[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 129 (Thursday, July 7, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-16404]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 7, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI)
AGENCY: Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice to solicit public comments.

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary solicits written public comment on the 
implementation by the Office of Educational Research and Improvement 
(OERI) of its new authorizing legislation, the ``Educational Research, 
Development, Dissemination, and Improvement Act of 1994.'' Comments 
will be used to help the Assistant Secretary plan for the 
reorganization of OERI and the activities it will carry out, as well as 
establish, in collaboration with the National Educational Research 
Policy and Priorities Board, priorities for OERI's future work.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 6, 1994.

ADDRESSES: All comments concerning this notice, as well as requests for 
copies of the Educational Research, Development, Dissemination, and 
Improvement Act of 1994 and the topic papers (discussed below under 
Supplementary Information), should be addressed to Dr. Laurence Peters, 
U.S. Department of Education, 555 New Jersey Avenue, NW., room 600, 
Washington, D.C. 20208-5530. Comments on this notice may also be sent 
to the Department of Education at the Internet electronic mail address: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Laurence Peters. Telephone: (202) 
219-2050. FAX: (202) 219-1466. Internet electronic mail address: 
[email protected]. Individuals who use a telecommunications 
device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay 
Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern 
time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 31, 1994, President Clinton signed 
Public Law 103-227, which includes both the ``Goals 2000: Educate 
America Act'' and the ``Educational Research, Development, 
Dissemination, and Improvement Act of 1994.'' The latter Act creates a 
new Office of Educational Research and Improvement with a broad mandate 
to conduct an array of research, development, dissemination, and 
improvement activities aimed at strengthening the education of all 
students. It also requires the establishment of a National Educational 
Research Policy and Priorities Board, which is to work collaboratively 
with the Assistant Secretary to identify priorities to guide the work 
of OERI.
    The mission of OERI, which the new authorizing legislation requires 
be accomplished in collaboration with researchers, teachers, school 
administrators, parents, students, employers, and policymakers, is to 
provide national leadership in:
(1) expanding fundamental knowledge and understanding of education; (2) 
promoting excellence and equity in education and the achievement of the 
National Education Goals by spurring reform in the school systems of 
the United States; (3) promoting the use and application of research 
and development to improve practice in the classroom; and (4) 
monitoring the state of education.
    The statute requires that OERI establish five new research 
institutes and a national dissemination system. Specifically, the new 
OERI must include:
     The National Institute on Student Achievement, Curriculum, 
and Assessment;
     The National Institute on the Education of At-Risk 
Students;
     The National Institute on Early Childhood Development and 
Education;
     The National Institute on Educational Governance, Finance, 
Policymaking, and Management;
     The National Institute on Postsecondary Education, 
Libraries, and Lifelong Learning;
     The Office of Reform Assistance and Dissemination; and
     The National Library of Education.
    The Assistant Secretary is interested in receiving comments and 
recommendations from the public regarding the functions and 
responsibilities of these new organizational components, the priorities 
that should govern their work, and the mix of activities that would 
best serve OERI's mission. The Assistant Secretary welcomes 
recommendations related to any aspect of the implementation of the 
``Educational Research, Development, Dissemination, and Improvement Act 
of 1994,'' but is especially interested in recommendations regarding:
     Research priorities for each institute, especially those 
topics and issues that should be the focus of long-term, sustained, 
systematic, and integrated research and development;
     Strategies to help ensure that the research agenda is 
relevant to the needs of educators working with students;
     Dissemination strategies that will be most effective in 
meeting the needs of a range of different customers--education 
researchers, practitioners, policymakers, parents, students, and 
employers;
     Strategies and technical assistance activities that will 
help ensure that knowledge gained from research will help improve 
teaching and learning;
     Strategies for identifying proven and promising 
educational practices and programs;
     Coordination of OERI's research, development and 
dissemination with similar activities of other agencies and 
organizations, including other units of the Department and other 
federal agencies, to ensure that customer needs are met and the federal 
investment is maximized;
     Peer review and program evaluation activities to ensure 
that the programs and projects OERI supports meet the highest standards 
of professional excellence;
     Education topic areas in which syntheses of research-based 
information are urgently needed to help guide improvement efforts; and
     Information services, resources and materials that should 
be available to the public through a National Library of Education.
    The Assistant Secretary is interested in wide public comment--from 
education researchers, practitioners, policymakers, parents, students, 
employers and others interested in systemic education reform--regarding 
the policies and priorities OERI must identify and develop.
    In seeking public comment, OERI is committed to supporting 
Executive Order 12862, Setting Customer Service Standards, which 
provides that the Federal Government be ``customer driven.'' To deliver 
the highest quality service, OERI must understand its customers' needs 
and interests and how it can be most responsive to these needs and 
interests.
    Availability of Reauthorization Legislation and Topic Papers: To 
provide the public with a complete description of the provisions of the 
new legislation, OERI will make available upon request a copy of the 
``Educational Research, Development, Dissemination, and Improvement Act 
of 1994.'' Prior to submitting any comments, OERI encourages commenters 
to review this legislation. In addition, OERI has prepared topic papers 
on a number of discrete subject areas, including each of the major OERI 
organizational entities required by the new legislation. Individuals 
who wish to respond to this notice may find these topic papers helpful 
as they develop their comments. The purpose of these topic papers is to 
share information and to generate discussion and recommendations.

Invitation to Comment

    Interested persons are invited to submit comments and 
recommendations regarding this notice.
    All comments and recommendations will be available for public 
inspection, during and after the comment period, in room 600, 555 New 
Jersey Avenue, NW., Washington, DC between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4 
p.m. Monday through Friday of each week except Federal holidays.

Dated: June 30, 1994.

Sharon P. Robinson,
Assistant Secretary for Educational Research and Improvement.
[FR Doc. 94-16404 Filed 7-6-94; 8:45 am]
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