the written request of a 
                quorum of the Board, the Director shall convene a 
                meeting of the Board to, at a minimum, elect a chair.
            ``(6) Compensation.--Members of the Board shall serve 
        without pay for such service. Members of the Board who are 
        officers or employees of the United States may not receive 
        additional pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of their 
        service on the Board.
            ``(7) Travel expenses.--The members of the Board shall 
        receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
        subsistence, in accordance with subchapter I of chapter 57 of 
        title 5, United States Code.
            ``(8) Powers of the board.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In the exercise of its duties 
                under subsection (b) and in accordance with chapter 10 
                of title 5, United States Code, the Board shall be 
                independent of the Director and the other offices and 
                officers of the Institute.
                    ``(B) Executive director.--The Board shall have an 
                Executive Director who shall be appointed by the Board 
                and hired by the Director not later than 90 days after 
                such appointment, to the greatest extent practicable.
                    ``(C) Administrative support.--The Board shall 
                receive administrative support from the Director and 
                may use additional staff as may be appointed or 
                assigned by the Director, in consultation with the 
                Chair and the Executive Director.
                    ``(D) Detail of personnel.--The Board may use the 
                services and facilities of any department or agency of 
                the Federal Government. Upon the request of the Board, 
                the head of any Federal agency may detail any of the 
                personnel of such agency to the Board to assist the 
                Board in carrying out this title.
                    ``(E) Contracts.--The Board may enter into 
                contracts or make other arrangements as may be 
                necessary to carry out its functions.
                    ``(F) Information.--The Board may, to the extent 
                otherwise permitted by law, obtain directly from any 
                executive Federal agency such information as the Board 
                determines necessary to carry out its functions.
                    ``(G) Subcommittees.--The Board may establish 
                standing or temporary subcommittees to make 
                recommendations to the Board for carrying out 
                activities authorized under this title.
            ``(9) Meetings.--The Board shall meet not less often than 3 
        times each year. The Board shall hold additional meetings at 
        the call of the Chair or upon the written request of not less 
        than a quorum of the Board. Meetings of the Board are subject 
        to section 552b of title 5, United States Code (commonly 
        referred to as the Government in the Sunshine Act).
            ``(10) Quorum.--A majority of the voting members of the 
        Board serving at the time of the meeting shall constitute a 
        quorum.
    ``(d) Board Biennial Reports.--Not later than September 30, 2024, 
and biennially thereafter, the Board shall submit a report to the 
Director, the Secretary, the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, and the 
Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Committee on 
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and make such report 
widely available to the public (including by electronic means such as 
posting in an easily accessible manner on the Department's website). 
Each report shall include--
            ``(1) an evaluation of the Institute's activities to ensure 
        that research, evaluation, statistics, development, and 
        evidence use and dissemination activities are--
                    ``(A) consistent with principles of scientifically 
                valid research or the applicable standards for such 
                activities under this title; and
                    ``(B) responsive to the educational challenges 
                facing students, families, practitioners, and education 
                system leaders;
            ``(2) an assessment of the effectiveness of the Institute 
        in--
                    ``(A) carrying out the Institute's priorities and 
                mission;
                    ``(B) engaging with practitioners, education system 
                leaders, and policymakers to promote the use, 
                usefulness, and impact of scientifically valid research 
                activities and supporting the development of evidence-
                based practices, wide dissemination, evidence use, and 
                continuous improvement; and
                    ``(C) increasing the participation of researchers 
                and institutions that have been historically 
                underrepresented in Federal education research 
                activities of the Institute, including community 
                colleges, historically Black colleges and universities, 
                Tribal Colleges and Universities, and other minority-
                serving institutions;
            ``(3) a description of any recommendations regarding 
        actions that may be taken to enhance the ability of the 
        Institute and the National Education Centers to carry out their 
        missions and priorities, and to improve governance within the 
        Institute;
            ``(4) a description of the number of staff serving the 
        Board, in accordance with subsection (c)(8), the activities 
        carried out by the Board, and any challenges faced by the Board 
        in carrying out the Board's duties described in subsection (b); 
        and
            ``(5) a list of members who have served at some point 
        during the preceding 2 fiscal years, their affiliations, and 
        their term expiration dates.
    ``(e) Board Briefing.--At the time of submission of a report 
required under subsection (d), the Board shall provide a briefing to 
the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the 
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on 
Education and the Workforce and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
House of Representatives on the contents of the report.''.

SEC. 117. COMMISSIONERS OF THE NATIONAL EDUCATION CENTERS.

    Section 117 (20 U.S.C. 9517) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``Except as 
                provided in subsection (b), each'' and inserting 
                ``Each'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``Except as 
                provided in subsection (b), each'' and inserting 
                ``Each''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (3), by striking ``Except as 
                provided in subsection (b), each'' and inserting 
                ``Each'';
            (2) by striking subsection (b);
            (3) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections 
        (b) and (c), respectively; and
            (4) in subsection (c), as redesignated by paragraph (3)--
                    (A) by striking ``Each Commissioner, except the 
                Commissioner for Education Statistics, shall'' and 
                inserting the following:
            ``(1) In general.--Each Commissioner shall''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) Timeliness.--In carrying out supervision and approval 
        as described under subparagraph (A), the Director shall ensure 
        that each Commissioner carries out the Commissioner's duties in 
        a manner that promotes high-quality, easily accessible, 
        actionable, and timely information, consistent with the mission 
        of the Institute.''.

SEC. 118. AGREEMENTS.

    Section 118 (20 U.S.C. 9518) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 118. AGREEMENTS.

    ``(a) Research Coordination.--The Institute may carry out research 
projects of common interest with Federal agencies through agreements 
with such agencies that are in accordance with section 173 and section 
430 of the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1231).
    ``(b) Statistical Data Coordination.--The Institute may carry out, 
for the purpose of research, statistical data projects of common 
interest or coordinate with Federal agencies to ensure that statistical 
data reported by the National Center for Education Statistics is high-
quality, actionable, timely, and easily accessible, in accordance with 
section 173 and section 430 of the General Education Provisions Act (20 
U.S.C. 1231).''.

SEC. 119. DIRECTOR BIENNIAL REPORT.

    Section 119 (20 U.S.C. 9519) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 119. DIRECTOR BIENNIAL REPORT.

    ``(a) In General.--The Director shall, on a biennial basis, 
transmit to the President, the Board, and the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Committee on Appropriations of 
the Senate and the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the 
Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, a report 
and make such report widely available to the public (including by 
electronic means such as posting in an easily accessible manner on the 
Department's website), containing the following:
            ``(1) A description of the research, evaluation, 
        statistics, development, and evidence use and dissemination 
        activities carried out by and through the National Education 
        Centers during the 2 fiscal years prior to the date of the 
        transmission, including how such activities were--
                    ``(A) consistent with principles of scientifically 
                valid research or the applicable standards for such 
                activities under this title, and the priorities and 
                mission of the Institute; and
                    ``(B) responsive to the educational challenges 
                facing students, families, practitioners, and education 
                system leaders, including how the Institute regularly 
                solicited, engaged with, and considered the 
                recommendations of researchers, practitioners, 
                education system leaders, and the Board in the planning 
                and carrying out of the Institute's activities.
            ``(2) A description of how the Director is carrying out the 
        requirements to increase the participation of researchers and 
        institutions that have been historically underrepresented in 
        Federal education research activities of the Institute.
            ``(3) Such additional comments, recommendations, and 
        materials as the Director considers appropriate.
    ``(b) Director Briefing.--At the time of transmission of the report 
required under subsection (a), the Director shall provide a briefing to 
the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the 
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on 
Education and the Workforce and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
House of Representatives on the contents of the report.''.

SEC. 120. TRANSPARENCY.

    Part A (20 U.S.C. 9511 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:

``SEC. 121. TRANSPARENCY.

    ``Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the 
Advancing Research in Education Act, the Director shall develop and 
manage a database in an easily accessible manner, such as through 
electronic means and posting on the Institute's website, to store and 
update information regarding--
            ``(1) individuals or entities that received a grant, 
        contract, or cooperative agreement under this title;
            ``(2) the amount of such a grant, contract, or cooperative 
        agreement, including the award period and amount received in 
        each fiscal year; and
            ``(3) the activities supported or carried out by such 
        award, including applicable research area and methodology.''.

             PART B--NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION RESEARCH

SEC. 131. ESTABLISHMENT.

    Section 131(b) (20 U.S.C. 9531(b)) is amended--
            (1) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
            ``(1) to sponsor sustained research that will lead to the 
        accumulation of knowledge and understanding of education to 
        ensure that all students, particularly subgroups of students, 
        have access to high-quality educational opportunities, 
        including by--
                    ``(A) improving educational outcomes, particularly 
                student academic achievement, and closing the 
                opportunity and achievement gap between students, 
                particularly each subgroup of students;
                    ``(B) supporting high-quality teaching and 
                learning;
                    ``(C) increasing the identification and development 
                of evidence-based practices or policies, such as use of 
                science of learning and human development;
                    ``(D) improving evidence use by practitioners, 
                education system leaders, and policymakers; and
                    ``(E) improving access to, and completion of, 
                postsecondary education;''; and
            (2) by striking paragraphs (2) through (4) and inserting 
        the following:
            ``(2) to promote quality and integrity through the use of 
        accepted practices of scientific inquiry to obtain knowledge 
        and understanding of the validity of education theories, 
        practices, or conditions; and
            ``(3) to promote engagement, the synthesis of education 
        research, the development of evidence-based practices, wide 
        dissemination of research, and evidence use--
                    ``(A) in a manner that is responsive to the 
                educational challenges facing students, families, 
                practitioners, and education system leaders; and
                    ``(B) that can provide the basis for improving 
                academic instruction and lifelong learning.''.

SEC. 132. COMMISSIONER FOR EDUCATION RESEARCH.

    Section 132 (20 U.S.C. 9532) is amended by inserting 
``scientifically valid'' before ``research and research management''.

SEC. 133. DUTIES.

    Section 133 (20 U.S.C. 9533) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as subsections 
        (c) and (g), respectively;
            (2) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
    ``(a) General Duties.--The Research Commissioner shall--
            ``(1) maintain published peer-review standards and 
        standards for the conduct and evaluation of all research and 
        development carried out under the auspices of the Research 
        Center, aligned with the principles of scientifically valid 
        research and in accordance with this part;
            ``(2) propose to the Director a research plan in accordance 
        with subsection (b), and implement the research plan approved 
        as part of the Institute's plan under section 115A;
            ``(3) carry out specific, long-term research activities 
        that are consistent with the priorities and mission of the 
        Institute and the mission of the Research Center, and are 
        approved by the Director;
            ``(4) support scientifically valid research that seeks to 
        improve educational opportunities and outcomes at the 
        individual, classroom, program, school, institutional, 
        education system, or other relevant research level;
            ``(5) support the use of scientifically valid research 
        within the Department and across the Federal Government;
            ``(6) ensure that research conducted under the direction of 
        the Research Center--
                    ``(A) supports the collaborative identification and 
                development of research questions, designs, 
                measurements, and methods among researchers, students, 
                families, practitioners, education system leaders, and 
                policymakers;
                    ``(B) is relevant to improving education practice 
                and policy; and
                    ``(C) informs decision-making by education system 
                leaders and policymakers;
            ``(7) support evidence use, the development of evidence-
        based practices, and wide dissemination and the synthesis of 
        education research, including--
                    ``(A) carrying out research to promote evidence use 
                among practitioners, education system leaders, and 
                policymakers; and
                    ``(B) synthesizing and disseminating, through the 
                National Center for Education Evaluation and Evidence 
                Use, the findings and results of education research 
                conducted or supported by the Research Center;
            ``(8) assist the Director in the preparation of a biennial 
        report, as described in section 119;
            ``(9) conduct and foster scientifically valid research that 
        analyzes Federal data, in accordance with section 173, 
        including supporting the timely publication and dissemination 
        of these data to support external research and data analysis; 
        and
            ``(10) coordinate with the Commissioner for Education 
        Evaluation and Evidence Use to ensure that research conducted 
        under the direction of the Research Center is reviewed for 
        inclusion in the National Education Research Database described 
        in section 155.
    ``(b) Research Plan.--Not later than 60 days after the date the 
Board approves priorities under section 115, the Research Commissioner 
shall develop and submit a research plan to the Director that--
            ``(1) is consistent with the mission of the Institute and 
        the mission of the Research Center and specifies how the 
        Research Center will carry out research initiatives, including 
        rigorous, peer-reviewed, large-scale, long-term, and broadly 
        applicable empirical research, to ensure high-quality 
        educational opportunities for all students in accordance with 
        the areas described in section 131(b)(1);
            ``(2) uses objective and measurable indicators, including 
        timelines, to assess the progress and results of such research;
            ``(3) ensures that research conducted under the direction 
        of the Research Center meets the procedures for peer review 
        established by the Director under section 114(f)(5) and the 
        standards of research described in section 134; and
            ``(4) includes both basic research and applied research, 
        which shall include research conducted through field-initiated 
        research and ongoing research initiatives.'';
            (3) by inserting after subsection (c), as redesignated by 
        paragraph (1), the following:
    ``(d) Grant Cycle.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Research Commissioner shall, for 
        research to be conducted through contracts, grants, or 
        cooperative agreements under this section, conduct, to the 
        greatest extent practicable, not less than 2 separate 
        application periods in a given fiscal year.
            ``(2) Implementation.--The Secretary and the Director shall 
        take steps to implement paragraph (1) not later than the 
        beginning of the third fiscal year after the date of enactment 
        of the Advancing Research in Education Act.
            ``(3) Technical assistance.--In carrying out the grant 
        cycle described in this subsection, the Research Commissioner 
        shall provide technical assistance to prospective applicants, 
        with a focus on increasing the participation of researchers and 
        institutions that have been historically underrepresented in 
        Federal education research activities of the Institute, 
        including historically Black colleges and universities, Tribal 
        Colleges or Universities, and other minority-serving 
        institutions.
    ``(e) Research-Practice Partnerships.--
            ``(1) In general.--In carrying out activities under 
        subsection (a), the Research Commissioner may award grants to, 
        or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with, 
        eligible entities to carry out research-practice partnerships 
        that--
                    ``(A) are responsive to the needs of students, 
                families, practitioners, education system leaders, and 
                policymakers; and
                    ``(B) may focus on an area of education in early 
                childhood through postsecondary study.
            ``(2) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' 
                means a public agency or private entity that--
                            ``(i) has demonstrated the ability and 
                        capacity to conduct scientifically valid 
                        research; and
                            ``(ii) proposes to partner with one or more 
                        of the following entities:
                                    ``(I) An early childhood education 
                                program, Head Start agency, or lead 
                                agency designated under section 658D of 
                                the Child Care and Development Block 
                                Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858b).
                                    ``(II) A public elementary school 
                                or secondary school (including a 
                                charter school), local educational 
                                agency, or State educational agency.
                                    ``(III) An institution of higher 
                                education, including a community 
                                college, a historically Black college 
                                or university, a Tribal College or 
                                University, or other minority-serving 
                                institution.
                    ``(B) Research-practice partnership.--The term 
                `research-practice partnership' means mutually 
                beneficial and ongoing collaborations between 
                researchers, practitioners, and education system 
                leaders--
                            ``(i) to identify and develop research 
                        questions, designs, measurements, and methods 
                        that address educational challenges in early 
                        childhood through postsecondary study, as 
                        applicable;
                            ``(ii) to conduct and support field-
                        initiated research, including evaluations; and
                            ``(iii) to engage in activities that 
                        support researchers, practitioners, and 
                        education system leaders in understanding and 
                        using scientifically-valid research, 
                        statistics, and evaluations, including the 
                        findings, research base, and implications of 
                        such work, in order to support evidence use and 
                        continuous improvement.
    ``(f) State Capacity R&D Grants.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Director may award grants to, or 
        enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with, State 
        educational agencies and the Bureau of Indian Education to 
        increase such entities' capacity to carry out scientifically 
        valid research, data collection, statistical analysis, 
        evaluation, research-practice partnerships (as such term is 
        defined in subsection (e)(2)(B)), or planning for such 
        activities--
                    ``(A) in a manner that is responsive to the needs 
                of students, families, practitioners, education system 
                leaders, and policymakers in the State; and
                    ``(B) in accordance with section 173.
            ``(2) Priority.--The Director shall give priority to 
        applications that propose to, in accordance with paragraph 
        (1)--
                    ``(A) address research questions developed by 
                practitioners in consultation with researchers; and
                    ``(B) produce actionable information or evidence-
                based practices to improve teaching and learning in the 
                State.''; and
            (4) in subsection (g), as redesignated by paragraph (1)--
                    (A) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(2) Topics of research.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Research Commissioner may 
                support, as described in subparagraph (B), the 
                following topics of research:
                            ``(i) Science of learning and development.
                            ``(ii) School improvement, including 
                        standards, systems of assessment, and 
                        accountability research to support teaching and 
                        learning.
                            ``(iii) Early childhood development and 
                        education.
                            ``(iv) English learners research.
                            ``(v) Improving teaching and learning.
                            ``(vi) Innovative and promising practices 
                        in State and local educational policy.
                            ``(vii) Student well-being, including 
                        mental health.
                            ``(viii) Postsecondary education and 
                        workforce development.
                            ``(ix) Rural education.
                            ``(x) Teacher, principal, and school leader 
                        quality.
                            ``(xi) Reading and literacy, including 
                        adult literacy.
                            ``(xii) Supporting infants and toddlers 
                        with disabilities, children with disabilities, 
                        and youth with disabilities, particularly 
                        inclusive educational practices to serve such 
                        populations.
                            ``(xiii) Educational technology, including 
                        artificial intelligence.
                    ``(B) Field advancement.--The Secretary shall 
                support the topics of research described in 
                subparagraph (A) through national research and 
                development centers or through other means, including 
                convening experts to advance the field of such topics.
                    ``(C) Coordination.--The Research Commissioner 
                shall coordinate with the Special Education Research 
                Commissioner in carrying out subparagraph (A)(xii).'';
                    (B) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) in the first sentence, by striking 
                        ``including in educational technology areas'' 
                        and inserting ``and be responsive to the 
                        challenges facing students, practitioners, and 
                        education system leaders''; and
                            (ii) by striking the third sentence; and
                    (C) by striking paragraph (7) and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(7) Disaggregation.--To the extent feasible when aligned 
        with the principles of scientifically valid research, research 
        conducted under this subsection shall be disaggregated and made 
        available to the public in an easily accessible and user-
        friendly manner that--
                    ``(A) can be cross-tabulated by, at a minimum, age, 
                race, sex, English proficiency status, disability 
                status (including by disability category under the 
                Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, as 
                appropriate), and socioeconomic background;
                    ``(B) ensures that any reported information does 
                not reveal personally identifiable information; and
                    ``(C) is in accordance with section 173.''.

SEC. 134. STANDARDS FOR CONDUCT AND EVALUATION OF RESEARCH.

    Section 134 (20 U.S.C. 9534) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``scientifically 
                based research standards'' and inserting ``principles 
                of scientifically valid research'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and wide 
                dissemination activities'' and inserting ``engagement, 
                wide dissemination, and evidence use activities'';
                    (C) in paragraph (3), by striking ``and'' after the 
                semicolon;
                    (D) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph 
                (5);
                    (E) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
            ``(4) ensure that data resulting from research conducted 
        under the direction of the Research Center be made available in 
        public, restricted-use, and easily accessible formats for 
        further analyses, reproducibility studies, and replication of 
        research, as long as any reported information does not reveal 
        personally identifiable information; and''; and
                    (F) in paragraph (5), as redesignated by 
                subparagraph (D), by inserting ``, confidentiality, and 
                privacy'' after ``misconduct''; and
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph 
                (3); and
                    (B) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
            ``(2) Requirements.--The Director shall ensure that the 
        system established under paragraph (1)--
                    ``(A) ensures that research funded by the Institute 
                is high-quality;
                    ``(B) utilized high-quality and timely procedures, 
                in a manner that does not take longer than is necessary 
                to ensure quality; and
                    ``(C) is conducted with fair review processes to 
                ensure that applications and products are evaluated on 
                their merit, which may include consulting with other 
                Federal research agencies to promote fair merit-based 
                peer review.''.

            PART C--NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS

SEC. 141. ESTABLISHMENT.

    Section 141(b) (20 U.S.C. 9541(b)), as redesignated by section 102, 
is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``in a manner that meets 
        the highest methodological standards'' and inserting ``from 
        early childhood through postsecondary study in a manner that 
        meets the highest methodological and data usability 
        standards'';
            (2) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
            ``(2) to report valid and reliable education information 
        and statistics in a manner that is high-quality, actionable, 
        timely, and easily accessible to the public; and''; and
            (3) in paragraph (3)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``racial, 
                cultural, gender, or regional bias'' and inserting 
                ``bias on the basis of race, religion, color, national 
                origin, sex, or disability''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``education 
                system leaders,'' after ``practitioners,''.

SEC. 142. COMMISSIONER FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS.

    Section 142 (20 U.S.C. 9542), as redesignated by section 102, is 
amended by striking ``shall be highly'' and all that follows through 
the period at the end and inserting the following: ``shall--
            ``(1) be highly qualified;
            ``(2) have substantial knowledge of--
                    ``(A) statistical methodologies and activities 
                undertaken by the Statistics Center; and
                    ``(B) Federal privacy and data confidentiality 
                laws, guidance, and regulations; and
            ``(3) serve as the statistical official designated for the 
        Department in accordance with section 314 of title 5, United 
        States Code.''.

SEC. 143. DUTIES.

    Section 143 (20 U.S.C. 9543), as redesignated by section 102, is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
                striking ``The Statistics Center'' and all that follows 
                through ``nations'' and inserting ``The Statistics 
                Commissioner shall collect, report, analyze, and 
                disseminate valid and reliable statistical data related 
                to education from early childhood through postsecondary 
                study in the United States and in other countries'';
                    (B) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
                        (A)--
                                    (I) by inserting ``(where 
                                appropriate, using universal or 
                                sampling methodologies or analysis of 
                                administrative data)'' after 
                                ``collecting''; and
                                    (II) by striking ``preschool, 
                                elementary, secondary, postsecondary, 
                                and adult'' and inserting ``early 
                                childhood, elementary, secondary, 
                                postsecondary, workforce, and adult 
                                education'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
                        ``reform activities'' and inserting 
                        ``activities to ensure all children, and 
                        particularly each subgroup of students, have 
                        access to high-quality educational 
                        opportunities'';
                            (iii) by redesignating subparagraphs (H) 
                        through (O) as subparagraphs (L) through (S), 
                        respectively;
                            (iv) by striking subparagraphs (D) through 
                        (G) and inserting the following:
                    ``(D) special education services and supports;
                    ``(E)(i) secondary school completions 
                (disaggregated by attainment of a regular high school 
                diploma or a recognized equivalent of a diploma);
                    ``(ii) secondary school graduation and completion 
                rates, including the four-year adjusted cohort 
                graduation rate (as defined in section 8101 of the 
                Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965) and the 
                extended-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (as 
                defined in such section); and
                    ``(iii) secondary school dropouts;
                    ``(F) postsecondary education enrollment, 
                retention, transfer, and completion rates 
                (disaggregated by programs of study, enrollment status, 
                status as a recipient of a Federal Pell Grant under 
                section 401 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, and 
                subgroups of students), and labor market outcomes, 
                including in early college high school or dual or 
                concurrent enrollment programs;
                    ``(G) cost of attendance, net price, and revenue 
                of, and expenditures in, postsecondary education, 
                including data on Federal, State, and local financial 
                aid to postsecondary students;
                    ``(H) access to, and opportunity for, adult 
                literacy and education;
                    ``(I) teaching, including--
                            ``(i) data on the availability of teacher 
                        and school leader preparation programs, 
                        including--
                                    ``(I) requirements related to 
                                courses taken in the core academic 
                                content areas of the program; and
                                    ``(II) requirements related to 
                                evidenced-based clinical experiences;
                            ``(ii) data on teacher and school leader 
                        demographics and qualifications, including the 
                        percentage of teachers who--
                                    ``(I) meet the applicable State 
                                certification and licensure 
                                requirements, including requirements 
                                for certification obtained through 
                                alternative routes to certification; 
                                and
                                    ``(II) fully meet applicable State 
                                certification and licensure 
                                requirements in the area such teachers 
                                are assigned to teach, including, with 
                                regard to special education teachers, 
                                the qualifications described in section 
                                612(a)(14)(C) of the Individuals with 
                                Disabilities Education Act; and
                            ``(iii) data on teacher and school leader 
                        professional development; and
                    ``(J) the conditions of the education workplace, 
                including annual base salaries and total compensation 
                of full-time teachers, and the supply of, and demand 
                for, teachers, including educator shortages related to 
                specific subject areas and regions;
                    ``(K) indicators of school climate and student 
                mental health;'';
                            (v) in subparagraph (M), as redesignated by 
                        clause (iii), by inserting ``(including 
                        Federal, State, and local per-pupil 
                        expenditures), and the condition of school 
                        facilities'' before the semicolon at the end;
                            (vi) in subparagraph (N), as so 
                        redesignated, by striking ``social and 
                        economic'' and inserting ``socioeconomic'';
                            (vii) by striking subparagraph (O), as so 
                        redesignated, and inserting the following:
                    ``(O) access to, and use of, technology (including 
                assistive and adaptive technology) and Internet 
                connectivity;'';
                            (viii) in subparagraph (Q), as so 
                        redesignated, by striking ``and after-school 
                        programs'' and inserting ``, after-school, and 
                        summer learning and enrichment programs''; and
                            (ix) by striking subparagraph (R), as so 
                        redesignated, and inserting the following:
                    ``(R) the availability of, and access to, career 
                and technical education programs, disaggregated by 
                career cluster; and'';
                    (C) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(3) collecting, analyzing, cross-tabulating, and 
        reporting, where available and in a manner that does not reveal 
        personally identifiable information (in accordance with section 
        173), information disaggregated by--
                    ``(A) sex, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, 
                English learner status, disability status (including by 
                disability category under the Individuals with 
                Disabilities Education Act as appropriate), homeless 
                status, status as a child in foster care, and status as 
                a student with a parent who is a member of the Armed 
                Forces (as defined in section 101(a)(4) of title 10, 
                United States Code); and
                    ``(B) urban, rural, and suburban local educational 
                agencies;'';
                    (D) by redesignating paragraphs (7), (8), and (9) 
                as paragraphs (8), (9), and (10), respectively;
                    (E) by striking paragraphs (4) through (6) and 
                inserting the following:
            ``(4) collecting and compiling data required to be 
        accessible to the public from annual State report cards 
        described in section 1111(h)(1)(C) of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 and from annual local 
        educational agency report cards described in section 
        1111(h)(2)(C) of such Act;
            ``(5) assisting public and private educational agencies, 
        organizations, and institutions in--
                    ``(A) improving and automating statistical and data 
                collection activities;
                    ``(B) promoting privacy, security, and 
                confidentiality of student data, and
                    ``(C) developing and improving statewide 
                longitudinal data systems that integrate data from 
                early childhood education, elementary and secondary 
                education, postsecondary education, adult education, 
                workforce development, and labor market outcomes, as 
                applicable;
            ``(6) supporting State public agencies in developing and 
        operating statewide longitudinal data systems to improve 
        student academic achievement and close achievement gaps by--
                    ``(A) developing voluntary standards to promote 
                data interoperability, modernization, analysis, and 
                security; and
                    ``(B) providing technical assistance to--
                            ``(i) improve data sharing and promote 
                        linkages across early childhood education, 
                        elementary, secondary, and postsecondary 
                        education, workforce, and the labor market;
                            ``(ii) build capacity and tools to support 
                        public analysis of such systems to inform 
                        decision-making by education system leaders and 
                        policymakers; and
                            ``(iii) protect student confidentiality 
                        consistent with section 173;
            ``(7) acquiring and disseminating data on educational 
        activities and student achievement (such as the Trends in 
        International Math and Science Study and the Program for 
        International Student Assessment) in the United States compared 
        with foreign countries;''; and
                    (F) by striking paragraph (10), as redesignated by 
                subparagraph (D), and inserting the following:
            ``(10) developing, in coordination with the Director of the 
        Census Bureau, a valid and accurate alternative student poverty 
        measurement to improve the identification of students from low-
        income backgrounds and schools and local educational agencies 
        that serve a high number or percentage of such students.'';
            (2) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (d); and
            (3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
    ``(b) Statistical Plan.--Not later than 60 days after the date on 
which the Board approves priorities of the Institute, the Statistics 
Commissioner shall develop and submit a statistics plan to the Director 
that is consistent with the mission of the Statistics Center and 
specifies the Statistics Center's plan to--
            ``(1) carry out the duties described in subsection (a) and 
        issue reports described in section 145, consistent with the 
        requirements of section 173;
            ``(2) continuously improve aspects of statistical 
        operations, testing, and implementation of new methods to 
        enhance the usability and cost-effectiveness of data 
        collections, processing, and dissemination carried out by the 
        Statistics Center; and
            ``(3) improve the efficiency, timeliness, relevance, usage, 
        and impact of the education information, statistics, and 
        products issued by the Statistics Center.
    ``(c) Report on Alternative Poverty Measures.--Not later than 2 
years after the date of enactment of the Advancing Research in 
Education Act, and every 3 fiscal years thereafter, the Director, in 
consultation with the Statistics Commissioner and the Director of the 
Census Bureau, shall submit, to the Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate 
and the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Committee on 
Appropriations of the House of Representatives, a report describing--
            ``(1) activities carried out by the Statistics Center as 
        required under subsection (a)(10) and section 144(d) to support 
        the development of a valid and accurate alternative student 
        poverty measurement, including for students who reside in rural 
        communities;
            ``(2) an assessment of State efforts to improve the 
        identification of students from low-income backgrounds, and 
        Federal, State, and local recommendations to support effective 
        approaches; and
            ``(3) the number of staff and amount of funding allocated 
        by the Institute to support the development of alternative 
        poverty measurements.''.

SEC. 144. PERFORMANCE OF DUTIES.

    Section 144 (20 U.S.C. 9544), as redesignated by section 102, is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking ``Agreements.--In carrying out'' 
                and inserting the following: ``Agreements--
            ``(1) In general.--In carrying out''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) Data management plans.--A recipient of a grant, 
        contract, or cooperative agreement under this part shall submit 
        to the Statistics Commissioner a plan describing how such 
        recipient will address and demonstrate progress on the 
        requirements of the performance management system described in 
        section 175 with respect to the activities that will be carried 
        out under the grant, contract, or cooperative agreement.'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``preschools'' 
                and all that follows through ``students'' and inserting 
                ``early childhood education programs, institutions of 
                higher education, career and technical education 
                programs, adult education and literacy activities, 
                libraries, administrators, teachers, principals, other 
                school leaders, paraprofessionals, students,''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (4)--
                            (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
                        (A), by striking ``to serve the educational 
                        needs of children and youth'' and inserting 
                        ``to be responsive to the educational 
                        challenges facing students, families, 
                        practitioners, and education system leaders''; 
                        and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``, 
                        including data reported to the Department in 
                        accordance with the Elementary and Secondary 
                        Education Act of 1965, the Carl D. Perkins 
                        Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, the 
                        Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 
                        and the Higher Education Act of 1965'' before 
                        the period at the end; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Alternative Poverty Measurement.--Consistent with the 
requirements of section 143(a)(10), the Statistics Commissioner shall 
dedicate sufficient staffing and financial resources to support the 
development, in coordination with the Director of the Census Bureau, of 
a valid and accurate alternative student poverty measurement, which may 
support the purpose of title I of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 and other applicable Federal education laws.''.

SEC. 145. REPORTS.

    Section 145 (20 U.S.C. 9545), as redesignated by section 102, is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``section 186,'' and all 
        that follows through the period at the end and inserting the 
        following: ``section 176, to ensure that the reports issued 
        under this section are--
            ``(1) of high quality and subject to rigorous peer review; 
        and
            ``(2) produced in a timely fashion and in a manner that 
        is--
                    ``(A) objective, secular, neutral, nonideological, 
                and free of partisan political influence and bias on 
                the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, 
                sex, or disability; and
                    ``(B) relevant and useful to practitioners, 
                education system leaders, researchers, policymakers, 
                and the public.'';
            (2) in subsection (b), by striking the comma after 
        ``Statistics Commissioner'';
            (3) in subsection (c), by striking ``priorities and the 
        mission of the Statistics Center'' and inserting ``priorities 
        and mission of the Institute and the mission of the Statistics 
        Center''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Expedited Surveys.--The Statistics Commissioner shall--
            ``(1) develop and maintain the ability to create and 
        administer expedited surveys on emerging and time-sensitive 
        education topics; and
            ``(2) report data gathered from such surveys in a way that 
        is of high quality, actionable, timely, and easily accessible.
    ``(e) Timeliness.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Statistics Commissioner shall 
        attempt, to the greatest extent practicable, to publicly report 
        statistical data collected under this part in an accelerated 
        manner to inform educational and policy decision-making in 
        response to an emerging and time-sensitive education topic, 
        consistent with applicable procedures or standards under this 
        title.
            ``(2) Public notice.--If the Statistics Commissioner cannot 
        publicly report statistical data under paragraph (1) from a 
        data collection under this part by the date that is 2 years 
        after the date on which such data collection is completed, the 
        Director shall publish a notice in the Federal Register that 
        describes the reasons for a delay and a plan to report some or 
        part of such statistical data as soon as possible, consistent 
        with applicable procedures or standards under this title.''.

SEC. 146. DISSEMINATION.

    Section 146 (20 U.S.C. 9546), as redesignated by section 102, is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``State and local 
        officials,'' and inserting ``Federal officials (including the 
        Bureau), State and local officials, Indian Tribes, Tribal 
        organizations,'';
            (2) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following: 
        ``Such projects shall adhere to the student confidentiality 
        requirements under section 173.''; and
            (3) in subsection (e)(1), by striking ``section 183'' and 
        inserting ``section 173''.

SEC. 147. COOPERATIVE EDUCATION STATISTICS PARTNERSHIPS.

    Section 147 (20 U.S.C. 9547), as redesignated by section 102, is 
amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 147. COOPERATIVE EDUCATION STATISTICS PARTNERSHIPS.

    ``(a) In General.--The Statistics Center may establish 1 or more 
cooperative education statistics partnerships for the purpose of 
producing and maintaining, with the voluntary participation and 
cooperation of the States, comparable, interoperable, and uniform data 
quality standards and systems that--
            ``(1) are useful for policymaking at the Federal, State, 
        and local levels; and
            ``(2) may include voluntary guidelines to standardize 
        information and data on early childhood education, elementary 
        and secondary education, postsecondary education, adult 
        education, workforce development, and labor market outcomes, 
        including to support implementation of State longitudinal data 
        systems.
    ``(b) Prohibition.--No partnership established under this section 
shall establish a national student data system.''.

SEC. 148. STATEWIDE LONGITUDINAL DATA SYSTEMS.

    Part C of title I, as redesignated by section 102, is amended by 
adding after section 148 the following:

``SEC. 149. GRANT PROGRAM FOR STATEWIDE LONGITUDINAL DATA SYSTEMS.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Eligible agency.--The term `eligible agency' means--
                    ``(A) a State educational agency;
                    ``(B) the office of the Governor;
                    ``(C) a State agency, data governance body, or 
                public sector organization, as determined and 
                designated by the Governor;
                    ``(D) an outlying area; or
                    ``(E) a consortium of entities described in 
                subparagraphs (A) through (C) located in a single State 
                or a consortium of such entities located in 2 or more 
                States.
            ``(2) Statewide longitudinal data system.--The term 
        `statewide longitudinal data system' means a data system 
        operated at the State level by an eligible agency that connects 
        individual level data from early childhood education, 
        elementary and secondary education, postsecondary education, 
        workforce development, labor market outcomes, and other data 
        sources, as determined by the State, in a manner that--
                    ``(A) protects and promotes individual privacy and 
                data security, in accordance with applicable Federal, 
                State, and local privacy laws, increases data 
                transparency, and minimizes reporting burden; and
                    ``(B) enhances the ability of the public, 
                researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and States to 
                efficiently and accurately access, manage, analyze, and 
                use data to inform decisionmaking and improve 
                educational opportunities and outcomes, including 
                academic achievement, postsecondary education access 
                and completion, and labor market outcomes.
    ``(b) Grants Authorized.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2) the Secretary 
        shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible 
        agencies to enable such agencies to design, develop, implement, 
        and improve statewide longitudinal data systems. Eligible 
        agencies receiving a grant under this section may provide 
        subgrants to public agencies or institutions of higher 
        education to improve the capacity of such agencies or 
        institutions to participate in statewide longitudinal data 
        systems.
            ``(2) Planning grants.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Of amounts made available to 
                carry out this section, the Secretary may reserve not 
                more than 10 percent of such amounts to award planning 
                grants to eligible agencies to support planning related 
                to the design, development, implementation, 
                improvement, and sustainability of statewide 
                longitudinal data systems, which may include planning 
                to support--
                            ``(i) the integration or coordination of 
                        additional Federal, State, or local data 
                        sources in the statewide longitudinal data 
                        system, which may include facilitating 
                        interoperability across such data sources, 
                        including from across Federal, State, or local 
                        agencies;
                            ``(ii) alignment with the voluntary 
                        standards and guidelines described in section 
                        143(a)(6);
                            ``(iii) the development of products, tools, 
                        or interfaces that provide appropriate access 
                        to data insights produced by the statewide 
                        longitudinal data system; or
                            ``(iv) upgrading data infrastructure or 
                        reporting systems.
                    ``(B) Duration.--Awards made under subparagraph (A) 
                shall be for a duration of not longer than 18 months.
                    ``(C) Engagement.--In carrying out planning 
                activities under this paragraph, an eligible agency 
                that receives an award under this paragraph shall, to 
                the greatest extent practicable, engage students, 
                families, practitioners, education system leaders, 
                policymakers, community organizations, and State and 
                local public agencies to inform such planning.
    ``(c) Awarding of Grants.--
            ``(1) In general.--In making awards under subsection 
        (b)(1), the Secretary shall use a peer review process that--
                    ``(A) ensures technical quality (including validity 
                and reliability), promotes data linkages within the 
                State, and ensures the protection of individual privacy 
                consistent with section 173; and
                    ``(B) promotes the generation and accurate and 
                timely use of data that is needed--
                            ``(i) to support implementation of--
                                    ``(I) the Elementary and Secondary 
                                Education Act of 1965;
                                    ``(II) the Higher Education Act of 
                                1965;
                                    ``(III) the Individuals with 
                                Disabilities Education Act;
                                    ``(IV) the Carl D. Perkins Career 
                                and Technical Education Act of 2006;
                                    ``(V) the Workforce Innovation and 
                                Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et 
                                seq.);
                                    ``(VI) the Child Care and 
                                Developmental Block Grant Act of 1990 
                                (42 U.S.C. 9857 et seq.); and
                                    ``(VII) other relevant Federal 
                                laws; and
                            ``(ii) to facilitate research to improve 
                        educational and employment opportunities and 
                        outcomes, including student academic 
                        achievement, postsecondary education access and 
                        completion, labor market outcomes, and closing 
                        opportunity and achievement gaps between 
                        subgroups of students.
            ``(2) Priorities.--In making awards under subsection 
        (b)(1), the Secretary shall give priority to applications 
        submitted by eligible agencies that--
                    ``(A) received a planning grant under subsection 
                (b)(2) and propose to carry out activities informed by 
                such planning;
                    ``(B) propose to develop products, tools, or 
                interfaces that provide appropriate access to data 
                insights produced by the statewide longitudinal data 
                system; or
                    ``(C) require the use of the voluntary standards 
                and guidelines described in section 143(a)(6).
            ``(3) Duration.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall award grants 
                under subsection (b)(1) for a period of not longer than 
                4 years.
                    ``(B) Renewal.--The Secretary may renew grants 
                under subsection (b)(1) for 2 additional years if the 
                eligible agency demonstrates significant progress in 
                meeting its goals.
    ``(d) Applications.--Each eligible agency desiring a grant under 
subsection (b)(1) shall submit an application to the Secretary at such 
time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the 
Secretary may reasonably require, including each of the following:
            ``(1) A description of how the eligible agency will design, 
        develop, implement, or improve a statewide longitudinal data 
        system that will integrate data in accordance with the 
        individual privacy and data security requirements specified in 
        section 173, from the following data sources, to the greatest 
        extent practicable:
                    ``(A) Early childhood education, in accordance with 
                practices identified in subsection (i).
                    ``(B) Elementary and secondary education, including 
                data reported from local educational agencies and the 
                State educational agency.
                    ``(C) Career and technical education, to the 
                greatest extent practicable.
                    ``(D) Postsecondary education, including data 
                reported from, at a minimum, public institutions of 
                higher education and public systems of institutions of 
                higher education.
                    ``(E) Workforce development programs.
                    ``(F) Unemployment insurance or other statewide 
                data sources with access to labor market outcomes or 
                wage record data and in accordance with privacy and 
                data security requirements of the State.
            ``(2) A description of how the eligible agency will design, 
        develop, implement, or improve a statewide longitudinal data 
        system that may integrate data from other Federal, State, or 
        local public or private agencies or organizations, in 
        accordance with Federal and State privacy laws.
            ``(3) A description of how the eligible agency will ensure 
        that the statewide longitudinal data system will--
                    ``(A) be able to publicly disaggregate student data 
                by each subgroup of students;
                    ``(B) ensure technical quality, including validity 
                and reliability, of the data managed by the statewide 
                longitudinal data system; and
                    ``(C) enable the development of tools, products or 
                interfaces that ensure the statewide longitudinal data 
                system will provide publicly accessible and useful 
                information to students, families, practitioners, 
                education system leaders, policymakers, community 
                organizations, State and local public agencies, and the 
                public in a manner that protects and promotes 
                individual privacy and data security.
            ``(4) A description of how the statewide longitudinal data 
        system will, to the extent practicable, promote standardized 
        data definitions, open data formats, other standards, and 
        linkages utilized in multiple States, and be aligned with the 
        subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code.
            ``(5) A description of the eligible agency's plan to 
        protect and promote individual privacy and data security in 
        implementing the State longitudinal data system, including--
                    ``(A) defining policies, guidelines, or protocols, 
                as appropriate for data collection, storage, data 
                sharing, use, data destruction, and disclosure 
                avoidance to secure any personally identifiable 
                information;
                    ``(B) reviewing how State agencies, local agencies, 
                and other entities that will have access to the 
                statewide longitudinal data systems under this section 
                will adhere to Federal or State privacy laws and 
                protections in the building, maintenance, and use of 
                such data systems; and
                    ``(C) providing training or professional 
                development to any employee or contractor of such 
                system to ensure compliance with section 444 of the 
                General Education Provisions Act (commonly known as the 
                ``Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974''), 
                section 445 of that Act (commonly known as the 
                `Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment'), the Children's 
                Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (15 U.S.C. 6501 
                et seq.), the Health Insurance Portability and 
                Accountability Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-191), and 
                any other relevant Federal or State privacy law.
            ``(6) A description of the data governance structure for 
        the statewide longitudinal data system, which shall, to the 
        greatest extent practicable, support the implementation of 
        statewide data governance structures that involve all relevant 
        State agencies, which may include establishing a State chief 
        privacy officer or a data governance coordinator.
            ``(7) A description of the eligible agency's plan to 
        promote long-term sustainability of the statewide longitudinal 
        data system, including identifying State and local funding that 
        will be used to support the operation, maintenance, and 
        upgrades of such system.
    ``(e) Use of Funds.--An eligible agency receiving an award under 
subsection (c)(1)--
            ``(1) shall use funds to enhance or modernize data 
        infrastructure and analytics capacity to integrate data across 
        early childhood education through postsecondary study and labor 
        market outcomes into the State longitudinal data system, 
        including the data sources required, to the greatest extent 
        practicable, in subsection (d)(1)(A); and
            ``(2) may carry out 1 or more of the following activities:
                    ``(A) Integrate additional local, State, or Federal 
                data sources in the statewide longitudinal data system 
                or facilitate interoperability between such data 
                sources.
                    ``(B) Develop or increase the public's access to 
                products, tools, or interfaces and that provide 
                appropriate access to data insights produced by the 
                statewide longitudinal data system.
                    ``(C) Implement policies to protect and promote 
                student privacy and data security.
                    ``(D) Provide professional development to 
                individuals, practitioners, and education system 
                leaders to better understand, use, and analyze data 
                from the statewide longitudinal data system.
    ``(f) Supplement Not Supplant.--Funds made available under this 
section shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, other State or 
local funds used for developing State data systems.
    ``(g) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
the Advancing Research in Education Act, and again 3 years after such 
date of enactment, the Secretary, in consultation with the National 
Academies Committee on National Statistics, shall make publicly 
available a report on the implementation and effectiveness of Federal, 
State, and local efforts related to the goals of this section, 
including--
            ``(1) identifying and analyzing State practices regarding 
        the development and use of statewide longitudinal data systems;
            ``(2) evaluating the ability of such systems to manage 
        individual student data, promote linkages across States, and 
        protect student privacy consistent with section 173; and
            ``(3) identifying best practices and areas for improvement.
    ``(h) Guidance.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of the Advancing Research in Education Act, and on an ongoing basis, 
the Secretary shall issue guidance and provide technical assistance 
on--
            ``(1) protecting and promoting individual privacy and data 
        security in implementing statewide longitudinal data systems in 
        accordance with applicable Federal, State, and local privacy 
        laws;
            ``(2) developing or increasing the public's access to 
        products, tools, or interfaces that provide appropriate access 
        to data insights produced by statewide longitudinal data 
        systems, which may support the public, researchers, 
        policymakers, practitioners, and States in efficiently and 
        accurately accessing, managing, analyzing, and using data to 
        inform decisionmaking and improve educational opportunities and 
        outcomes, including academic achievement, postsecondary 
        education access and completion, and labor market outcomes; and
            ``(3) supporting data linkages between a statewide 
        longitudinal data system and data from postsecondary education, 
        workforce programs, unemployment insurance, or other statewide 
        data sources with access to wage record data, which shall 
        include the use of different unique identifiers and may include 
        the use of Social Security numbers, in accordance with 
        applicable Federal, State, and local privacy laws.
    ``(i) Early Childhood Education Data.--The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services, in coordination with the Statistics Commissioner, shall 
develop guidance for eligible agencies on integrating data voluntarily 
reported under the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.) and other 
early childhood education data in the statewide longitudinal data 
system.
    ``(j) Early College High School or Dual or Concurrent Enrollment 
Programs.--The Statistics Commissioner shall provide technical 
assistance to eligible agencies to efficiently collect and report data 
related to enrollment, retention, transfer, and completion rates in 
early college high school or dual or concurrent enrollment programs.''.

SEC. 149. DATA INNOVATION GRANTS.

    Part C of title I, as amended by section 148, is further amended by 
adding after section 149 the following:

``SEC. 150. DATA INNOVATION GRANTS.

    ``(a) Grants Authorized.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Director may award grants to, or 
        enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with, public 
        agencies (including the Bureau of Indian Education) to increase 
        the capacity of public agencies to accurately manage, analyze, 
        and use data collected by such agencies to inform 
        decisionmaking and improve educational opportunities and 
        outcomes, including academic achievement, postsecondary 
        education access and completion, and labor market outcomes.
            ``(2) Reservation.--From amounts appropriated to carry out 
        this section, the Director may reserve not more than 2 percent 
        of such amounts for program administration, technical 
        assistance, and carrying out the evaluation described in 
        subsection (f).
    ``(b) Duration.--Awards made under subsection (a) shall be for a 
period of not longer than 4 years.
    ``(c) Application.--A public agency desiring a grant, contract, or 
cooperative agreement under this section shall submit an application to 
the Director at such time and in such manner as the Director may 
reasonably require, including--
            ``(1) a description of such agency's plan to accurately 
        manage, analyze, and use data collected by public agencies to 
        inform decisionmaking and improve educational opportunities and 
        outcomes, as described in subsection (a)(1), including a 
        description of the specific data challenges the award will help 
        address; and
            ``(2) a description of such agency's data infrastructure, 
        staffing, data analytics, reporting, and sharing capabilities, 
        and such agency's efforts to protect and promote individual 
        privacy and data security, in accordance with applicable 
        Federal, State, and local privacy laws, increase data 
        transparency, and minimize reporting burden.
    ``(d) Uses of Funds.--A public agency that receives a grant, 
contract, or cooperative agreement under this section shall use such 
award to increase the agency's capacity to, in accordance with 
applicable Federal, State, and local privacy laws, accurately manage, 
analyze, and use data to inform decisionmaking and improve educational 
opportunities and outcomes, as described in subsection (a)(1), which 
may include the following activities:
            ``(1) Improving data quality, standardization, and such 
        agency's capabilities related to data infrastructure, staffing, 
        data analytics, reporting, and data sharing, including among a 
        consortium of public agencies located in a single State or a 
        consortium of public agencies located in 2 or more States.
            ``(2) Supporting the development of tools, products, or 
        interfaces to make data more transparent, accessible, and 
        useful to students, families, practitioners, education system 
        leaders, policymakers, community organizations, State and local 
        public agencies, and the public in a manner that protects and 
        promotes individual privacy and data security.
            ``(3) Developing and implementing privacy and security 
        techniques, platforms, protocols, or technology for using and 
        securing personally identifiable information and data managed 
        by public agencies.
            ``(4) Developing and evaluating the validity and accuracy 
        of an alternative student poverty measurement, which may 
        include 1 or more of the following approaches:
                    ``(A) Improving the quality of data used to 
                identify students directly certified or categorically 
                eligible for free meals under the Richard B. Russell 
                National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and 
                linking such data with other individual-level measures, 
                including from the Medicaid program under title XIX of 
                the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.), the 
                Children's Health Insurance Program under title XXI of 
                the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397aa et seq.), and 
                other public agencies.
                    ``(B) Utilizing data from Federal or State tax 
                records.
                    ``(C) Developing and utilizing local data, such as 
                student neighborhood characteristics, which may include 
                utilizing data published by the United States Census 
                Bureau.
    ``(e) Evaluation.--The Director shall carry out an independent 
evaluation of activities carried out under this section.''.

   PART D--NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION EVALUATION AND EVIDENCE USE

SEC. 151. NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION EVALUATION AND EVIDENCE USE.

    Part D (20 U.S.C. 9561 et seq.) is amended to read as follows:

  ``PART D--NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION EVALUATION AND EVIDENCE USE

``SEC. 151. ESTABLISHMENT.

    ``(a) Establishment.--There is established in the Institute a 
National Center for Education Evaluation and Evidence Use (in this part 
referred to as the `Evaluation and Evidence Use Center').
    ``(b) Mission.--The mission of the Evaluation and Evidence Use 
Center shall be--
            ``(1) to increase evidence use among practitioners, 
        education system leaders, and policymakers, support innovation 
        responsive to the challenges facing students and practitioners, 
        and promote continuous improvement across early childhood 
        through postsecondary study;
            ``(2) to conduct evaluations of Federal education programs 
        administered by the Secretary (and as time and resources allow, 
        other education programs) in order to--
                    ``(A) determine the impact of the programs, such as 
                in improving--
                            ``(i) educational outcomes, particularly 
                        student academic achievement, for all students, 
                        particularly each subgroup of students; or
                            ``(ii) access to high-quality educational 
                        opportunities; and
                    ``(B) support the identification of evidence-based 
                practices that may be adapted and implemented in 
                heterogeneous local educational contexts;
            ``(3) to support synthesis and wide dissemination of 
        results of evaluation, research, and products to support 
        continuous improvement, including the development of products 
        or tools to increase the impact of the activities of the 
        Institute; and
            ``(4) to oversee regional educational laboratories to serve 
        the educational needs of the geographic regions served by such 
        laboratories.

``SEC. 152. COMMISSIONER FOR EDUCATION EVALUATION AND EVIDENCE USE.

    ``(a) In General.--The Evaluation and Evidence Use Center shall be 
headed by a Commissioner for Education Evaluation and Evidence Use (in 
this part referred to as the `Evaluation and Evidence Use 
Commissioner') who--
            ``(1) is highly qualified in carrying out scientifically 
        valid education evaluation; and
            ``(2) has demonstrated a capacity to support engagement 
        between researchers, practitioners, education system leaders, 
        and policymakers to effectively communicate the implications of 
        scientifically valid research, statistics, and evaluations to 
        support evidence use and continuous improvement.
    ``(b) Chief Evaluation Officer.--The Evaluation and Evidence Use 
Commissioner shall serve as the evaluation officer designated for the 
Department in accordance with section 313 of title 5, United States 
Code.

``SEC. 153. DUTIES.

    ``(a) General Duties.--The Evaluation and Evidence Use Commissioner 
shall--
            ``(1) conduct evaluations under section 154;
            ``(2) promote evidence use among practitioners, education 
        system leaders, and policymakers and promote continuous 
        improvement across early childhood through postsecondary study;
            ``(3) manage the What Works Clearinghouse and related 
        functions described in section 155;
            ``(4) support engagement between the Institute and 
        practitioners, education system leaders, and policymakers, 
        which may include--
                    ``(A) analyzing the evidence bases of research 
                areas related to challenges facing students and 
                practitioners across early childhood through 
                postsecondary study, and identifying such areas that 
                require additional study;
                    ``(B) supporting practitioners in understanding 
                research processes in order to maximize the 
                participation and engagement of such practitioners in 
                developing research questions, designs, measurements, 
                and methods; and
                    ``(C) communicating research areas identified under 
                subparagraph (A) to the Commissioner for Education 
                Research, the Commissioner for Special Education 
                Research, and researchers in order to help increase and 
                build the evidence bases of research areas related to 
                challenges facing students and practitioners, which may 
                be carried out through the functions of the National 
                Education Research Database developed under section 
                155(b);
            ``(5) support the regional educational laboratories in 
        serving the educational needs of the geographic regions of such 
        laboratories;
            ``(6) manage the Educational Resources Information Center 
        clearinghouse;
            ``(7) manage the National Library of Education described in 
        section 156(b) and other sources of digital information on 
        education research;
            ``(8) ensure that evidence-based products or tools 
        developed by the Evaluation and Evidence Use Center are 
        prepared in a timely manner and are widely disseminated to 
        practitioners, education system leaders, and policymakers in 
        formats that are high quality, easily accessible, 
        understandable, and actionable;
            ``(9) respond, as appropriate, to inquiries from 
        practitioners, education system leaders, policymakers, 
        researchers, public and private entities, and entities 
        responsible for carrying out technical assistance related to 
        evaluation and evidence use;
            ``(10) ensure that information disseminated under this part 
        is provided in a cost-effective, nonduplicative manner that 
        includes the most current research findings, as of the date of 
        the dissemination; and
            ``(11) assist the Director in the preparation of a biennial 
        report, as described in section 119.
    ``(b) Evaluation and Evidence Use Plan.--Not later than 60 days 
after the date on which the Board approves the priorities under section 
115, the Evaluation and Evidence Use Commissioner shall develop and 
submit an evaluation and evidence use plan to the Director that--
            ``(1) is consistent with the mission of the Institute and 
        the mission of the Evaluation and Evidence Use Center and 
        specifies how the Evaluation and Evidence Use Center will carry 
        out--
                    ``(A) evaluations described in section 154; and
                    ``(B) activities that promote--
                            ``(i) evidence use among practitioners, 
                        education system leaders, and policymakers; and
                            ``(ii) continuous improvement across early 
                        childhood through postsecondary study, such as 
                        the development and promotion of practice 
                        guides to improve teaching and learning;
            ``(2) uses objective and measurable indicators, including 
        timelines, to assess the progress and results of such 
        evaluations or activities;
            ``(3) describes the efforts of the Evaluation and Evidence 
        Use Commissioner to manage the What Works Clearinghouse and 
        related functions described in section 155 and promote 
        engagement between the Institute and practitioners, education 
        system leaders, and policymakers to increase the impact of the 
        Institute's activities; and
            ``(4) describes how the regional educational laboratories 
        will effectively coordinate with comprehensive centers 
        established under section 207 to increase the impact of such 
        laboratories' activities.
    ``(c) Grants, Contracts, and Cooperative Agreements.--In carrying 
out the duties under this part, the Director may award grants, enter 
into contracts and cooperative agreements, and provide technical 
assistance.

``SEC. 154. EVALUATIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--
            ``(1) Requirements.--In carrying out the mission of the 
        Evaluation and Evidence Use Center, the Evaluation and Evidence 
        Use Commissioner shall--
                    ``(A) conduct or support evaluations consistent 
                with the mission of the Evaluation and Evidence Use 
                Center, as described in section 151(b);
                    ``(B) evaluate programs administered, in whole or 
                in part, by the Secretary;
                    ``(C) to the extent such Commissioner determines 
                practicable, examine evaluations conducted or supported 
                by others in order to determine the quality and 
                relevance of the evidence of effectiveness generated by 
                such evaluations;
                    ``(D) coordinate the activities of the Evaluation 
                and Evidence Use Center with other evaluation 
                activities in the Department;
                    ``(E) review and, where feasible, supplement 
                Federal education program evaluations, particularly 
                those by the Department, to determine or enhance the 
                quality and relevance of the evidence generated by 
                those evaluations;
                    ``(F) establish evaluation policies and 
                methodology; and
                    ``(G) support the identification of evidence-based 
                practices that may be adapted and implemented in 
                heterogeneous local educational contexts.
            ``(2) Additional requirements.--Each evaluation conducted 
        under paragraph (1) shall--
                    ``(A) adhere to the highest possible standards of 
                quality for conducting scientifically valid education 
                evaluation; and
                    ``(B) be subject to high-quality, timely, and 
                rigorous peer review.
    ``(b) Administration of Evaluations Under the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965.--The Evaluation and Evidence Use 
Commissioner, consistent with the mission of the Evaluation and 
Evidence Use Center, shall administer all operations and contracts 
associated with evaluations authorized by section 8601 of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 and administered by the 
Department.

``SEC. 155. WHAT WORKS CLEARINGHOUSE AND RELATED FUNCTIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--In carrying out the mission of the Evaluation 
and Evidence Use Center, the Evaluation and Evidence Use Commissioner 
shall develop and maintain each of the following:
            ``(1) The National Education Research Database consisting 
        of scientifically valid research, statistics, and evaluations 
        on education reviewed by the Evaluation and Evidence Use 
        Center, as authorized under subsection (b).
            ``(2) The What Works Clearinghouse consisting of evidence-
        based practices designed for practitioners, education system 
        leaders, and policymakers, as authorized under subsection (c).
    ``(b) National Education Research Database.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Evaluation and Evidence Use 
        Commissioner shall develop, maintain, and regularly update the 
        National Education Research Database to support researchers.
            ``(2) Standards.--The Evaluation and Evidence Use 
        Commissioner shall establish a system for technical and peer 
        review to ensure that scientifically valid research, 
        statistics, and evaluations reviewed and included in the 
        National Education Research Database are consistent with the 
        high-quality research standards described in section 134 and 
        the evaluation standards adhered to under section 154(a)(2)(A).
            ``(3) Review.--In reviewing scientifically valid research, 
        statistics, and evaluations under this subsection, including 
        individual studies, the Evaluation and Evidence Use 
        Commissioner shall--
                    ``(A) describe prominently the type of scientific 
                evidence that is used to support the evidence-based 
                findings; and
                    ``(B) explain clearly the scientifically 
                appropriate and inappropriate uses of--
                            ``(i) the findings that are disseminated; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) the types of evidence used to 
                        support such findings.
    ``(c) What Works Clearinghouse.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Evaluation and Evidence Use 
        Commissioner shall develop, maintain, and regularly update the 
        What Works Clearinghouse to support practitioners, education 
        system leaders, and policymakers in easily accessing actionable 
        information.
            ``(2) Requirements.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the 
        Evaluation and Evidence Use Commissioner shall--
                    ``(A) develop evidence-based recommendations for 
                practitioners to promote evidence use and improve 
                student outcomes by--
                            ``(i) synthesizing findings in research 
                        areas related to challenges facing students and 
                        practitioners; and
                            ``(ii) analyzing and summarizing the 
                        findings of high-quality research reviewed and 
                        included in the National Education Research 
                        Database developed under subsection (b); and
                    ``(B) develop and disseminate evidence-based 
                products or tools designed to improve teaching and 
                learning in order to provide all students, particularly 
                each subgroup of students, access to high-quality 
                educational opportunities and to improve educational 
                outcomes, particularly student academic achievement.
            ``(3) Coordination with regional educational 
        laboratories.--The Evaluation and Evidence Use Commissioner 
        shall ensure that the evidence-based practices, products, and 
        tools of the What Works Clearinghouse are disseminated through 
        the regional educational laboratories.

``SEC. 156. EVIDENCE USE ACTIVITIES.

    ``(a) In General.--In carrying out the mission of the Evaluation 
and Evidence Use Center, the Evaluation and Evidence Use Commissioner 
shall--
            ``(1) promote engagement between researchers, 
        practitioners, education system leaders, and policymakers to 
        effectively communicate the implications of scientifically 
        valid research, statistics, and evaluations to support evidence 
        use and continuous improvement; and
            ``(2) develop resources or train practitioners and 
        education system leaders in early childhood education through 
        postsecondary study in identifying, selecting, implementing, 
        and adapting evidence-based practices in heterogeneous local 
        educational contexts, such as through (as applicable)--
                    ``(A) the activities of the regional educational 
                laboratories;
                    ``(B) the What Works Clearinghouse established 
                under section 155;
                    ``(C) the provision of technical assistance to--
                            ``(i) an early childhood education program, 
                        Head Start agency, or lead agency designated 
                        under section 658D of the Child Care and 
                        Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
                        9858b);
                            ``(ii) a public elementary school or 
                        secondary school (including a charter school), 
                        local educational agency, or State educational 
                        agency; or
                            ``(iii) an institution of higher education, 
                        including a community college, a historically 
                        Black college or university, a Tribal College 
                        or University, or another minority-serving 
                        institution; and
                    ``(D) partnerships with public agencies or private 
                entities that have demonstrated the ability and 
                capacity to scale activities related to evidence use 
                supported by such Center.
    ``(b) National Library of Education.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--There is established, within the 
        Evaluation and Evidence Use Center, a National Library of 
        Education that shall--
                    ``(A) be headed by an individual who is highly 
                qualified in library science;
                    ``(B) collect and archive information;
                    ``(C) provide a central location within the Federal 
                Government for information about education;
                    ``(D) provide comprehensive reference services on 
                matters related to education to employees, contractors, 
                and grantees of the Department, other Federal 
                employees, and members of the public; and
                    ``(E) promote greater cooperation and resource 
                sharing among providers and repositories of education 
                information in the United States.
            ``(2) Information.--The information collected and archived 
        by the National Library of Education shall include--
                    ``(A) products and publications developed through, 
                or supported by, the Institute; and
                    ``(B) other relevant and useful education-related 
                research, statistics, and evaluation materials, and 
                other information, projects, and publications, that 
                are--
                            ``(i) consistent with--
                                    ``(I) scientifically valid 
                                research; or
                                    ``(II) the priorities and mission 
                                of the Institute; and
                            ``(ii) developed by the Department, other 
                        Federal agencies, or other entities.

``SEC. 157. REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL LABORATORIES FOR APPLIED RESEARCH, 
              DEVELOPMENT, AND EVIDENCE USE.

    ``(a) Authorization.--
            ``(1) Program authorized.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Evaluation and Evidence Use 
                Commissioner shall enter into contracts with entities 
                to establish a networked system of 10 regional 
                educational laboratories that serve the needs of each 
                geographic region of the United States in accordance 
                with the provisions of this section.
                    ``(B) Duration.--A contract under this subsection 
                shall be for a period of not less than 5 years and not 
                more than 7 years.
            ``(2) Geographic regions.--The regions served by the 
        regional educational laboratories shall be the 10 geographic 
        regions served by the regional educational laboratories 
        established under section 941(h) of the Educational Research, 
        Development, Dissemination, and Improvement Act of 1994 (as 
        such provision existed on the day before the date of enactment 
        of this Act).
            ``(3) Allocation.--The amount of assistance allocated to 
        each regional educational laboratory by the Evaluation and 
        Evidence Use Commissioner shall reflect the number of local 
        educational agencies and the number of school-age children 
        within the region served by such laboratory, as well as the 
        cost of providing services within the geographic area 
        encompassed by the region.
            ``(4) Requirements.--In entering into contracts under this 
        section for regional educational laboratories, the Evaluation 
        and Evidence Use Commissioner shall ensure that the regional 
        educational laboratories established under this section have 
        strong and effective governance, organization, management, and 
        administration, and employ qualified staff.
            ``(5) Coordination.--In order to ensure coordination and 
        prevent unnecessary duplication of activities among the 
        regions, the Evaluation and Evidence Use Commissioner shall--
                    ``(A) share information about the activities of 
                each regional educational laboratory awarded a contract 
                under this section with--
                            ``(i) each other regional educational 
                        laboratory awarded a contract under this 
                        section; and
                            ``(ii) the Department, including the 
                        Director and the Board;
                    ``(B) oversee a strategic plan for ensuring that 
                each regional educational laboratory awarded a contract 
                under this section increases collaboration and 
                resource-sharing in such activities;
                    ``(C) ensure, where appropriate, that the 
                activities of each regional educational laboratory 
                awarded a contract under this section also serve 
                national interests; and
                    ``(D) ensure that each regional educational 
                laboratory awarded a contract under this section 
                coordinates such laboratory's activities with the 
                activities of other technical assistance centers, 
                particularly the comprehensive center established under 
                section 207 that serves such region.
            ``(6) Objectives and indicators.--Before entering into a 
        contract under this section, the Evaluation and Evidence Use 
        Commissioner shall design specific objectives and measurable 
        indicators to be used to assess the particular programs or 
        initiatives, and ongoing progress and performance, of the 
        regional educational laboratories, in order to ensure that--
                    ``(A) the educational needs of the region are being 
                met; and
                    ``(B) the latest and best research and proven 
                practices are being carried out as part of school 
                improvement efforts.
            ``(7) Contract cycle.--The Evaluation and Evidence Use 
        Commissioner, in consultation with the Secretary or designated 
        official who oversees the comprehensive center program 
        authorized under title II, shall, to the greatest extent 
        practicable, ensure that the duration of contracts for regional 
        educational laboratories under this subsection is consistent 
        with the duration of grants, contacts, or cooperative 
        agreements awarded by the Secretary or such designated official 
        under the comprehensive center program, subject to paragraph 
        (1)(B).
    ``(b) Eligible Entities.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Evaluation and Evidence Use 
        Commissioner may enter into contracts under this section with 
        research organizations, institutions, agencies, institutions of 
        higher education, or partnerships among such entities, or 
        individuals, with the demonstrated ability or capacity to carry 
        out the activities described in this section.
            ``(2) Outreach.--In conducting competitions for any 
        contract under this section, the Director shall--
                    ``(A) actively encourage eligible entities to 
                compete for such award by making information and 
                technical assistance relating to the competition widely 
                available; and
                    ``(B) seek input from the chief executive officers 
                of States, chief State school officers, educators, and 
                parents regarding--
                            ``(i) the need for applied research, 
                        development, innovation responsive to the 
                        challenges facing students and practitioners, 
                        research-practice partnerships (as defined in 
                        section 133(e)(2)), training, coaching, 
                        evidence use activities, and other activities 
                        to serve the educational needs of the 
                        geographic regions of the regional educational 
                        laboratory; and
                            ``(ii) how those educational needs could be 
                        addressed most effectively.
            ``(3) Requirements.--In determining whether to award a 
        contract under this section to an eligible entity, the 
        Evaluation and Evidence Use Commissioner shall ensure that an 
        eligible entity has a history of effectiveness in carrying out 
        applied research, development, and evidence use activities, 
        including by considering the results of any completed 
        evaluation required under this part or title II if such entity 
        previously received a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement 
        under such part or title.
    ``(c) Applications.--
            ``(1) Submission.--Each eligible entity desiring a contract 
        under this section shall submit an application at such time, in 
        such manner, and containing such information as the Evaluation 
        and Evidence Use Commissioner may reasonably require.
            ``(2) Plan.--Each application submitted under paragraph (1) 
        shall contain--
                    ``(A) a 5-year plan for carrying out the activities 
                described in this section in a manner that addresses--
                            ``(i) the priorities established under 
                        section 205;
                            ``(ii) the needs of all States (and to the 
                        extent practicable, of local educational 
                        agencies) within the region to be served by the 
                        regional educational laboratory, on an ongoing 
                        basis; and
                            ``(iii) how the eligible entity will 
                        support the development and operation of one or 
                        more high-quality research-practice 
                        partnerships (as defined in section 133(e)(2)) 
                        to serve the applicable geographic region that 
                        will be self-sustaining by the end of the 
                        eligible entity's contract under this section; 
                        and
                    ``(B) an assurance that the eligible entity will 
                regularly update the plan under subparagraph (A) during 
                the period of the grant.
            ``(3) Standards.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Evaluation and Evidence Use 
                Commissioner shall establish a system for technical 
                review to ensure that applied research activities, 
                evidence-based reports, and products of the regional 
                educational laboratories are consistent with--
                            ``(i) the high-quality research standards 
                        developed and maintained by such Commissioner, 
                        which shall require peer review for resources 
                        developed by the regional educational 
                        laboratory before such resources are made 
                        available in public, restricted-use, and easily 
                        accessible formats, in accordance with 
                        subparagraph (B); and
                            ``(ii) the evaluation standards adhered to 
                        under section 154(a)(2)(A).
                    ``(B) Access.--In developing and maintaining 
                standards under this paragraph, the Evaluation and 
                Evidence Use Commissioner shall ensure that research or 
                data resulting from regional educational laboratories 
                shall be made available in public, restricted-use, and 
                easily accessible formats for further analyses, 
                reproducibility studies, and replication of research, 
                as long as any reported information does not reveal 
                personally identifiable information.
    ``(d) Activities.--Each regional educational laboratory awarded a 
contract under this section shall support applied research, 
development, and evidence use activities by--
            ``(1) developing a plan for identifying and serving the 
        needs of the geographic region, in consultation with the 
        corresponding comprehensive center that serves such 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, principals, other school leaders, administrators, 
        paraprofessionals, other staff, parents, librarians, local 
        educational agencies, and State educational agencies within the 
        region;
            ``(2)(A) carrying out applied research projects (including 
        data analysis or evaluation) that are designed to serve the 
        particular educational needs of the geographic region and that 
        result in actionable information; or
            ``(B) supporting teams of researchers, practitioners, 
        education system leaders, and policymakers, as applicable, in 
        carrying out field-initiated research;
            ``(3) assisting in solving site-specific problems and in 
        development activities;
            ``(4) identifying, in a manner that is responsive to the 
        challenges facing students and practitioners, exemplary and 
        promising practices, supporting research and evaluation of such 
        practices, and piloting or scaling relevant evidence-based 
        practices;
            ``(5) assisting in gathering information on--
                    ``(A) school finance systems to promote improved 
                access to educational opportunities and to better serve 
                all public school students; and
                    ``(B) alternative administrative structures that 
                are more conducive to planning, implementing, and 
                sustaining school improvement and improved educational 
                outcomes, particularly student academic achievement;
            ``(6) providing training or professional learning (which 
        may include supporting internships and fellowships and 
        providing stipends) to practitioners, education system leaders, 
        State educational agencies, local educational agencies, Bureau-
        funded school boards, and State boards of education, regarding 
        evidence use and resources developed by the What Works 
        Clearinghouse established under section 155; and
            ``(7) developing and widely disseminating, in formats that 
        are high quality, easily accessible, understandable, and 
        actionable, scientifically valid research, information, 
        reports, and publications, to--
                    ``(A) student, parents, practitioners, education 
                system leaders, and policymakers, as appropriate, 
                within the region in which the regional educational 
                laboratory is located; and
                    ``(B) the Evaluation and Evidence Use Center.
    ``(e) Requirements.--In carrying out the activities described in 
subsection (d), each regional educational laboratory awarded a contract 
under this section shall--
            ``(1) collaborate with the National Education Centers in 
        order to--
                    ``(A) maximize the use of research conducted 
                through the National Education Centers in the work of 
                such laboratory;
                    ``(B) keep the National Education Centers apprised 
                of the work of the regional educational laboratory in 
                the field; and
                    ``(C) inform the National Education Centers about 
                additional research needs identified in the field;
            ``(2) collaborate with the corresponding comprehensive 
        center serving the same geographic region in order to minimize 
        duplication and increase client satisfaction, as required under 
        section 204;
            ``(3) support the development and operation of one or more 
        high-quality research-practice partnerships (as such term is 
        defined in section 133(e)(2)) to serve the applicable 
        geographic region that are self-sustaining at the end of such 
        laboratory's contract period; and
            ``(4)(A) identify successful educational programs that have 
        been developed by such laboratory in carrying out such 
        laboratory's functions or that have been developed or used by 
        others within the region served by the laboratory; and
            ``(B) make such information available to the Secretary and 
        the network of regional educational laboratories so that such 
        programs may be evaluated, replicated, or scaled.
    ``(f) Evaluations.--The Evaluation and Evidence Use Commissioner 
shall--
            ``(1) provide for independent evaluations of each of the 
        regional educational laboratories in carrying out the duties 
        described in this section in the third year that such 
        laboratory receives assistance under this section, in 
        accordance with the standards developed by the Evaluation and 
        Evidence Use Commissioner; and
            ``(2) transmit the results of such evaluations to the 
        corresponding regional governing board established under 
        section 206, the relevant committees of Congress, and the 
        Board.
    ``(g) Rule of Construction.--No regional educational laboratory 
receiving assistance under this section shall, by reason of the receipt 
of that assistance, be ineligible to receive any other assistance from 
the Department as authorized by law or be prohibited from engaging in 
activities involving international projects or endeavors.
    ``(h) Advance Payment System.--Each regional educational laboratory 
awarded a contract under this section shall participate in the advance 
payment system at the Department.
    ``(i) Additional Projects.--In addition to activities authorized 
under this section, the Director is authorized to enter into contracts 
or agreements with a regional educational laboratory for the purpose of 
carrying out additional projects to enable such regional educational 
laboratory to assist in efforts to achieve State education goals and 
for other purposes.
    ``(j) Annual Report and Plan.--Not later than July 1 of each year, 
each regional educational laboratory awarded a contract under this 
section shall submit to the Evaluation and Evidence Use Commissioner--
            ``(1) a plan covering the succeeding fiscal year, in which 
        such laboratory's mission, activities, and scope of work are 
        described, including a general description of the plans such 
        laboratory expects to submit in the remaining years of such 
        laboratory's contract; and
            ``(2) a report of how well such laboratory is meeting the 
        needs of the region, including--
                    ``(A) a summary of activities during the preceding 
                year;
                    ``(B) a list of entities served;
                    ``(C) a list of the products of the regional 
                educational laboratory; and
                    ``(D) any other information that the regional 
                educational laboratory may consider relevant or the 
                Evaluation and Evidence Use Commissioner may require.
    ``(k) Exemption for Regional Educational Laboratories From the 
Paperwork Reduction Act.--Subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 44, 
United States Code, shall not apply to the voluntary collection of 
information during the conduct of research by regional educational 
laboratories.''.

         PART E--NATIONAL CENTER FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION RESEARCH

SEC. 161. ESTABLISHMENT.

    Section 161 (20 U.S.C. 9567), as redesignated by section 102, is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by inserting ``sustained'' before 
                        ``research''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``infants'' and all that 
                        follows through ``disabilities'' and inserting 
                        ``infants and toddlers with disabilities, 
                        children with disabilities, and youth with 
                        disabilities, particularly in each subgroup of 
                        students,'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``; and'' and 
                inserting ``and to increase the identification and 
                development of evidence-based practices or policies 
                related to special education;'';
                    (C) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) by striking ``National Center for 
                        Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance'' 
                        and inserting ``National Center for Education 
                        Evaluation and Evidence Use''; and
                            (ii) by striking the period and inserting 
                        ``; and''; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) to improve evidence use by practitioners, education 
        system leaders, and policymakers to effectively support infants 
        and toddlers with disabilities, children with disabilities, and 
        youth with disabilities.''; and
            (2) by striking subsection (c).

SEC. 162. COMMISSIONER FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION RESEARCH.

    Section 162 (20 U.S.C. 9567a), as redesignated by section 102, is 
amended--
            (1) by inserting ``scientifically valid'' before 
        ``research,''; and
            (2) by striking ``children with disabilities'' and 
        inserting ``infants and toddlers with disabilities, children 
        with disabilities, and youth with disabilities''.

SEC. 163. DUTIES.

    Section 163 (29 U.S.C. 9567b), as redesignated by section 102, is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g);
            (2) by striking subsections (a) through (e) and inserting 
        the following:
    ``(a) General Duties.--The Special Education Research Commissioner 
shall--
            ``(1) maintain published peer-review standards and 
        standards for the conduct and evaluation of all research and 
        development carried out under the auspices of the Special 
        Education Research Center, aligned with the principles of 
        scientifically valid research, in accordance with this part;
            ``(2) propose to the Director a special education research 
        plan in accordance with subsection (b), and implement the 
        research plan approved as part of the Institute's plan under 
        section 115A; and
            ``(3) carry out research activities under this part 
        consistent with the priorities and mission of the Institute and 
        the mission of the Special Education Research Center described 
        in section 161(b), and that are approved by the Director, such 
        as activities that--
                    ``(A) improve services provided under the 
                Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in order to 
                improve--
                            ``(i) student outcomes, including academic 
                        achievement, functional outcomes, and 
                        educational results for children with 
                        disabilities and youth with disabilities; and
                            ``(ii) developmental outcomes for infants 
                        and toddlers with disabilities;
                    ``(B) identify and support the development of 
                evidence-based services, strategies, interventions, or 
                policies, including multi-tier systems of supports and 
                positive behavioral interventions and supports, that--
                            ``(i) support learning and improve student 
                        outcomes, including academic achievement, 
                        functional outcomes, and educational results 
                        for all children with disabilities and youth 
                        with disabilities;
                            ``(ii) promote participation and progress 
                        in the general education curriculum and general 
                        education settings; and
                            ``(iii) improve reading, literacy, 
                        mathematics, and science skills of children 
                        with disabilities and youth with disabilities;
                    ``(C) ensure that research conducted under the 
                direction of the Special Education Research Center--
                            ``(i) supports the collaborative 
                        identification and development of research 
                        questions, designs, measurements, and methods 
                        among researchers, students, families, 
                        practitioners, education system leaders, and 
                        policymakers;
                            ``(ii) improves evidence use by 
                        practitioners, education system leaders, and 
                        policymakers;
                            ``(iii) is relevant to improving education 
                        practice and policy; and
                            ``(iv) informs decisionmaking by education 
                        system leaders and policymakers;
                    ``(D) examine the needs of infants and toddlers 
                with disabilities, including factors that may result in 
                developmental delays;
                    ``(E) improve the alignment, compatibility, and 
                development of valid and reliable assessments, 
                including alternate assessments, as required by section 
                1111(b)(2) of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
                Act of 1965;
                    ``(F) examine challenging State academic standards 
                and alternate assessments for students with the most 
                significant cognitive disabilities in terms of academic 
                achievement, individualized instructional need, 
                appropriate education settings, and improved 
                educational outcomes;
                    ``(G) examine the educational, developmental, and 
                transitional needs of children with high-incidence and 
                low-incidence disabilities;
                    ``(H) examine the extent to which 
                overidentification and underidentification of infants 
                and toddlers with disabilities, children with 
                disabilities, and youth with disabilities occurs, and 
                the causes thereof;
                    ``(I) examine and improve secondary and 
                postsecondary education, transitional, and employment 
                outcomes and results for children with disabilities and 
                youth with disabilities, including such individuals' 
                access to or completion of--
                            ``(i) a regular high school diploma;
                            ``(ii) career and technical education;
                            ``(iii) postsecondary education; and
                            ``(iv) vocational rehabilitation and 
                        competitive integrated employment;
                    ``(J) examine methods of early intervention for 
                infants and toddlers with disabilities and children 
                with disabilities, including children with multiple or 
                complex developmental delays;
                    ``(K) examine and incorporate principles of 
                universal design for learning in the development of 
                standards, assessments, curricula, and instructional 
                methods to improve educational and transitional results 
                for children with disabilities and youth with 
                disabilities;
                    ``(L)(i) improve the preparation of personnel, 
                including early intervention personnel, who provide 
                educational and related services to infants or toddlers 
                with disabilities, children with disabilities, or youth 
                with disabilities, including methods to support 
                evidence use among such personnel and increase the 
                academic achievement and functional performance of such 
                infants, toddlers, children, or youth; and
                    ``(ii) examine the requirements related to the 
                professional qualifications of such personnel in regard 
                to sections 612(a)(14) and 635(a)(9) of the Individuals 
                with Disabilities Education Act;
                    ``(M) examine the excess costs of educating a child 
                with a disability and expenses associated with high-
                cost special education and related services;
                    ``(N) help parents improve educational and 
                transitional results for infants and toddlers with 
                disabilities, children with disabilities, and youth 
                with disabilities;
                    ``(O) examine the unique needs of infants and 
                toddlers with disabilities, children with disabilities, 
                and youth with disabilities, including who also--
                            ``(i) are English learners or gifted and 
                        talented;
                            ``(ii) reside in rural communities; or
                            ``(iii) have the most significant cognitive 
                        disabilities; and
                    ``(P) examine existing and emerging assistive, 
                adaptive, accessible, and instructional technologies, 
                including--
                            ``(i) online delivery of services;
                            ``(ii) use of such technologies in general 
                        education settings;
                            ``(iii) factors that support or limit the 
                        use of such technologies; and
                            ``(iv) the impact of such technologies on 
                        infants or toddlers with disabilities, children 
                        with disabilities, or youth with disabilities.
    ``(b) Special Education Research Plan.--Not later than 60 days 
after the date on which the Board approves the priorities under section 
115, the Special Education Research Commissioner shall develop, in 
collaboration with the Assistant Secretary for Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services, and submit a special education research plan 
to the Director that--
            ``(1) is consistent with the priorities and mission of the 
        Institute and the mission of the Special Education Research 
        Center;
            ``(2) is consistent with the purposes of the Individuals 
        with Disabilities Education Act;
            ``(3) contains an appropriate balance across all age ranges 
        and by disability category under the Individuals with 
        Disabilities Education Act, as appropriate;
            ``(4) provides for research that is objective and uses 
        measurable indicators, including timelines, to assess its 
        progress and results;
            ``(5) meets the procedures for peer review established by 
        the Director under section 114(f)(5) and the standards of 
        research described in section 134;
            ``(6) is coordinated with the comprehensive plan developed 
        under section 681 of the Individuals with Disabilities 
        Education Act; and
            ``(7) specifies how the Special Education Research Center 
        will carry out research activities described in subsection 
        (a)(3).
    ``(c) Grants, Contracts, and Cooperative Agreements.--
            ``(1) In general.--In carrying out the duties under this 
        section, the Special Education Research Commissioner may award 
        grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements 
        with, eligible applicants.
            ``(2) Grant cycle.--The requirements described in section 
        133(d) shall apply to the Special Education Research 
        Commissioner in the same manner as such requirements apply to 
        the Research Commissioner.
            ``(3) Eligible applicants.--Contracts, grants, or 
        cooperative agreements for activities under this subsection 
        shall be awarded only to applicants with the ability and 
        capacity to conduct scientifically valid research.
            ``(4) Applications.--An eligible applicant that wishes to 
        receive a grant, or enter into a contract or cooperative 
        agreement, under this subsection shall submit an application to 
        the Director at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
        information as the Director may require.
    ``(d) Research-Practice Partnerships.--In carrying out the duties 
under subsection (a), the Special Education Research Commissioner may 
award grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements 
with, eligible entities to carry out research-practice partnerships in 
the same manner, and subject to the same definitions, terms, and 
conditions, as research-practice partnerships supported under section 
133(e).
    ``(e) Dissemination.--The Special Education Research Commissioner 
shall--
            ``(1) synthesize and disseminate the findings and results 
        of special education research conducted or supported by the 
        Special Education Research Center through--
                    ``(A) the National Center for Education Evaluation 
                and Evidence Use;
                    ``(B) activities funded under section 663 of the 
                Individuals with Disabilities Education Act;
                    ``(C) parent training and information centers 
                supported under section 671 of such Act; and
                    ``(D) activities funded under section 673 of such 
                Act; and
            ``(2) assist the Director in the preparation of the 
        biennial report described in section 119.''; and
            (3) in subsection (g), as redesignated by paragraph (1), by 
        striking ``fiscal years 2005 through 2010'' and inserting 
        ``fiscal years 2024 through 2029''.

SEC. 164. STANDARDS FOR CONDUCT AND EVALUATION OF RESEARCH.

    Part E of title I (20 U.S.C. 9567 et seq.) is amended by adding at 
the end the following:

``SEC. 164. STANDARDS FOR CONDUCT AND EVALUATION OF RESEARCH.

    ``(a) Standards.--The Special Education Research Commissioner shall 
ensure that activities assisted under this section--
            ``(1) conform to high standards of quality, integrity, 
        accuracy, validity, and reliability;
            ``(2) are carried out in accordance with--
                    ``(A) the standards for the conduct and evaluation 
                of all research and development established by the 
                National Center for Education Research; and
                    ``(B) any additional standards established by the 
                Special Education Research Commissioner; and
            ``(3) are objective, secular, neutral, and nonideological, 
        and are free of partisan political influence, and racial, 
        cultural, gender, regional, or disability bias.
    ``(b) Applicability of Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002.--
Parts A and F, and the standards for peer review of applications and 
for the conduct and evaluation of research under sections 133(a)(1) and 
134, shall apply to the Secretary, the Director, and the Special 
Education Research Commissioner in carrying out this part.''.

                       PART F--GENERAL PROVISIONS

SEC. 171. REPEALS AND REDESIGNATION.

    Part F of title I (20 U.S.C. 9571 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) by striking sections 179 and 183 (as such sections were 
        redesignated by section 102); and
            (2) by redesignating sections 180, 181, 182, and 184 (as so 
        redesignated) as sections 179, 180, 181, and 182, respectively.

SEC. 172. INTERAGENCY DATA SOURCES AND FORMATS.

    Section 171 (20 U.S.C. 9571), as redesignated by section 102, is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``The Secretary,'' and inserting the 
        following:
    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary,''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(b) Secure Public Access.--
            ``(1) In general.--Consistent with Federal law for privacy, 
        intellectual property, and security, and the principles of 
        scientifically valid research, the Director shall, subject to 
        section 172, facilitate for the public access to research 
        products, including data, software, and code supported by funds 
        under this title.
            ``(2) Data management plans.--The Director shall require 
        that proposals for funding for research supported under this 
        title, to the extent appropriate, include a machine-readable 
        data management plan that includes a description of how the 
        recipient of the funding will archive and preserve access to 
        data, software, and code developed as part of the proposed 
        project.
            ``(3) Requirements.--In carrying out the requirements under 
        this subsection, the Director shall--
                    ``(A) provide necessary resources, including 
                trainings and workshops, to educate researchers and 
                students on how to develop and review high-quality data 
                management plans; and
                    ``(B) ensure staff and peer review panels of the 
                Institute are equipped with the resources and training 
                necessary to review the quality of data management 
                plans in competitions for grants, contracts, and 
                cooperative agreements under this title, as 
                applicable.''.

SEC. 173. PROHIBITIONS.

    Section 172 (20 U.S.C. 9572), as redesignated by section 102, is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``individually'' and 
        inserting ``personally''; and
            (2) in subsection (d)(2)--
                    (A) by striking ``section 153(a)(6)'' and inserting 
                ``section 143(a)(7)''; and
                    (B) by striking ``nations'' and inserting 
                ``countries''.

SEC. 174. CONFIDENTIALITY.

    Section 173 (20 U.S.C. 9573), as redesignated by section 102, is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``subsection (c)'' and 
        inserting ``subsection (d)'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by striking ``individually'' and inserting 
                ``personally'';
                    (B) by striking ``subsection (c)'' and inserting 
                ``subsection (d)''; and
                    (C) by striking ``their families, and information 
                with respect to individual schools'' and inserting 
                ``and their families'';
            (3) by redesignating subsections (c) through (e) as 
        subsections (d) through (f), respectively;
            (4) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
    ``(c) Institution-Level Data.--The Director shall ensure that any 
authorized disclosed information with respect to an early childhood 
education program, elementary school, secondary school, local 
educational agency, or institution of higher education shall not 
include personally identifiable information.'';
            (5) in subsection (d)(2)(A), as redesignated by paragraph 
        (3), by striking ``individually'' and inserting ``personally''; 
        and
            (6) in subsection (e), as redesignated by paragraph (3)--
                    (A) by striking ``individually identifiable 
                information'' each place the term appears and inserting 
                ``personally identifiable information''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ``Individually 
                identifiable information'' and inserting ``Personally 
                identifiable information''.

SEC. 175. AVAILABILITY OF DATA.

    Section 174 (20 U.S.C. 9574), as redesignated by section 102, is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``section 183'' and inserting ``section 
        173''; and
            (2) by striking ``use of the Internet'' and inserting 
        ``through electronic means, such as posting in an easily 
        accessible manner on the website of the Institute''.

SEC. 176. PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT.

    Section 175 (20 U.S.C. 9575), as redesignated by section 102, is 
amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 175. PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT.

    ``The Director shall establish a system for managing the 
performance of all activities authorized under this title to ensure the 
effective use of Federal funds and that such activities meet the 
Institute's mission, by--
            ``(1) developing and utilizing measurable performance 
        indicators, including reasonable timelines, to evaluate and 
        improve the effectiveness of such activities and to inform 
        applicable competitions for grants, contracts, or cooperative 
        agreements under this title;
            ``(2) ensuring information, statistics, products, and 
        publications of the Institute are prepared in a timely manner 
        and are widely disseminated to practitioners, education system 
        leaders, and policymakers in formats that are high-quality, 
        easily accessible, understandable, and actionable;
            ``(3) utilizing the most modern technology and other 
        methods available, including arrangements to use data collected 
        electronically by public agencies across early childhood 
        education through postsecondary study to ensure the efficient 
        and least burdensome collection and timely distribution of 
        information, including data and reports;
            ``(4) promoting engagement with, wide dissemination of, and 
        evidence use of all information, products, and publications of 
        the Institute in a manner that is responsive to the educational 
        challenges facing students, families, practitioners, and 
        education system leaders;
            ``(5) continuously improving management strategies and 
        practices; and
            ``(6) making information available to the public in an 
        expeditious fashion.''.

SEC. 177. VACANCIES.

    Section 177 (20 U.S.C. 9577), as redesignated by section 102, is 
amended--
            (1) by striking the first sentence; and
            (2) by striking ``section 188'' and inserting ``section 
        178''.

SEC. 178. SCIENTIFIC OR TECHNICAL EMPLOYEES.

    Section 178 (20 U.S.C. 9578), as redesignated by section 102, is 
amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) of subsection 
        (a), by inserting ``, including experts in privacy, security of 
        personally identifiable information, and cybersecurity,'' 
        before ``to carry out''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(c) Rotators.--The Director may, under the authority provided by 
subsection (a), appoint for a limited term, or on a temporary basis, 
practitioners, researchers, and other technical and professional 
personnel on leave of absence from academic, industrial, or research 
institutions to work for the Institute, which may include such 
personnel affiliated with minority-serving institutions.''.

SEC. 179. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 182 (20 U.S.C. 9584), as redesignated by section 171, is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
                striking ``(except section 174) $400,000,000 for fiscal 
                year 2003 and such sums as may be necessary for each of 
                the 5 succeeding fiscal years, of which'' and inserting 
                ``(except section 157) such sums as may be necessary 
                for fiscal year 2024 and each of the 5 succeeding 
                fiscal years, of which, for each fiscal year'';
                    (B) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking ``(as such Center'' and all 
                        that follows through ``2002'' and inserting 
                        ``for fiscal year 2023''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``, as authorized under 
                        part C''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$1,000,000'' 
                and inserting ``$2,000,000'';
            (2) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as subsections 
        (c) and (d), respectively;
            (3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
    ``(b) Program Administration.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this title, for salaries and related expenses 
for the Director, each of the Commissioners, and employees described in 
section 178, such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024 and 
each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years.'';
            (4) in subsection (c), as redesignated by paragraph (2)--
                    (A) in the first sentence, by striking ``section 
                174 $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2003'' and inserting 
                ``section 157 such sums as may be necessary for fiscal 
                year 2024''; and
                    (B) by striking the second sentence; and
            (5) in subsection (d), as redesignated by paragraph (2)--
                    (A) by inserting ``for a fiscal year'' after ``this 
                section''; and
                    (B) by striking ``until expended'' and inserting 
                ``for the 2 succeeding fiscal years''.

SEC. 180. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

    (a) General Education Provisions Act.--Section 447(b) of the 
General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232j(b)) is amended by 
striking ``section 153(a)(6)'' and inserting ``section 143(a)(7)''.
    (b) Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.--The Elementary 
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) is 
amended--
            (1) in section 2244(b)(5), by striking ``section 174'' and 
        inserting ``section 157'';
            (2) in section 8101--
                    (A) in paragraph (23)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking 
                        ``section 153'' and inserting ``section 143''; 
                        and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (D)(i), by striking 
                        ``section 153'' and inserting ``section 143''; 
                        and
                    (B) in paragraph (25)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking 
                        ``section 153'' and inserting ``section 143''; 
                        and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (D)(i), by striking 
                        ``section 153'' and inserting ``section 143''; 
                        and
            (3) in section 8529(b), by striking ``section 153(a)(6)'' 
        and inserting ``section 143(a)(7)''.
    (c) Individuals With Disabilities Education Act.--The Individuals 
with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) in section 673(c), by striking ``section 174'' and 
        inserting ``section 157''; and
            (2) in section 681(a)(1), by striking ``section 178(c)'' 
        and inserting ``section 163(b)''.

               TITLE II--EDUCATIONAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

SEC. 201. EDUCATIONAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

    (a) In General.--The Educational Technical Assistance Act of 2002 
(20 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.) is amended to read as follows:

              ``TITLE II--EDUCATIONAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

``SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.

    ``This title may be cited as the `Educational Technical Assistance 
Act of 2002'.

``SEC. 202. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this title:
            ``(1) ESEA terms.--The terms `child with a disability', 
        `English learner', `Secretary', and `school leader' have the 
        meanings given those terms in section 8101 of the Elementary 
        and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
            ``(2) ESRA terms.--The terms `Bureau-funded school', 
        `evidence-based', `evidence use', `geographic region', 
        `institution of higher education', `regional educational 
        laboratory', and `subgroup of students' have the meanings given 
        those terms in section 102.
            ``(3) Comprehensive center.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `comprehensive center' 
                means a technical assistance center authorized under 
                section 207.
                    ``(B) National comprehensive center.--The term 
                `national comprehensive center' means a comprehensive 
                center established or supported through an award under 
                section 207(a)(2)(A) to support regional comprehensive 
                centers by scaling effective technical assistance, 
                minimizing duplication, and addressing common 
                implementation challenges faced by States and emerging 
                national education issues.
                    ``(C) Regional comprehensive center.--The term 
                `regional comprehensive center' means a comprehensive 
                center established or supported through an award under 
                section 207(a)(2)(B) that serves 1 geographic region.
            ``(4) Focus center.--The term `focus center' means a 
        technical assistance center authorized under section 208.

``SEC. 203. COORDINATION OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

    ``(a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to improve 
educational opportunities and outcomes, particularly academic 
achievement, for all students, particularly for each subgroup of 
students, through the coordination of technical assistance to support 
the effective implementation of--
            ``(1) the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965;
            ``(2) the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act;
            ``(3) the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education 
        Act of 2006;
            ``(4) the Higher Education Act of 1965;
            ``(5) section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act 
        (commonly known as the ``Family Educational Rights and Privacy 
        Act of 1974''); and
            ``(6) other relevant Federal education laws.
    ``(b) Activities.--In meeting the purpose of subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall--
            ``(1) provide technical assistance to practitioners, 
        education system leaders, elementary and secondary schools, 
        local educational agencies, State educational agencies, 
        institutions of higher education, families, local boards and 
        State boards (as defined under section 3 of the Workforce 
        Innovation and Opportunity Act), and other appropriate 
        agencies, to support effective implementation of the laws 
        described in subsection (a);
            ``(2) encourage evidence use and support the implementation 
        of evidence-based practices to improve educational outcomes, 
        particularly academic achievement, for all students, and 
        particularly for each subgroup of students; and
            ``(3) align technical assistance efforts across the 
        Department of Education to minimize duplication of technical 
        assistance and increase client satisfaction in a manner that--
                    ``(A) promotes high-quality, actionable, timely, 
                and easily accessible information; and
                    ``(B) is responsive to the educational challenges 
                facing students, families, practitioners, and education 
                system leaders.
    ``(c) Content.--The technical assistance provided under this 
section may include--
            ``(1) an evaluation of the implementation of Federal 
        programs at the local or State level, or building local or 
        State capacity to carry out such an evaluation; and
            ``(2) improving or streamlining data collections, and 
        increasing the capacity of agencies to analyze and communicate 
        such data and carry out evidence use to support practitioners 
        and education system leaders in evidence-based decisionmaking.

``SEC. 204. COORDINATION BETWEEN COMPREHENSIVE CENTERS AND REGIONAL 
              EDUCATIONAL LABORATORIES.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with the 
Commissioner for Education Evaluation and Evidence Use described in 
section 152, shall ensure that regional comprehensive centers and 
regional educational laboratories that serve the same geographic 
regions are effectively coordinated to minimize duplication and 
increase client satisfaction.
    ``(b) Local Coordination.--Each regional comprehensive center and 
regional educational laboratory that serve the same geographic region, 
to the greatest extent practicable, shall--
            ``(1) carry out local needs assessments and related input 
        gathering in a coordinated manner;
            ``(2) be familiar with each other's work plan and areas of 
        expertise, and with other federally funded technical assistance 
        centers;
            ``(3) be responsive, in a timely and effective manner, to 
        the State educational agencies, local educational agencies, 
        and, if applicable, Bureau-funded schools located in such 
        geographic region, which may include referring such an agency 
        to a more appropriate federally funded technical assistance 
        center;
            ``(4) develop and maintain a shared regional governing 
        board, in accordance with the requirements of section 
        206(a)(1); and
            ``(5) identify challenges facing students and practitioners 
        in the region so as to inform the work of focus centers 
        authorized under section 208.
    ``(c) Contract Cycle.--The Secretary, in consultation with the 
Commissioner for Education Evaluation and Evidence Use, shall, to the 
greatest extent practicable, ensure that the duration of grants, 
contacts, or cooperative agreements awarded for comprehensive centers 
under this title is consistent with the duration of contracts awarded 
by such Commissioner for the regional educational laboratory program.

``SEC. 205. PRIORITIES.

    ``The Secretary shall establish priorities for the regional 
educational laboratories and comprehensive centers, taking into account 
input from regional governing boards.

``SEC. 206. GOVERNING BOARDS.

    ``(a) Regional Governing Board.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Each regional comprehensive 
                center and regional educational laboratory that serve 
                the same geographic region shall have a shared regional 
                governing board that shall guide and direct the work of 
                such center and such laboratory.
                    ``(B) Costs.--In supporting and maintaining the 
                regional governing board required under this paragraph, 
                each regional comprehensive center and regional 
                educational laboratory shall equally divide any costs 
                related to developing, operating, or staffing such 
                board. Such center or laboratory may enter into a 
                contract with each other to carry out such activities.
            ``(2) Duties.--Each regional governing board established 
        under paragraph (1) shall advise the relevant regional 
        comprehensive center and regional educational laboratory on--
                    ``(A) the comprehensive center's activities 
                described in section 207(f) and the laboratory's 
                activities to satisfy the terms and conditions of the 
                contract award under section 154;
                    ``(B) the regional agenda of such center and such 
                laboratory, in a manner that is responsive to the 
                challenges facing students and practitioners of the 
                region, which may include the identification of 
                exemplary, innovative, and promising practices in the 
                region for additional study;
                    ``(C) ensuring the work of the comprehensive center 
                and the laboratory is high-quality, actionable, timely, 
                and easily accessible;
                    ``(D) identifying challenges facing students and 
                practitioners of the region, which shall inform the 
                work of focus centers authorized under section 208; and
                    ``(E) the implementation of such center's and such 
                laboratory's respective duties in a manner that 
                promotes progress toward providing all students, 
                particularly each subgroup of students, access to high-
                quality educational opportunities and improves 
                educational outcomes, particularly student academic 
                achievement.
            ``(3) Composition.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Each regional governing board 
                shall be composed of--
                            ``(i) the chief State school officers, or 
                        such officers' designees or other State 
                        officials, in each State located in the 
                        corresponding geographic region; and
                            ``(ii) not more than 10 other members who 
                        are representative of the educational interests 
                        in the corresponding geographic region, which 
                        may include the following:
                                    ``(I) Representatives of local 
                                educational agencies and educational 
                                service agencies, including 
                                representatives of local educational 
                                agencies serving urban and rural areas.
                                    ``(II) Representatives of 
                                institutions of higher education.
                                    ``(III) Parents.
                                    ``(IV) Practitioners, including 
                                classroom teachers, principals, and 
                                other school leaders.
                                    ``(V) Representatives of workforce 
                                development.
                                    ``(VI) Policymakers, expert 
                                practitioners, and researchers with 
                                knowledge of, and experience using 
                                research, development, evaluation, and 
                                statistics.
    ``(b) National Comprehensive Center Governing Board.--
            ``(1) In general.--The National Comprehensive Center shall 
        have a governing board that shall--
                    ``(A) guide and direct the work of such center; and
                    ``(B) support such center in scaling effective 
                technical assistance, minimizing duplication, and 
                addressing common implementation challenges faced by 
                States and emerging national education issues.
            ``(2) Composition.--The governing board described this 
        subsection shall be composed of--
                    ``(A) not less than 1 member of each regional 
                governing board described in subsection (a); and
                    ``(B) a variety of members described in subsection 
                (a)(3)(A)(ii).

``SEC. 207. COMPREHENSIVE CENTERS.

    ``(a) Authorization.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall award 11 grants, 
        contracts, or cooperative agreements, on a competitive basis, 
        to establish national or regional comprehensive centers, in 
        accordance with paragraph (2).
            ``(2) Award criteria.--In awarding grants, contracts, or 
        cooperative agreements under paragraph (1), the Secretary--
                    ``(A) shall award 1 grant, contract, or cooperative 
                agreement to an eligible entity to enable that eligible 
                entity to establish a national comprehensive center 
                that will support regional comprehensive centers by--
                            ``(i) scaling effective technical 
                        assistance;
                            ``(ii) minimizing duplication; and
                            ``(iii) addressing--
                                    ``(I) common implementation 
                                challenges faced by States; and
                                    ``(II) emerging national education 
                                issues; and
                    ``(B) shall ensure that 1 regional comprehensive 
                center is established in each of the geographic 
                regions.
            ``(3) National comprehensive center; regional comprehensive 
        centers.--In the case of--
                    ``(A) a national comprehensive center described in 
                paragraph (2)(A), the Nation shall be considered to be 
                the region served by the comprehensive center; and
                    ``(B) a regional comprehensive center described in 
                paragraph (2)(B), the geographic region shall be 
                considered to be the region served by the comprehensive 
                center.
    ``(b) Eligible Entities.--
            ``(1) In general.--Grants, contracts, or cooperative 
        agreements under this section may be made with research 
        organizations, public agencies, private entities, institutions 
        of higher education, or partnerships among such entities, with 
        the demonstrated ability or capacity to carry out the 
        activities described in subsection (f) (referred to in this 
        section as `eligible entities').
            ``(2) Outreach.--In conducting competitions for grants, 
        contracts, or cooperative agreements under this section, the 
        Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) actively encourage eligible entities to apply 
                for such awards by making widely available information 
                and technical assistance relating to the awards 
                described under this section; and
                    ``(B) seek input from chief executive officers of 
                States, chief State school officers, teachers, 
                principals, other school leaders, parents, 
                administrators, paraprofessionals, and other 
                individuals with knowledge of the needs of the regions 
                to be served by the awards, regarding--
                            ``(i) the needs in the regions for 
                        technical assistance authorized under this 
                        title; and
                            ``(ii) how such needs may be addressed most 
                        effectively.
            ``(3) Requirements.--In determining whether to award a 
        grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this section, 
        the Secretary shall ensure that an eligible entity has a 
        history of effectiveness in providing high-quality technical 
        assistance, including by considering the results of any 
        completed evaluation required under this title or part D of 
        title I if such entity previously received a grant, contract, 
        or cooperative agreement under this title or title I.
    ``(c) Application.--
            ``(1) Submission.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Each eligible entity, seeking a 
                grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this 
                section shall submit an application at such time, in 
                such manner, and containing such additional information 
                as the Secretary may reasonably require, including the 
                plan described in paragraph (2).
                    ``(B) Engagement.--To help ensure applications 
                submitted under this paragraph are responsive to 
                challenges facing students, practitioners, and 
                education system leaders in the region proposed to be 
                served, each eligible entity submitting such an 
                application shall meaningfully engage with not less 
                than 1 individual or entity located in such region from 
                each of the following categories, to inform the 
                application:
                            ``(i) State educational agencies.
                            ``(ii) Local educational agencies.
                            ``(iii) Practitioners, including teachers, 
                        principals, and other school leaders.
                            ``(iv) Students and parents.
                            ``(v) Policymakers, expert practitioners, 
                        and researchers with knowledge of, and 
                        experience using, the findings from research, 
                        evaluation, and statistics.
            ``(2) Plan.--Each application submitted under paragraph (1) 
        shall contain--
                    ``(A) an assurance that such applicant will develop 
                and regularly update a 5-year service plan for carrying 
                out the technical assistance and capacity-building 
                activities for the region in a manner that addresses--
                            ``(i) the priorities described under 
                        section 205; and
                            ``(ii) the needs of all States (and to the 
                        extent practicable, of local educational 
                        agencies) within the region to be served by the 
                        national or regional comprehensive center, on 
                        an ongoing basis; and
                    ``(B) an assurance that such entity will develop 
                and regularly update and submit to the Secretary a 
                State service plan that includes--
                            ``(i) a description of the capacity-
                        building supports to be delivered by the center 
                        in response to educational challenges facing 
                        students, practitioners, and education system 
                        leaders in a manner that supports evidence use; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) a description of the technical 
                        assistance to be provided to support the 
                        effective implementation of the Elementary and 
                        Secondary Education Act of 1965.
    ``(d) Allocation.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each regional comprehensive center 
        established under this section shall allocate such center's 
        resources to and within each State in a manner which reflects 
        the need for assistance, taking into account such factors as--
                    ``(A) the proportion and number of students from 
                low-income backgrounds counted under section 1113(a)(5) 
                of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965;
                    ``(B) the number of schools implementing 
                comprehensive support and improvement activities, 
                targeted support and improvement activities, and 
                additional targeted support, under section 1111(d) of 
                the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 in 
                the region;
                    ``(C) the increased cost burden of service delivery 
                in rural areas; and
                    ``(D) any special initiatives being undertaken by 
                State, intermediate, local educational agencies, or 
                Bureau-funded schools, as appropriate, that may require 
                special assistance from the center.
            ``(2) Responsiveness.--In allocating resources in 
        accordance with paragraph (1), each regional comprehensive 
        center shall reserve not more than 15 percent of funds awarded 
        by the Secretary for a fiscal year to respond in a timely 
        fashion to urgent needs of State educational agencies and local 
        educational agencies served by such center for such fiscal 
        year, which may also include modifying the activities of the 
        center and the State service plan described in subsection 
        (c)(2)(B).
    ``(e) Scope of Work.--Each comprehensive center established under 
this section shall work with State educational agencies, local 
educational agencies, educational service agencies, and schools, 
including Bureau-funded schools, in the region where such center is 
located on school improvement activities that take into account factors 
such as the proportion and number of students from low-income 
backgrounds counted under section 1113(a)(5) of Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965 in the region, and give priority to--
            ``(1) schools in the region with high percentages or 
        numbers of students from low-income backgrounds, as determined 
        under section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary 
        Education Act of 1965, including such schools in rural and 
        urban areas, and schools receiving assistance under title I of 
        that Act;
            ``(2) local educational agencies in the region in which 
        high percentages or numbers of school-age children are from 
        low-income families, as determined under section 1124(c)(1)(A) 
        of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, 
        including such local educational agencies in rural and urban 
        areas; and
            ``(3) schools in the region that are implementing 
        comprehensive support and improvement activities, targeted 
        support and improvement activities, and additional targeted 
        support under section 1111(d) of the Elementary and Secondary 
        Education Act of 1965.
    ``(f) Activities.--A comprehensive center established under this 
section shall provide high-quality, high-impact technical assistance 
and capacity-building supports to State educational agencies, local 
educational agencies, educational service agencies, and schools, 
including Bureau-funded schools, located in the region served by such 
center by--
            ``(1) providing capacity-building supports described in 
        subsection (c)(2)(B)(i), which may include supports to--
                    ``(A) strengthen data privacy and security; or
                    ``(B) coordinate with other State and local public 
                agencies, institutions of higher education, and 
                entities to address challenges facing students, 
                practitioners, and education system leaders;
            ``(2) providing training, professional development, and 
        technical assistance regarding implementation of laws described 
        in subsection (c)(2)(B)(ii);
            ``(3) facilitating communication between teachers, 
        principals, other school leaders, paraprofessionals, parents, 
        families, librarians, and education system leaders, as 
        appropriate;
            ``(4) supporting evidence use amongst practitioners and 
        education system leaders, at a minimum, in--
                    ``(A) the core academic subjects of mathematics, 
                science, and reading or language arts;
                    ``(B) meeting the needs of English learners and 
                children with disabilities; and
                    ``(C) education technology (including assistive and 
                adaptive technology);
            ``(5) in coordination with the Director of the Institute of 
        Education Sciences, disseminating and providing information, 
        reports, and publications that support teaching and learning to 
        improve educational opportunities and student outcomes, 
        particularly academic achievement, and particularly for each 
        subgroup of students, to students, families, practitioners, 
        education system leaders, and policymakers within the region 
        served by the center;
            ``(6) bringing teams of experts together to develop and 
        implement school improvement plans and strategies, especially 
        in schools implementing comprehensive support and improvement 
        activities, targeted support and improvement activities, and 
        additional targeted support under section 1111(d) of the 
        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; and
            ``(7) supporting high-quality teacher and school leader 
        preparation, recruitment, and retention practices, including 
        evidenced-based clinical experiences, and improving the teacher 
        pipeline in critical areas.

``SEC. 208. FOCUS CENTERS.

    ``(a) Authorization.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may award not more than 3 
        grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to eligible 
        entities (as described in section 207(b)(1)) to enable those 
        eligible entities to establish and operate focus centers on 
        topics described in subsection (b).
            ``(2) Application.--Each eligible entity, seeking a grant, 
        contract, or cooperative agreement under this section shall 
        submit an application at such time, in such manner, and 
        containing such additional information as the Secretary may 
        reasonably require.
            ``(3) Requirements.--Focus centers authorized under 
        paragraph (1) shall--
                    ``(A) address 1 or more topics described in 
                subsection (b);
                    ``(B) carry out activities that increase evidence 
                use on such topic amongst practitioners, education 
                system leaders, elementary schools and secondary 
                schools, local educational agencies, and State 
                educational agencies; and
                    ``(C) in a timely manner, develop evidence-based 
                products or tools regarding such topic and widely 
                disseminate such products or tools to practitioners, 
                education system leaders, and policymakers in formats 
                that are high-quality, easily accessible, 
                understandable, and actionable.
    ``(b) Topics.--
            ``(1) Engagement.--The Secretary shall engage with--
                    ``(A) regional governing boards, in accordance with 
                in section 206(a)(2)(D), to identify challenges facing 
                students and practitioners that are of shared 
                importance and urgency across geographic regions; and
                    ``(B) the Director of the Institute of Education 
                Sciences to examine the evidence bases of research that 
                may address the challenges identified in subparagraph 
                (A).
            ``(2) Identification.--After carrying out the engagement 
        requirements in paragraph (1), the Secretary, in consultation 
        with the Director of the Institute of Education Sciences, shall 
        identify topics for focus centers that address educational 
        challenges of shared importance and urgency and that may be 
        addressed through the mobilization of robust evidence bases of 
        research.
    ``(c) Rule.--In making awards under this section, the Secretary may 
carry out distinct award competitions for each topic developed under 
subsection (b).

``SEC. 209. EVALUATIONS.

    ``(a) Comprehensive Centers.--
            ``(1) National center for education evaluation and evidence 
        use.--The Secretary shall provide for ongoing independent 
        evaluations by the National Center for Education Evaluation and 
        Evidence Use of the comprehensive centers receiving assistance 
        under this title, the results of which shall be transmitted to 
        the Committee on Heath, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the 
        Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Education and the Workforce and the Committee on Appropriations 
        of the House of Representatives, the Director of the Institute 
        of Education Sciences, and the public. Such evaluations shall 
        include an analysis of the services provided under this title, 
        the extent to which each of the comprehensive centers meets the 
        objectives of its respective plan, and the extent to which--
                    ``(A) technical assistance provided by such 
                centers--
                            ``(i) was high quality and high impact;
                            ``(ii) was responsive to the needs of 
                        clients in the region; and
                            ``(iii) improved implementation of the laws 
                        described in section 207(c)(2)(C)(ii);
                    ``(B) capacity-building services were high quality 
                and high impact, and responsive to the educational 
                challenges of State educational agencies, local 
                educational agencies, and schools in the region; and
                    ``(C) such centers effectively coordinated with 
                regional educational laboratories and other federally 
                funded technical assistance centers to align technical 
                assistance, minimize duplication, and increase client 
                satisfaction.
            ``(2) Independent entity.--In addition to the evaluation 
        described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure that 
        each comprehensive center receiving assistance under this title 
        is evaluated by an independent entity, which shall be completed 
        not less than 1 fiscal year prior to the end of the period of 
        the grant, contract, or cooperative agreement with the eligible 
        entity that operates the comprehensive center, and which 
        shall--
                    ``(A) include each of the analyses and assessments 
                described in paragraph (1); and
                    ``(B) determine the extent to which such center 
                effectively supported the decisionmaking of 
                practitioners, education system leaders, and 
                policymakers located in the region served by the 
                center.
    ``(b) Focus Center Evaluation.--The Secretary shall provide for 
ongoing independent evaluations by the National Center for Education 
Evaluation and Evidence Use of the focus centers receiving assistance 
under this title, the results of which shall be transmitted to the 
Committee on Heath, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Committee on 
Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
Representatives, the Director of the Institute of Education Sciences, 
and the public. Such evaluations shall include an analysis of the 
evidence use activities carried out by such center, and such center's 
effectiveness in addressing topics of shared importance and urgency.

``SEC. 210. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title 
such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024 and for each of the 
5 succeeding fiscal years.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 2244 of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``section 203'' and 
        inserting ``section 207''; and
            (2) in subsection (b)(5), by striking ``section 203'' and 
        inserting ``section 207''.

         TITLE III--NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS

SEC. 301. REFERENCES.

    Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this title an 
amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal 
of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to 
be made to a section or other provision of the National Assessment of 
Educational Progress Authorization Act (20 U.S.C. 9621 et seq.).

SEC. 302. NATIONAL ASSESSMENT GOVERNING BOARD.

    Section 302 (20 U.S.C. 9621) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (c), by striking paragraph (4);
            (2) by striking subparagraph (A) of subsection (e)(1) and 
        inserting the following:
                    ``(A) establish an assessment schedule, in 
                consultation with the Commissioner for Education 
                Statistics to ensure the technical and cost feasibility 
                of such schedule's implementation, that complies with 
                the requirements of section 303(b), including--
                            ``(i) selecting the subject areas and 
                        grades or ages to be assessed; and
                            ``(ii) determining the years in which such 
                        assessments will be conducted;''; and
            (3) in subsection (g)(2), by striking ``on the 
        Department's'' and all that follows through the period at the 
        end and inserting the following: ``on--
                    ``(A) the Department's actions to implement the 
                decisions of the Assessment Board; and
                    ``(B) the budget of the Department regarding the 
                costs associated with the duties of the Assessment 
                Board and activities relating to the National 
                Assessment, including the technical and cost 
                feasibility of carrying out the assessment schedule 
                established under subsection (e)(1)(A).''.

SEC. 303. NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS.

    Section 303 (20 U.S.C. 9622) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (B), by inserting 
                        ``subject to paragraph (4),'' before 
                        ``conduct'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``, 
                        but at least as'' and all that follows through 
                        the semicolon and inserting ``and at least once 
                        every 4 years;''; and
                            (iii) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``, 
                        to provide'' and all that follows through the 
                        semicolon and inserting ``, subject to 
                        paragraph (4)'';
                    (B) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A)--
                                    (I) in clause (i), by inserting 
                                ``subject to paragraph (4),'' before 
                                ``shall''; and
                                    (II) in clause (iv), by inserting 
                                ``subject to paragraph (4),'' before 
                                ``shall''; and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by inserting 
                        ``on'' before ``the standards'';
                    (C) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (6) as 
                paragraphs (5) through (7), respectively;
                    (D) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
            ``(4) Frequency of biennial reading and mathematics 
        assessments.--In carrying out the reading and mathematics 
        assessments requirements under subparagraphs (B) and (E) of 
        paragraph (2) and paragraph (3), the Commissioner for Education 
        Statistics shall conduct such assessments in--
                    ``(A) 2024;
                    ``(B) 2027; and
                    ``(C) every other year thereafter, in order to 
                provide for 1 year in which no such assessments are 
                conducted between each administration of such 
                assessments.''; and
                    (E) in paragraph (6)(C), as redesignated by 
                subparagraph (C), by striking ``information on'' and 
                all that follows through the period at the end and 
                inserting ``, to the extent feasible, information 
                needed to carry out paragraph (2)(G).'';
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2)(D), by striking ``Chairman of 
                the House Committee'' and all that follows through the 
                period at the end and inserting ``Committee on 
                Education and the Workforce of the House of 
                Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, 
                Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (4), by inserting a comma after 
                ``Code'';
            (3) in subsection (d)(3)(B), by striking ``For'' and 
        inserting ``In accordance with section 1111(g)(2)(D) of the 
        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, for'';
            (4) in subsection (e)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A)--
                                    (I) by striking ``shall'' and all 
                                that follows through ``by--'' and 
                                inserting ``shall be determined by--''; 
                                and
                                    (II) by redesignating subclauses 
                                (I) and (II) as clauses (i) and (ii), 
                                respectively, and indenting 
                                appropriately;
                            (ii) by striking subparagraph (B) and 
                        inserting the following:
                    ``(B) National consensus approach.--The Assessment 
                Board shall--
                            ``(i) make the determinations described in 
                        subparagraph (A) utilizing a national consensus 
                        approach; and
                            ``(ii) ensure the achievement levels 
                        developed under such subparagraph are 
                        reasonable, valid, and informative to the 
                        public.'';
                            (iii) by striking subparagraphs (C) and 
                        (D); and
                            (iv) by redesignating subparagraph (E) as 
                        subparagraph (C); and
                    (B) in paragraph (4)--
                            (i) by striking ``trial'';
                            (ii) by inserting ``under this 
                        subsection,'' after ``development''; and
                            (iii) by inserting a comma after 
                        ``officer'';
            (5) in subsection (f)(1)(B)(ii), by striking ``-'' after 
        the semicolon; and
            (6) in subsection (g)(2)--
                    (A) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Indian 
                Affairs Schools'' and inserting ``Indian Education''; 
                and
                    (B) by striking ``Indian Affairs'' and inserting 
                ``Indian Education''.

SEC. 304. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 304 (20 U.S.C. 9623) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as paragraphs 
        (2) and (3), respectively;
            (2) by inserting before paragraph (2), as redesignated by 
        paragraph (1), the following:
            ``(1) In general.--The terms `elementary school', `local 
        educational agency', `secondary school', and `Secretary' have 
        the meanings given those terms in section 8101 of the 
        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.'';
            (3) in paragraph (2), as redesignated by paragraph (1), by 
        inserting ``Director.--'' before ``The term''; and
            (4) in paragraph (3), as so redesignated, by inserting 
        ``State.--'' before ``The term''.

SEC. 305. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 305(a) (20 U.S.C. 9624(a)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated--
            ``(1) for fiscal year 2024--
                    ``(A) such sums as may be necessary to carry out 
                section 302; and
                    ``(B) such sums as may be necessary to carry out 
                section 303; and
            ``(2) for each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years, such sums 
        as may be necessary to carry out sections 302 and 303.''.
                                 <all>