[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 110 (Thursday, June 6, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 28858]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-14164]



=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Research Priorities Plan; Invitation for Public Comment and 
Notice of Availability of the Proposed Research Priorities Plan: 
``Building on What We've Learned: Developing Priorities for Education 
Research''

SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for Educational Research and 
Improvement is developing a research priorities plan which shall 
recommend priorities for the investment of the resources of the Office 
of Educational Research and Improvement over the next five-, ten-, and 
fifteen-year periods. The development of this plan is required by the 
Office of Educational Research and Improvement's authorizing 
legislation, the ``Educational Research, Development, Dissemination, 
and Improvement Act of 1994.'' In accordance with 20 U.S.C. 
6011(f)(2)(B), the Assistant Secretary has issued a proposed research 
priorities plan and seeks public comment on the content of the proposed 
plan.

DATES: All comments concerning this proposed plan must be received on 
or before August 5, 1996.

ADDRESSES: All comments concerning this proposed plan should be 
addressed to Judith I. Anderson, U.S. Department of Education, Office 
of Educational Research and Improvement, 555 New Jersey Avenue, NW., 
Room 510, Washington, DC 20208-5573. Comments may also be sent through 
Internet to (Judith__A[email protected]).

TO RECEIVE A COPY OF THIS PROPOSED PLAN AND FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT: Tammra Gill. Telephone (202) 219-1556. 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:

Background

    On March 31, 1994, President Clinton signed Public Law 103-227, 
which includes Title IX--the ``Educational Research, Development, 
Dissemination, and Improvement Act of 1994'' (the ``Act'') (20 U.S.C. 
6001 et seq.). The Act restructured the Office of Educational Research 
and Improvement (OERI) and endowed it with a broad mandate to conduct 
an array of research, development, dissemination, and improvement 
activities aimed at strengthening the education of all students. The 
Act established the following five national research institutes within 
OERI:
    (1) The National Institute on Student Achievement, Curriculum, and 
Assessment;
    (2) The National Institute on the Education of At-Risk Students;
    (3) The National Institute on Educational Governance, Finance, 
Policymaking, and Management;
    (4) The National Institute on Early Childhood Development and 
Education; and
    (5) The National Institute on Postsecondary Education, Libraries, 
and Lifelong Learning.
    The Act authorized the Assistant Secretary to conduct research, 
development, demonstration, and evaluation activities to carry out the 
purposes for which these Institutes were established.
    The Act also required the establishment of a National Educational 
Research Policy and Priorities Board (the ``Board'') to work 
collaboratively with the Assistant Secretary to identify priorities to 
guide the work of OERI.

Statutory Requirements

    The legislation directed the Assistant Secretary to work 
collaboratively with the Board to develop a research priorities plan 
that will recommend priorities for the investment of resources over the 
next five-, ten-, and fifteen-year periods, including as priorities 
those areas of inquiry in which further research, development and 
dissemination--
    (a) is necessary to attain the National Education Goals;
    (b) promises to yield the greatest practical benefits to teachers 
and other educators in terms of improving education; and
    (c) will not be undertaken in sufficient scope or intensity by the 
other Federal and non-Federal entities engaged in Education research 
and development.

Invitation To Comment

    Interested persons are invited to submit comments including 
suggestions on how to strengthen this document. The Department is 
especially interested in hearing what commenters believe to be the most 
important and promising educational research opportunities for the next 
five, ten and fifteen years.
    All comments submitted in response to this proposed plan will be 
available for public inspection, during and after the comment period, 
in Room 510, 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: May 30, 1996.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number does not apply)
Sharon P. Robinson,
Assistant Secretary for Educational Research and Improvement.
[FR Doc. 96-14164 Filed 6-5-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P