in the priority research, development and dissemina-
tion needs identified in section 405(b)(3) in which
the state of knowledge is insufficient and which war-
rant further investigation, taking into account the
views of both education researchers and practicing
educators;
‘‘(2) consult with the National Education Goals
Panel and other authorities on education to identify
national priorities for the improvement of education;
‘‘(3) actively solicit recommendations from edu-
cation researchers, teachers, school administrators,
cultural leaders, parents, and others throughout the
Nation through such means as periodic regional fo-
rums;
‘‘(4) provide recommendations for the develop-
ment, maintenance, and assurance of a strong infra-
structure for education, research, and development
in the United States; and
‘‘(5) on the basis of such recommendations, de-
velop a research priorities program which shall rec-
ommend priorities for the investment of the re-
sources of the Office over the next 5-, 10-, and 15-
year periods, including as priorities those areas of
inquiry in which further research, development and
dissemination—
‘‘(A) is necessary to attain the goals for
the improvement of education identified in
paragraph (2);
‘‘(B) promises to yield the greatest prac-
tical 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 re-
search and development.
‘‘(d) CONTENTS OF PLAN—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The research and priorities
plan described in subsection (c) shall, at a mini-
mum—
‘‘(A) set forth specific objectives which can
be expected to be achieved as a result of a Fed-
eral investment in the priorities set forth in the
plan;
‘‘(B) include recommendations with respect
to research and development on cross-cutting is-
sues which should be carried out jointly by 2 or
more of the research institutes; and
‘‘(C) include an evaluative summary of the
educational research and development activities
undertaken by the Federal government during
the preceding 2 fiscal years which shall de-
scribe—
‘‘(i) what has been learned as a result
of such activities;
‘‘(ii) how such new knowledge or un-
derstanding extends or otherwise relates to
what had been previously known or under-
stood;
‘‘(iii) the implications of such new
knowledge or understanding for edu-
cational practice and school reform; and
‘‘(iv) any development, reform, and
other assistance activities which have uti-
lized such knowledge or understanding and
the effects of such efforts.
‘‘(2) REPORT.—
‘‘(A) Not later than 6 months after the
first meeting of the Board and October 1 of
every second year thereafter, the Assistant Sec-
retary shall publish a report specifying the pro-
posed research priorities of the Office and allow
a 60-day period beginning on the date of the
publication of the report for public comment
and suggestions.
‘‘(B) Not later than 90 days after the expi-
ration of the 60-day period referred to in sub-
paragraph (A), the Assistant Secretary shall
submit to the President and the Congress a re-
port specifying the research priorities of the Of-
fice and any public comment and suggestions
obtained under such subparagraph.
‘‘(e) 
ADDITIONAL
RESPONSIBILITIES
OF
THE
BOARD.—It shall also be the responsibility of the Board
to—
‘‘(1) provide advice and assistance to the As-
sistant Secretary in carrying out the coordination
activities described in section 405;
‘‘(2) make recommendations to the Assistant
Secretary of persons qualified to fulfill the respon-
sibilities of the Director for each research institute
established by section 405B after making special ef-
forts to identify qualified women and minorities and
soliciting and giving due consideration to rec-
ommendations from professional associations and in-
terested members of the public;
‘‘(3) advise and make recommendations to the
President with respect to individuals who are quali-
fied to fulfill the responsibilities of the Assistant
Secretary for the Office of Educational Research
and Improvement; and
‘‘(4) review and approve standards for the con-
duct and evaluation of research developed by the As-
sistant Secretary pursuant to subsection (h) of sec-
tion 405.
‘‘(f) STANDING SUBCOMMITTEES.—
‘‘(1) 
ESTABLISHMENT; 
FUNCTIONS.—The
Board shall establish a standing subcommittee for
each of the Institutes established by subsection (a)
of section 405B and for the Office of Reform Assist-
ance and Dissemination established by subsection
(b) of section 405C which shall advise, assist, con-
sult with and make recommendations to the Assist-
ant Secretary, the Board, the Director of such entity
and the Congress on matters related to the activities
carried out by and through such entities.
‘‘(2) COMPOSITION.—
‘‘(A) Each standing subcommittee shall
consist of 3 members of the Board and 6 addi-
tional individuals appointed by the Board who
have significant experience in and knowledge of
the disciplines relevant to the purposes of the
entity for which the subcommittee is estab-
lished.
‘‘(B) The Board shall assure that the
membership of each subcommittee includes both
educational researchers and persons who are
knowledgeable about the research, development
and dissemination needs of practitioners, in-
cluding classroom teachers, school administra-
tors, and members of State or local boards of
education.
‘‘(g) POWERS OF THE BOARD.—In carrying out its
functions, powers, and responsibilities, the Board—
‘‘(1) shall, without regard to the provisions of
title 5, United States Code, relating to the appoint-
ment and compensation of officers or employees of
the United States, appoint a director to be paid at
a rate not to exceed the rate of basic pay payable
for level V of the Executive Schedule who shall as-
sist in carrying out and managing the activities of
the Board and perform such other functions the
Board determines to be necessary and appropriate;
‘‘(2) shall hire its own staff through routine
government procedures;
‘‘(3) may arrange for the detail of staff person-
nel and utilize the services and facilities of any agen-
cy of the Federal Government;
‘‘(4) may enter into contracts, or make other
arrangements as may be necessary to carry out its
functions;
‘‘(5) may review any grant, contract, or cooper-
ative agreement made or entered into by the Office;
‘‘(6) may, to the extent otherwise permitted by
law, obtain directly from any department or agency
of the United States such information as it deems
necessary to carry out its responsibilities;
‘‘(7) may convene workshops and conferences,
collect data, and establish subcommittees which may
be composed of members of the Board and
nonmember consultants (including employees of the
Department) with expertise in the particular area
addressed by such subcommittees; and
‘‘(8) shall establish such rules and procedures
to govern its operations as it considers appropriate,
to the extent otherwise permitted by law.
‘‘(h) MEMBERSHIP IN GENERAL.—
‘‘(1) QUALIFICATIONS.—The members of the
Board shall be eminent persons who, by virtue of
their training, experience, and background, are ex-
ceptionally qualified to appraise the educational re-
search and development effort of the Nation and to
establish policies and priorities to govern future Fed-
eral investment in educational research, develop-
ment, and dissemination.
‘‘(2) BROAD REPRESENTATION.—Due consider-
ation shall be given to the gender, race, and eth-
nicity of appointees to assure that the Board is
broadly representative of the diversity of the Nation.
‘‘(3) LIMITATION.—A voting member of the
Board may not serve on any other governing or advi-
sory board within the Department of Education.
‘‘(4) CONFLICT OF INTEREST.—A voting mem-
ber of the Board shall be considered a special Gov-
ernment employee for the purposes of the Ethics in
Government Act of 1978.
‘‘(i) SECRETARIAL
APPOINTMENTS.—The Board
shall consist of 18 members appointed by the Secretary.
Of the members of the Board—
‘‘(1) seven shall be appointed from among re-
searchers in the field of education who have been
nominated by the National Academy of Sciences and
the National Academy of Education (giving due con-
sideration to recommendations made by the Amer-
ican Educational Research Association), including
persons who are among the leading authorities on
early childhood education and the education of at-
risk students;
‘‘(2) five shall be outstanding field-based pro-
fessional educators;
‘‘(3) one shall be a Chief State School Officer;
‘‘(4) one shall be a local education agency
school superintendent or principal;
‘‘(5) one shall be a member of a State or local
board of education or Bureau of Indian Affairs-
funded school board;
‘‘(6) one shall be a professional librarian, school
library media specialist, library administrator, or li-
brary science educator;
‘‘(7) one shall be a parent with extensive experi-
ence in promoting parental involvement in education;
and
‘‘(8) one shall be an individual from business
and industry with significant experience in promot-
ing private sector involvement in education.
‘‘(j) REQUIREMENTS FOR NOMINATIONS BY THE NA-
TIONAL ACADEMY
OF SCIENCES
AND
THE NATIONAL
ACADEMY OF EDUCATION.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In making nominations for
the members of the Board described in subsection
(i)(1), the National Academy of Sciences and the
National Academy of Education—
‘‘(A) may not nominate any individual who
is an elected officer or employee of such organi-
zations; and
‘‘(B) shall each nominate not less than 5
individuals for each of the positions on the
Board for which such organization has respon-
sibility for making nominations.
‘‘(2) REQUEST
FOR
ADDITIONAL
NOMINA-
TIONS.—In the event that the Secretary determines
that none of the individuals nominated by the Na-
tional Academy of Sciences or the National Academy
of Education meets the qualifications for member-
ship on the Board specified in subsection (i), the
Secretary may request that such organization make
additional nominations.
‘‘(k) NOMINATIONS
FOR BOARD MEMBERSHIP.—
Prior to appointing any member of the Board, the Sec-
retary shall actively solicit and give due consideration to
recommendations of persons qualified for membership on
the board from the National Education Association, the
American Federation of Teachers, the National Parent-
Teachers Association, the American Library Association,
the American Association of School Administrators, the
National Association of State Boards of Education, the
National Indian School Board Association, the Association
of Community Tribal Schools, the National Indian Edu-
cation Association, and other education-related organiza-
tions and interested members of the public.
‘‘(l) EX
OFFICIO
MEMBERS.—The ex officio,
nonvoting members of the Board shall include the Assist-
ant Secretary and may also include—
‘‘(1) the Director of Research for the Depart-
ment of Defense;
‘‘(2) the Director of Research for the Depart-
ment of Labor;
‘‘(3) the Director of the National Science Foun-
dation;
‘‘(4) the Director of the National Institutes of
Health;
‘‘(5) the chair of the National Endowment for
the Arts;
‘‘(6) the chair of the National Endowment for
the Humanities;
‘‘(7) the Librarian of Congress; and
‘‘(8) the Director of the Office of Indian Edu-
cation Programs of the Department of the Interior.
‘‘(m) CHAIR.—The Board shall select a Chair from
among its appointed members who shall serve for a renew-
able term of 2 years.
‘‘(n) TERMS OF OFFICE.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graphs (2) and (3), the term of office of each voting
member of the Board shall be 5 years.
‘‘(2) EXCEPTIONS.—
‘‘(A) Any individual appointed to fill a va-
cancy occurring on the Board prior to the expi-
ration of the term for which the predecessor of
the individual was appointed shall be appointed
for the remainder of the term. A vacancy shall
be filled in the same manner in which the origi-
nal appointment was made.
‘‘(B) The terms of office of the members
of the Board who first take office after the date
of the enactment of the Educational Research,
Development, and Dissemination Excellence Act
shall, as designated by a random selection proc-
ess at the time of appointment, be as follows:
‘‘(i) 2 years for each of 6 members of
the Board.
‘‘(ii) 3 years for each of 6 members of
the Board.
‘‘(iii) 5 years for each of 6 members
of the Board.
‘‘(3) PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN CONSECUTIVE
TERMS.—An individual who has been a member of