IB 
Union Calendar No. 313 
113TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4366 
[Report No. 113–424] 
To strengthen the Federal education research system to make research and 
evaluations more timely and relevant to State and local needs in order 
to increase student achievement. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 2, 2014 
Mr. ROKITA (for himself, Mr. KLINE, Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California, and 
Mrs. MCCARTHY of New York) introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce 
APRIL 29, 2014 
Additional sponsors: Mr. BUCSHON, Mr. HINOJOSA, Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana, 
Mr. BYRNE, Mr. GUTHRIE, Mr. HECK of Nevada, Mr. MESSER, Mr. 
PETRI, Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania, Mr. WALBERG, and Mr. WILSON 
of South Carolina 
APRIL 29, 2014 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on April 2, 2014] 
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A BILL 
To strengthen the Federal education research system to 
make research and evaluations more timely and relevant 
to State and local needs in order to increase student 
achievement. 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Strengthening Edu-
cation through Research Act’’. 
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
Sec. 1. Short title. 
Sec. 2. Table of contents. 
TITLE I—EDUCATION SCIENCES REFORM 
Sec. 101. References. 
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. 116. National Board for Education Sciences. 
Sec. 117. Commissioners of the National Education Centers. 
Sec. 118. Transparency. 
Sec. 119. Competitive awards. 
PART B—NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION RESEARCH 
Sec. 131. Establishment. 
Sec. 132. Duties. 
Sec. 133. Standards for conduct and evaluation of research. 
PART C—NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS 
Sec. 151. Establishment. 
Sec. 152. Duties. 
Sec. 153. Performance of duties. 
Sec. 154. Reports. 
Sec. 155. Dissemination. 
Sec. 156. Cooperative education statistics systems. 
PART D—NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION EVALUATION AND REGIONAL 
ASSISTANCE 
Sec. 171. Establishment. 
Sec. 172. Commissioner for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance. 
Sec. 173. Evaluations. 
Sec. 174. Regional educational laboratories for research, development, dissemina-
tion, and evaluation. 
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PART E—NATIONAL CENTER FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION RESEARCH 
Sec. 175. Establishment. 
Sec. 176. Commissioner for Special Education Research. 
Sec. 177. Duties. 
PART F—GENERAL PROVISIONS 
Sec. 182. Prohibitions. 
Sec. 183. Confidentiality. 
Sec. 184. Availability of data. 
Sec. 185. Performance management. 
Sec. 186. Authority to publish. 
Sec. 187. Repeals. 
Sec. 188. Fellowships. 
Sec. 189. Authorization of appropriations. 
TITLE II—EDUCATIONAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 
Sec. 201. References. 
Sec. 202. Definitions. 
Sec. 203. Comprehensive centers. 
Sec. 204. Evaluations. 
Sec. 205. Existing technical assistance providers. 
Sec. 206. Regional advisory committees. 
Sec. 207. Priorities. 
Sec. 208. Grant program for statewide longitudinal data systems. 
Sec. 209. Authorization of appropriations. 
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. 
TITLE IV—EVALUATION PLAN 
Sec. 401. Research and evaluation. 
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 
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other provision of the Education Sciences Reform Act of 
2002 (20 U.S.C. 9501 et seq.). 
SEC. 102. DEFINITIONS. 
Section 102 (20 U.S.C. 9501) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘Affairs’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Education’’; 
(2) in paragraph (10)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘or other information, in 
a timely manner and’’ after ‘‘evaluations,’’ and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘school leaders,’’ after 
‘‘teachers,’’; 
(3) in paragraph (12), by inserting ‘‘, school 
leaders,’’ after ‘‘teachers’’; 
(4) by striking paragraph (13); 
(5) by redesignating paragraphs (14) and (15) 
as paragraphs (13) and (14), respectively; 
(6) by inserting after paragraph (14), as so re-
designated, the following: 
‘‘(15) 
MINORITY-SERVING
INSTITUTION.—The 
term ‘minority-serving institution’ means an institu-
tion of higher education described in section 371(a) of 
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1067q(a)).’’; 
(7) by amending paragraph (18) to read as fol-
lows: 
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‘‘(18) PRINCIPLES OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.— 
The term ‘principles of scientific research’ means 
principles of research that— 
‘‘(A) apply rigorous, systematic, and objec-
tive methodology to obtain reliable and valid 
knowledge relevant to education activities and 
programs; 
‘‘(B) present findings and make claims that 
are appropriate to, and supported by, the meth-
ods that have been employed; and 
‘‘(C) include, appropriate to the research 
being conducted— 
‘‘(i) use of systematic, empirical meth-
ods that draw on observation or experiment; 
‘‘(ii) use of data analyses that are ade-
quate to support the general findings; 
‘‘(iii) reliance on measurements or ob-
servational methods that provide reliable 
and generalizable findings; 
‘‘(iv) strong claims of causal relation-
ships, only with research designs that elimi-
nate plausible competing explanations for 
observed results, such as, but not limited to, 
random-assignment experiments; 
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‘‘(v) presentation of studies and meth-
ods 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; 
‘‘(vi) acceptance by a peer-reviewed 
journal or critique by a panel of inde-
pendent experts through a comparably rig-
orous, objective, and scientific review; and 
‘‘(vii) consistency of findings across 
multiple studies or sites to support the gen-
erality of results and conclusions.’’; 
(8) in paragraph (20), by striking ‘‘scientifically 
based research standards’’ and inserting ‘‘the prin-
ciples of scientific research’’; and 
(9) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(24) SCHOOL LEADER.—The term ‘school lead-
er’ means a principal, assistant principal, or other 
individual who is— 
‘‘(A) an employee or officer of— 
‘‘(i) an elementary school or secondary 
school; 
‘‘(ii) a local educational agency serv-
ing an elementary school or secondary 
school; or 
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‘‘(iii) another entity operating the ele-
mentary school or secondary school; and 
‘‘(B) responsible for the daily instructional 
leadership and managerial operations of the ele-
mentary school or secondary school.’’. 
PART A—THE INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION 
SCIENCES 
SEC. 111. ESTABLISHMENT. 
Section 111 (20 U.S.C. 9511) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)(2)— 
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
(A)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘and wide dissemina-
tion activities’’ and inserting ‘‘and, con-
sistent with section 114(j), wide dissemina-
tion and utilization activities’’ and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘(including in tech-
nology areas)’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ‘‘dis-
ability,’’ after ‘‘gender,’’. 
SEC. 112. FUNCTIONS. 
Section 112 (20 U.S.C. 9512) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
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(A) by inserting ‘‘(including evaluations of 
impact and implementation)’’ after ‘‘education 
evaluation’’; and 
(B) by inserting before the semicolon the fol-
lowing ‘‘and utilization’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘, consistent with section 
114(j),’’ after ‘‘disseminate’’; and 
(B) by adding before the semicolon the fol-
lowing: ‘‘and scientifically valid education eval-
uations carried out under this title’’. 
SEC. 113. DELEGATION. 
Section 113 (20 U.S.C. 9513) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking paragraph (1); 
(B) 
by 
redesignating 
paragraphs 
(2) 
through (5) as paragraphs (1) through (4), re-
spectively; and 
(C) in paragraph (2), as so redesignated, by 
striking ‘‘of the National Assessment of Edu-
cational Progress Authorization Act’’; 
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘Secretary may 
assign the Institute responsibility for administering’’ 
and inserting ‘‘Director may accept requests from the 
Secretary for the Institute to administer’’; and 
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(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) CONTRACT ACQUISITION.—With respect to any 
contract entered into under this title, the Director shall be 
consulted— 
‘‘(1) during the procurement process; and 
‘‘(2) in the management of such contract’s per-
formance, which shall be consistent with the require-
ments of the performance management system de-
scribed in section 185.’’. 
SEC. 114. OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR. 
Section 114 (20 U.S.C. 9514) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘Except as pro-
vided in subsection (b)(2), the’’ and inserting ‘‘The’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting before 
the period the following: ‘‘, except that if a suc-
cessor to the Director has not been appointed as 
of the date of expiration of the Director’s term, 
the Director may serve for an additional 1-year 
period, beginning on the day after the date of ex-
piration of the Director’s term, or until a suc-
cessor has been appointed under subsection (a), 
whichever occurs first’’; 
(B) by amending paragraph (2) to read as 
follows: 
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‘‘(2) REAPPOINTMENT.—A Director may be re-
appointed under subsection (a) for one additional 
term.’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) in the heading, by striking ‘‘SUBSE-
QUENT
DIRECTORS’’ and inserting ‘‘REC-
OMMENDATIONS’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘, other than a Direc-
tor appointed under paragraph (2)’’; 
(3) in subsection (f)— 
(A) in paragraph (3), by inserting before 
the period the following: ‘‘, and, as appropriate, 
with such research and activities carried out by 
public and private entities, to avoid duplicative 
or overlapping efforts’’; 
(B) in paragraph (4), by inserting ‘‘, and 
the use of evidence’’ after ‘‘statistics activities’’; 
(C) in paragraph (5)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘and maintain’’ after 
‘‘establish’’; and 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘and subsection (h)’’ 
after ‘‘section 116(b)(3)’’; 
(D) in paragraph (7), by inserting ‘‘dis-
ability,’’ after ‘‘gender,’’; 
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(E) in paragraph (8), by striking ‘‘histori-
cally Black colleges or universities’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘minority-serving institutions’’; 
(F) by amending paragraph (9) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(9) To coordinate with the Secretary to ensure 
that the results of the Institute’s work are coordinated 
with, and utilized by, the Department’s technical as-
sistance providers and dissemination networks.’’; 
(G) by striking paragraphs (10) and (11); 
(H) by redesignating paragraph (12) as 
paragraph (10); 
(4) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection 
(i); 
(5) by inserting after subsection (g), the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(h) PEER-REVIEW SYSTEM.—The Director shall es-
tablish and maintain a peer-review system involving high-
ly-qualified individuals, including practitioners, as appro-
priate, with an in-depth knowledge of the subject to be in-
vestigated, for— 
‘‘(1) reviewing and evaluating each application 
for a grant or cooperative agreement under this title 
that exceeds $100,000; and 
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‘‘(2) evaluating and assessing all reports and 
other products that exceed $100,000 to be published 
and publicly released by the Institute.’’; 
(6) in subsection (i), as so redesignated— 
(A) by striking ‘‘the products and’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘certify that evidence-based 
claims about those products and’’ and inserting 
‘‘determine whether evidence-based claims in 
those’’; and 
(7) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(j) RELEVANCE, DISSEMINATION, 
AND
UTILIZA-
TION.—To ensure all activities authorized under this title 
are rigorous, relevant, and useful for researchers, policy-
makers, practitioners, and the public, the Director shall— 
‘‘(1) ensure such activities address significant 
challenges faced by practitioners, and increase knowl-
edge in the field of education; 
‘‘(2) ensure that the information, products, and 
publications of the Institute are— 
‘‘(A) prepared and widely disseminated— 
‘‘(i) in a timely fashion; and 
‘‘(ii) in forms that are understandable, 
easily accessible, and usable, or adaptable 
for use in, the improvement of educational 
practice; and 
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‘‘(B) widely disseminated through electronic 
transfer, and other means, such as posting to the 
Institute’s website or other relevant place; 
‘‘(3) promote the utilization of the information, 
products, and publications of the Institute, including 
through the use of dissemination networks and tech-
nical assistance providers, within the Institute and 
the Department; and 
‘‘(4) monitor and manage the performance of all 
activities authorized under this title in accordance 
with section 185.’’. 
SEC. 115. PRIORITIES. 
Section 115 (20 U.S.C. 9515) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph 
(1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘(taking into consider-
ation long-term research and development 
on core issues conducted through the na-
tional research and development centers)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘at least once every 6 years’’; 
and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘such as’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘including’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1)— 
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(i) by inserting ‘‘ensuring that all chil-
dren have the ability to obtain a high-qual-
ity education, particularly’’ before ‘‘clos-
ing’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘especially achievement 
gaps between’’; 
(iii) by striking ‘‘nonminority chil-
dren’’ and inserting ‘‘nonminority children, 
disabled and nondisabled children,’’; 
(iv) by striking ‘‘and between dis-
advantaged’’ and inserting ‘‘and disadvan-
taged’’; 
(v) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(C) by striking paragraph (2); and 
(D) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) improving the quality of early childhood 
education; 
‘‘(3) improving education in elementary and sec-
ondary schools, particularly among low-performing 
students and schools; and 
‘‘(4) improving access to, opportunities for, and 
completion of postsecondary education.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘by means of 
the Internet’’ and inserting ‘‘by electronic means such 
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as posting in an easily accessible manner on the In-
stitute’s website’’. 
SEC. 116. NATIONAL BOARD FOR EDUCATION SCIENCES. 
Section 116 (20 U.S.C. 9516) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘to guide 
the work of the Institute’’ and inserting ‘‘, and 
to advise, and provide input to, the Director on 
the activities of the Institute on an ongoing 
basis’’; 
(B) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘under 
section 114(h)’’ after ‘‘procedures’’; 
(C) in paragraph (8), by inserting ‘‘dis-
ability,’’ after ‘‘gender,’’ 
(D) in paragraph (9)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘To solicit’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘To ensure all activities of the Institute 
are relevant to education policy and prac-
tice by soliciting, on an ongoing basis,’’; 
and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘consistent with’’ and 
inserting ‘‘consistent with section 114(j) 
and’’; 
(E) in paragraph (11)— 
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(i) by inserting ‘‘the Institute’s’’ after 
‘‘enhance’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘among other Federal 
and State research agencies’’ and inserting 
‘‘with public and private entities to im-
prove the work of the Institute’’; and 
(F) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(13) To conduct the evaluations required under 
subsection (d).’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘Board,’’ before ‘‘Na-
tional Academy’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘and the National 
Science Advisor’’ and inserting ‘‘the Na-
tional Science Advisor, and other entities 
and organizations that have knowledge of 
individuals who are highly-qualified to ap-
praise education research, statistics, evalua-
tions, or development’’; 
(B) in paragraph (4)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A)— 
(I) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘, 
which may include those researchers 
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recommended by the National Academy 
of Sciences’’; 
(II) by redesignating clause (ii) 
as clause (iii); 
(III) by inserting after clause (i), 
the following: 
‘‘(ii) Not fewer than 2 practitioners 
who are knowledgeable about the education 
needs of the United States, who may include 
school based professional educators, teachers, 
school leaders, local educational agency su-
perintendents, and members of local boards 
of 
education 
or 
Bureau-funded 
school 
boards.’’; and 
(IV) in clause (iii), as so redesig-
nated— 
(aa) by striking ‘‘school- 
based professional educators,’’; 
(bb) by striking ‘‘local edu-
cational agency superintendents,’’; 
(cc) 
by 
striking 
‘‘prin-
cipals,’’; 
(dd) by striking ‘‘or local’’; 
and 
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(ee) by striking ‘‘or Bureau- 
funded school boards’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (B)— 
(I) in the matter preceding clause 
(i), by inserting ‘‘beginning on the 
date of appointment of the member,’’ 
after ‘‘4 years,’’; 
(II) by striking clause (i); 
(III) by redesignating clause (ii) 
as clause (i); 
(IV) in clause (i), as so redesig-
nated, by striking the period and in-
serting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(V) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(ii) 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 para-
graph (1), whichever occurs first.’’; 
(iii) by striking subparagraph (C); 
and 
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(iv) by redesignating subparagraph 
(D) as subparagraph (C); 
(C) in paragraph (8)— 
(i) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) 
through (E) as subparagraphs (B) through 
(F), respectively; 
(ii) by inserting before subparagraph 
(B), as so redesignated, the following: 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In the exercise of its 
duties under section 116(b) and in accordance 
with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
U.S.C. App.), the Board shall be independent of 
the Director and the other offices and officers of 
the Institute.’’; 
(iii) in subparagraph (B), as so redes-
ignated, by inserting before the period at 
the end the following: ‘‘for a term of not 
more than 6 years, and who may be re-
appointed by the Board for 1 additional 
term of not more than 6 years’’; and 
(iv) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(G) SUBCOMMITTEES.—The Board may es-
tablish standing or temporary subcommittees to 
make recommendations to the Board for carrying 
out activities authorized under this title.’’; 
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(3) by striking subsection (d); 
(4) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection 
(d); 
(5) in subsection (d), as so redesignated— 
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking 
‘‘ANNUAL’’ and inserting ‘‘EVALUATION’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘The Board’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Board’’; 
(C) by striking ‘‘not later than July 1 of 
each year, a’’ and inserting ‘‘and make widely 
available to the public (including by electronic 
means such as posting in an easily accessible 
manner on the Institute’s website), a triennial’’; 
and 
(D) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS.—An evaluation report de-
scribed in paragraph (1) shall include— 
‘‘(A) subject to paragraph (3), an evalua-
tion of the activities authorized for each of the 
National Education Centers, which— 
‘‘(i) uses the performance management 
system described in section 185; and 
‘‘(ii) is conducted by an independent 
entity; 
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‘‘(B) a review of the Institute to ensure its 
work, consistent with the requirements of section 
114(j), is timely, rigorous, and relevant; 
‘‘(C) any recommendations regarding ac-
tions that may be taken to enhance the ability 
of the Institute and the National Education Cen-
ters to carry out their priorities and missions; 
and 
‘‘(D) a summary of the major research find-
ings of the Institute and the activities carried 
out under section 113(b) during the 3 preceding 
fiscal years. 
‘‘(3) NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION EVAL-
UATION AND REGIONAL ASSISTANCE.—With respect to 
the National Center for Education Evaluation and 
Regional Assistance, an evaluation report described 
in paragraph (1) shall contain— 
‘‘(A) an evaluation described in paragraph 
(2)(A) of the activities authorized for such Cen-
ter, except for the regional educational labora-
tories established under section 174; and 
‘‘(B) a summative or interim evaluation, 
whichever is most recent, for each such labora-
tory conducted under section 174(i) on or after 
the date of enactment of the Strengthening Edu-
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cation through Research Act or, in a case in 
which such an evaluation is not available for a 
laboratory, the most recent evaluation for the 
laboratory conducted prior to the date of enact-
ment of the Strengthening Education through 
Research Act.’’; and 
(6) by striking subsection (f). 
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 insert-
ing ‘‘Each’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘Except as provided in 
subsection (b), each’’ and inserting ‘‘Each’’; 
and 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘, statistics,’’ after 
‘‘research’’; 
(C) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘Except 
as provided in subsection (b), each’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘Each’’; 
(2) by striking subsection (b); 
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(3) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as 
subsections (b) and (c), respectively; and 
(4) in subsection (c), as so redesignated, by strik-
ing ‘‘, except the Commissioner for Education Statis-
tics,’’. 
SEC. 118. TRANSPARENCY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 119 (20 U.S.C. 9519) is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 119. TRANSPARENCY. 
‘‘Not later than 120 days after awarding a grant, con-
tract, or cooperative agreement under this title in excess of 
$100,000, the Director shall make publicly available (in-
cluding through electronic means such as posting in an eas-
ily accessible manner on the Institute’s website) a descrip-
tion of the grant, contract, or cooperative agreement, in-
cluding, at a minimum, the amount, duration, recipient, 
and the purpose of the grant, contract, or cooperative agree-
ment.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
in section 1 of the Act of November 5, 2002 (Public Law 
107–279; 116 Stat. 1940) is amended by striking the item 
relating to section 119 and inserting the following: 
‘‘Sec. 119. Transparency.’’. 
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SEC. 119. COMPETITIVE AWARDS. 
Section 120 (20 U.S.C. 9520) is amended by striking 
‘‘when practicable’’ and inserting ‘‘consistent with section 
114(h)’’. 
PART B—NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION 
RESEARCH 
SEC. 131. ESTABLISHMENT. 
Section 131(b) (20 U.S.C. 9531(b)) is amended— 
(1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(1) to sponsor sustained research that will lead 
to the accumulation of knowledge and understanding 
of education, consistent with the priorities described 
in section 115;’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph 
(3); 
(3) in paragraph (4), by striking the period and 
inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) consistent with section 114(j), to widely dis-
seminate and promote utilization of the work of the 
Research Center.’’. 
SEC. 132. DUTIES. 
Section 133 (20 U.S.C. 9533) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
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(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘peer-re-
view standards and’’; 
(B) by striking paragraph (2); 
(C) by redesignating paragraph (3) as 
paragraph (2); 
(D) by striking paragraph (4); 
(E) 
by 
redesignating 
paragraphs 
(5) 
through (9) as paragraphs (3) through (7), re-
spectively; 
(F) in paragraph (3), as so redesignated, by 
inserting ‘‘in the implementation of programs 
carried out by the Department and other agen-
cies’’ before ‘‘within the Federal Government’’; 
(G) in paragraph (5), as so redesignated, by 
striking ‘‘disseminate, through the National Cen-
ter for Education Evaluation and Regional As-
sistance,’’ and inserting ‘‘widely disseminate, 
consistent with section 114(j),’’; 
(H) in paragraph (6), as so redesignated— 
(i) by striking ‘‘Director’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘Board’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘of a biennial report, 
as described in section 119’’ and inserting 
‘‘and dissemination of each evaluation re-
port under section 116(d)’’; 
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(I) by redesignating paragraphs (10) and 
(11) as paragraphs (9) and (10), respectively; 
(J) by inserting after paragraph (7), as so 
redesignated, the following: 
‘‘(8) to the extent time and resources allow, when 
findings from previous research under this part pro-
voke relevant follow up questions, carry out research 
initiatives on such follow up questions;’’; 
(K) by amending paragraph (9), as so re-
designated, to read as follows: 
‘‘(9) carry out research initiatives, including rig-
orous, peer-reviewed, large-scale, long-term, and 
broadly applicable empirical research, regarding the 
impact of technology on education, including online 
education and hybrid learning;’’; 
(L) in paragraph (10), as so redesignated, 
by striking the period and inserting ‘‘; and’’; 
and 
(M) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(11) to the extent feasible, carry out research on 
the quality of implementation of practices and strate-
gies determined to be effective through scientifically 
valid research.’’. 
(2) by amending subsection (b) to read as fol-
lows: 
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‘‘(b) PLAN.—The Research Commissioner shall propose 
to the Director and, subject to the approval of the Director, 
implement a research plan for the activities of the Research 
Center that— 
‘‘(1) is consistent with the priorities and mission 
of the Institute and the mission of the Research Cen-
ter described in section 131(b), and includes the ac-
tivities described in subsection (a); 
‘‘(2) is carried out and, as appropriate, updated 
and modified, including through the use of the results 
of the Research Center’s most recent evaluation report 
under section 116(d); 
‘‘(3) describes how the Research Center will use 
the performance management system described in sec-
tion 185 to assess and improve the activities of the 
Center; 
‘‘(4) meets the procedures for peer review estab-
lished and maintained by the Director under section 
114(f)(5) and the standards of research described in 
section 134; and 
‘‘(5) includes both basic research and applied re-
search, which shall include research conducted 
through field-initiated research and ongoing research 
initiatives.’’; 
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(3) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection 
(d); 
(4) by inserting after subsection (b), as so 
amended, the following: 
‘‘(c) GRANTS, CONTRACTS, AND COOPERATIVE AGREE-
MENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Research Commissioner 
may award grants to, or enter into contracts or coop-
erative agreements, with eligible applicants to carry 
out research under subsection (a). 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBILITY.—For purposes of this sub-
section, the term ‘eligible applicant’ means an appli-
cant that has the ability and capacity to conduct sci-
entifically valid research. 
‘‘(3) APPLICATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—An eligible applicant 
that wishes to receive a grant, or enter into a 
contract or cooperative agreement, under this 
section shall submit an application to the Re-
search Commissioner at such time, in such man-
ner, and containing such information as the Re-
search Commissioner may require. 
‘‘(B) CONTENT.—An application submitted 
under subparagraph (A) shall describe how the 
eligible applicant will address and demonstrate 
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progress on the requirements of the performance 
management system described in section 185, 
with respect to the activities that will be carried 
out under the grant, contract, or cooperative 
agreement.’’; and 
(5) in subsection (d), as redesignated by para-
graph (3)— 
(A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(1) SUPPORT.—In carrying out activities under 
subsection (a)(2), the Research Commissioner shall 
support national research and development centers 
that address topics of importance and relevance in the 
field of education across the country and are con-
sistent with the Institute’s priorities under section 
115.’’; 
(B) by striking paragraphs (2), (3), and 
(5); 
(C) by redesignating paragraphs (4), (6), 
and (7) as paragraph (2), (3), and (4), respec-
tively; 
(D) by amending paragraph (2), as so re-
designated— 
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(i) in the matter preceding subpara-
graph (A), by striking ‘‘5 additional’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2 additional’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
the period and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(C) demonstrates progress on the require-
ments of the performance management system 
described in section 185.’’; 
(E) in paragraph (3), as so redesignated, by 
striking ‘‘paragraphs (4) and (5)’’ and inserting 
‘‘paragraph (2)’’; and 
(F) by amending paragraph (4), as so re-
designated, to read as follows: 
‘‘(4) DISAGGREGATION.—To the extent feasible 
and when relevant to the research being conducted, re-
search conducted under this subsection shall be 
disaggregated and cross-tabulated by age, race, gen-
der, disability status, English learner status, and so-
cioeconomic background.’’. 
SEC. 133. STANDARDS FOR CONDUCT AND EVALUATION OF 
RESEARCH. 
Section 134 (20 U.S.C. 9534) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
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(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘based’’ 
and inserting ‘‘valid’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘and 
wide dissemination activities’’ and inserting 
‘‘and, consistent with section 114(j), wide dis-
semination and utilization activities’’; 
(2) by striking subsection (b); and 
(3) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection 
(b). 
PART C—NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION 
STATISTICS 
SEC. 151. ESTABLISHMENT. 
Section 151(b) (20 U.S.C. 9541(b)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘and con-
sistent with the privacy protections under section 
183’’ after ‘‘manner’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (3)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ‘‘dis-
ability,’’ after ‘‘cultural,’’; and 
(B) by amending subparagraph (B) to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(B) consistent with section 114(j), is rel-
evant, timely, and widely disseminated.’’. 
SEC. 152. DUTIES. 
Section 153 (20 U.S.C. 9543) is amended— 
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(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 
by inserting ‘‘, consistent with the privacy pro-
tections under section 183,’’ after ‘‘Center shall’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by amending subparagraph (D) to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(D) secondary school graduation and com-
pletion rates, including the four-year adjusted 
cohort graduation rate (as defined in section 
200.19(b)(1)(i)(A) of title 34, Code of Federal 
Regulations, as such section was in effect on No-
vember 28, 2008) and the extended-year adjusted 
cohort graduation rate (as defined in section 
200.19(b)(1)(v)(A) of title 34, Code of Federal 
Regulations, as such section was in effect on No-
vember 28, 2008), and school dropout rates, and 
adult literacy;’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (E), by striking 
‘‘and opportunity for,’’ and inserting ‘‘op-
portunity for, and completion of’’; 
(iii) by amending subparagraph (F) to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(F) teaching, including information on 
pre-service preparation, professional develop-
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ment, teacher distribution, and teacher and 
school leader evaluation;’’; 
(iv) in subparagraph (G), by inserting 
‘‘and school leaders’’ before the semicolon; 
(v) in subparagraph (H), by inserting 
‘‘, climate, and in- and out-of-school suspen-
sions and expulsions’’ before ‘‘, including 
information regarding’’; 
(vi) by amending subparagraph (K) to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(K) the access to, and use of, technology to 
improve 
elementary 
schools 
and 
secondary 
schools;’’; 
(vii) in subparagraph (L), by striking 
‘‘and opportunity for,’’ and inserting ‘‘op-
portunity for, and quality of’’; 
(viii) in subparagraph (M), by striking 
‘‘such programs during school recesses’’ and 
inserting ‘‘summer school’’; and 
(ix) in subparagraph (N), by striking 
‘‘vocational’’ and inserting ‘‘career’’; 
(C) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘when 
such disaggregated information will facilitate 
educational and policy decisionmaking’’ and in-
serting ‘‘so long as any reported information 
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does not reveal individually identifiable informa-
tion’’; 
(D) in paragraph (4), by inserting before 
the semicolon the following: ‘‘, and the imple-
mentation (with the assistance of the Depart-
ment and other Federal officials who have statu-
tory authority to provide assistance on applica-
ble privacy laws, regulations, and policies) of 
appropriate privacy protections’’; 
(E) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘promote 
linkages across States,’’; 
(F) in paragraph (6)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘Third’’ and inserting 
‘‘Trends in’’; and 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘and the Program for 
International Student Assessment’’ after 
‘‘Science Study’’; 
(G) in paragraph (7), by inserting before 
the semicolon the following: ‘‘, ensuring such col-
lections protect student privacy consistent with 
section 183’’; 
(H) by amending paragraph (8) to read as 
follows: 
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‘‘(8) assisting the Board in the preparation and 
dissemination of each evaluation report under section 
116(d); and’’; and 
(I) by striking paragraph (9); 
(2) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection 
(c); and 
(3) by inserting after subsection (a) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(b) PLAN.—The Statistics Commissioner shall pro-
pose to the Director and, subject to the approval of the Di-
rector, implement a plan for activities of the Statistics Cen-
ter that— 
‘‘(1) is consistent with the priorities and mission 
of the Institute and the mission of the Statistics Cen-
ter described in section 151(b); 
‘‘(2) is carried out and, as appropriate, updated 
and modified, including through the use of the results 
of the Statistic Center’s most recent evaluation report 
under section 116(d); and 
‘‘(3) describes how the Statistics Center will use 
the performance management system described in sec-
tion 185 to assess and improve the activities of the 
Center.’’. 
SEC. 153. PERFORMANCE OF DUTIES. 
Section 154 (20 U.S.C. 9544) is amended— 
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(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘In carrying’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBILITY.—For purposes of this section, 
the term ‘eligible applicant’ means an applicant that 
has the ability and capacity to carry out activities 
under this part. 
‘‘(3) APPLICATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—An eligible applicant 
that wishes to receive a grant, or enter into a 
contract or cooperative agreement, under this 
section shall submit an application to the Statis-
tics Commissioner at such time, in such manner, 
and containing such information as the Statis-
tics Commissioner may require. 
‘‘(B) CONTENTS.—An application submitted 
under subparagraph (A) shall describe how the 
eligible applicant will address and demonstrate 
progress on the requirements of the performance 
management system described in section 185, 
with respect to the activities that will be carried 
out under the grant, contract, or cooperative 
agreement.’’; 
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(2) in subsection (b)(2)(A), by striking ‘‘voca-
tional and’’ and inserting ‘‘career and technical edu-
cation programs,’’; and 
(3) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘5 years’’ the 
second place it appears and inserting ‘‘2 years if the 
recipient demonstrates progress on the requirements of 
the performance management system described in sec-
tion 185, with respect to the activities carried out 
under the grant, contract, or cooperative agreement 
received under this section’’. 
SEC. 154. REPORTS. 
Section 155 (20 U.S.C. 9545) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by inserting ‘‘(consistent 
with section 114(h))’’ after ‘‘review’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘2003’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2015’’. 
SEC. 155. DISSEMINATION. 
Section 156 (20 U.S.C. 9546) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the 
following: ‘‘Such projects shall adhere to student pri-
vacy requirements under section 183.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (e)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by adding at the end 
the following: ‘‘Before receiving access to edu-
cational data under this paragraph, a Federal 
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agency shall describe to the Statistics Center the 
specific research intent for use of the data, how 
access to the data may meet such research intent, 
and how the Federal agency will protect the con-
fidentiality of the data consistent with the re-
quirements of section 183.’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘and consistent with 
section 183’’ after ‘‘may prescribe’’; and 
(ii) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘Before receiving access to data under this 
paragraph, an interested party shall de-
scribe to the Statistics Center the specific 
research intent for use of the data, how ac-
cess to the data may meet such research in-
tent, and how the party will protect the 
confidentiality of the data consistent with 
the requirements of section 183.’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) DENIAL AUTHORITY.—The Statistics Center 
shall have the authority to deny any requests for ac-
cess to data under paragraph (1) or (2) for any sci-
entific deficiencies in the proposed research design or 
research intent for use of the data, or if the request 
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would introduce risk of a privacy violation or misuse 
of data.’’. 
SEC. 156. COOPERATIVE EDUCATION STATISTICS SYSTEMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 157 (20 U.S.C. 9547) is 
amended— 
(1) in the heading, by striking ‘‘SYSTEMS’’ and 
inserting ‘‘PARTNERSHIPS’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘national cooperative education 
statistics systems’’ and inserting ‘‘cooperative edu-
cation statistics partnerships’’; 
(3) by striking ‘‘producing and maintaining, 
with the cooperation’’ and inserting ‘‘reviewing and 
improving, with the voluntary participation’’; 
(4) by striking ‘‘comparable and uniform’’ and 
inserting ‘‘data quality standards, which may include 
establishing voluntary guidelines to standardize’’; 
(5) by striking ‘‘adult education, and libraries,’’ 
and inserting ‘‘and adult education’’; and 
(6) by adding at the end the following: ‘‘No stu-
dent data shall be collected by the partnerships estab-
lished under this section, nor shall such partnerships 
establish a national student data system.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
in section 1 of the Act of November 5, 2002 (Public Law 
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107–279; 116 Stat. 1940) is amended by striking the item 
relating to section 157 and inserting the following: 
‘‘Sec. 157. Cooperative education statistics partnerships.’’. 
PART D—NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION 
EVALUATION AND REGIONAL ASSISTANCE 
SEC. 171. ESTABLISHMENT. 
Section 171 (20 U.S.C. 9561) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by striking paragraph (1); 
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (2), (3), 
and (4) as paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), respec-
tively; 
(C) in paragraph (1), as so redesignated, by 
striking ‘‘of such programs’’ and all that follows 
through ‘‘science)’’ and inserting ‘‘and to evalu-
ate the implementation of such programs’’; 
(D) in paragraph (2), as so redesignated, by 
striking ‘‘and wide dissemination of results of’’ 
and inserting ‘‘and, consistent with section 
114(j), the wide dissemination and utilization of 
results of all’’; and 
(2) by striking subsection (c). 
SEC. 172. COMMISSIONER FOR EDUCATION EVALUATION 
AND REGIONAL ASSISTANCE. 
Section 172 (20 U.S.C. 9562) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
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(A) by amending paragraph (2) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(2) widely disseminate, consistent with section 
114(j), all information on scientifically valid research 
and statistics supported by the Institute and all sci-
entifically valid education evaluations supported by 
the Institute, particularly to State educational agen-
cies and local educational agencies, to institutions of 
higher education, to the public, the media, voluntary 
organizations, professional associations, and other 
constituencies, especially with respect to the priorities 
described in section 115;’’; 
(B) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘, con-
sistent with section 114(j)’’ after ‘‘timely, and ef-
ficient manner’’; 
(C) in paragraph (4)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘development and dis-
semination’’ and inserting ‘‘development, 
dissemination, and utilization’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘the provision of tech-
nical assistance,’’; 
(D) in paragraph (5), by inserting ‘‘and’’ 
after the semicolon; 
(E) in paragraph (6)— 
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(i) by striking ‘‘Director’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘Board’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘preparation of a bien-
nial report’’ and inserting ‘‘preparation 
and dissemination of each evaluation re-
port’’; and 
(iii) by striking ‘‘119; and’’ and in-
serting ‘‘116(d).’’; 
(F) by striking paragraph (7); 
(2) in subsection (b)(1)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘all’’ before ‘‘information 
disseminated’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘, which may include’’ and 
all that follows through ‘‘of this Act)’’; 
(3) by striking subsection (c) and redesignating 
subsection (d) as subsection (e); and 
(4) by inserting after subsection (b) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(c) PLAN.—The Evaluation and Regional Assistance 
Commissioner shall propose to the Director and, subject to 
the approval of the Director, implement a plan for the ac-
tivities of the National Center for Education Evaluation 
and Regional Assistance that— 
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‘‘(1) is consistent with the priorities and mission 
of the Institute and the mission of the Center de-
scribed in section 171(b); 
‘‘(2) is carried out and, as appropriate, updated 
and modified, including through the use of the results 
of the Center’s most recent evaluation report under 
section 116(d); and 
‘‘(3) describes how the Center will use the per-
formance management system described in section 185 
to assess and improve the activities of the Center. 
‘‘(d) GRANTS, CONTRACTS, AND COOPERATIVE AGREE-
MENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the duties 
under this part, the Evaluation and Regional Assist-
ance Commissioner may— 
‘‘(A) award grants, contracts, or cooperative 
agreements to eligible applicants to carry out the 
activities under this part; and 
‘‘(B) provide technical assistance. 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBILITY.—For purposes of this section, 
the term ‘eligible applicant’ means an applicant that 
has the ability and capacity to carry out activities 
under this part. 
‘‘(3) ENTITIES TO CONDUCT EVALUATIONS.—In 
awarding grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements 
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under paragraph (1) to carry out activities under sec-
tion 173, the Evaluation and Regional Assistance 
Commissioner shall make such awards to eligible ap-
plicants with the ability and capacity to conduct sci-
entifically valid education evaluations. 
‘‘(4) APPLICATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—An eligible applicant 
that wishes to receive a grant, contract, or coop-
erative agreement under paragraph (1) shall sub-
mit an application to the Evaluation and Re-
gional Assistance Commissioner at such time, in 
such manner, and containing such information 
as the Commissioner may require. 
‘‘(B) CONTENTS.—An application submitted 
under subparagraph (A) shall describe how the 
eligible applicant will address and demonstrate 
progress on the requirements of the performance 
management system described in section 185, 
with respect to the activities carried out under 
such grant, contract, or cooperative agreement. 
‘‘(5) DURATION.—Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, the grants, contracts, and coopera-
tive agreements under paragraph (1) may be award-
ed, on a competitive basis, for a period of not more 
than 5 years, and may be renewed at the discretion 
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of the Evaluation and Regional Assistance Commis-
sioner for an additional period of not more than 2 
years if the recipient demonstrates progress on the re-
quirements of the performance management system 
described in section 185, with respect to the activities 
carried out under the grant, contract, or cooperative 
agreement.’’; 
(5) in subsection (e), as so redesignated— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘There is 
established’’ and all that follows through ‘‘Re-
gional Assistance’’ and inserting ‘‘The Evalua-
tion and Regional Assistance Commissioner may 
establish’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting ‘‘all’’ 
before ‘‘products’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (2)(B)(ii), by striking 
‘‘2002’’ and all that follows through the period 
and inserting ‘‘2002.’’. 
SEC. 173. EVALUATIONS. 
Section 173 (20 U.S.C. 9563) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in the matter preceding subpara-
graph (A), by striking ‘‘may’’ and inserting 
‘‘shall’’; 
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(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘evaluations’’ and inserting ‘‘high-quality 
evaluations, including impact evaluations 
that use rigorous methodologies that permit 
the strongest possible causal inferences,’’; 
(iii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting 
before the semicolon at the end the fol-
lowing: ‘‘, including programs under part A 
of such title (20 U.S.C. 6311 et seq.)’’; 
(iv) by striking subparagraph (C) and 
redesignating subparagraph (D) as sub-
paragraph (C); 
(v) by striking subparagraph (E) and 
redesignating subparagraphs (F) and (G) 
as subparagraphs (D) and (H), respectively; 
and 
(vi) by inserting after subparagraph 
(D), as so redesignated, the following: 
‘‘(E) provide evaluation findings in an un-
derstandable, easily accessible, and usable format 
to support program improvement; 
‘‘(F) support the evaluation activities de-
scribed in section 401 of the Strengthening Edu-
cation through Research Act that are carried 
about by the Director; and 
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‘‘(G) to the extent feasible— 
‘‘(i) examine evaluations conducted or 
supported by others to determine the quality 
and relevance of the evidence of effectiveness 
generated by those evaluations, with the ap-
proval of the Director; 
‘‘(ii) review and supplement Federal 
education program evaluations, particularly 
such evaluations by the Department, to de-
termine or enhance the quality and rel-
evance of the evidence generated by those 
evaluations; 
‘‘(iii) conduct implementation evalua-
tions that promote continuous improvement 
and inform policymaking; 
‘‘(iv) evaluate the short- and long-term 
effects and cost efficiencies across programs 
assisted or authorized under Federal law 
and administrated by the Department; and 
‘‘(v) synthesize the results of evaluation 
studies for and across Federal education 
programs, policies, and practices.’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
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(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
the period and inserting ‘‘under section 
114(h); and’’; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(C) be widely disseminated, consistent with 
section 114(j).’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘contracts’’ and 
inserting ‘‘grants, contracts, or cooperative agree-
ments’’. 
SEC. 174. REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL LABORATORIES FOR RE-
SEARCH, 
DEVELOPMENT, 
DISSEMINATION, 
AND EVALUATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 174 (20 U.S.C. 9564) is 
amended— 
(1) in the section heading by striking ‘‘TECH-
NICAL
ASSISTANCE’’ and inserting ‘‘EVALUA-
TION’’; 
(2) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘Director’’ and inserting 
‘‘Evaluation and Regional Assistance Commis-
sioner’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘contracts’’ and inserting 
‘‘grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements’’; 
and 
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(C) by inserting ‘‘not more than’’ before ‘‘10 
regional’’; 
(3) in subsection (c)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘The Director’’ and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Evaluation and Re-
gional Assistance Commissioner’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘contracts under this section 
with research organizations, institutions, agen-
cies, institutions of higher education,’’ and in-
serting ‘‘grants, contracts, or cooperative agree-
ments under this section with public or private, 
nonprofit or for-profit research organizations, 
other organizations, or institutions of higher 
education,’’; 
(C) by striking ‘‘or individuals,’’; 
(D) by striking ‘‘, including regional enti-
ties’’ and all that follows through ‘‘107–110))’’; 
and 
(E) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this section, 
the term ‘eligible applicant’ means an entity de-
scribed in paragraph (1).’’; 
(4) by striking subsections (d) through (j) and 
inserting the following: 
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‘‘(d) APPLICATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) SUBMISSION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Each eligible applicant 
desiring a contract grant, contract, or coopera-
tive agreement under this section shall submit an 
application at such time, in such manner, and 
containing such information as the Evaluation 
and Regional Assistance Commissioner may rea-
sonably require. 
‘‘(B) INPUT.—To ensure that applications 
submitted under this paragraph are reflective of 
the needs of the regions to be served, each eligible 
applicant submitting such an application shall 
seek input from State educational agencies and 
local educational agencies in the region that the 
award will serve, and other individuals with 
knowledge of the region’s needs. Such individuals 
may include members of the regional advisory 
committee for the region under section 206(a). 
‘‘(2) PLAN.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Each application sub-
mitted under paragraph (1) shall contain a plan 
for the activities of the regional educational lab-
oratory to be established under this section, 
which shall be updated, modified, and improved, 
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as appropriate, on an ongoing basis, including 
by using the results of the laboratory’s interim 
evaluation under subsection (i)(3). 
‘‘(B) CONTENTS.—A plan described in sub-
paragraph (A) shall address— 
‘‘(i) the priorities for applied research, 
development, evaluations, and wide dissemi-
nation established under section 207; 
‘‘(ii) the needs of State educational 
agencies and local educational agencies, on 
an ongoing basis, using available State and 
local data, including the relevant results of 
the region’s assessment under section 206(e); 
and 
‘‘(iii) if available, demonstrated sup-
port from State educational agencies and 
local educational agencies in the region, 
such as letters of support or signed memo-
randa of understanding. 
‘‘(3) NON-FEDERAL SUPPORT.—In conducting a 
competition for grants, contracts, or cooperative 
agreements under subsection (a), the Evaluation and 
Regional Assistance Commissioner shall give priority 
to eligible applicants that will provide a portion of 
non-Federal funds to maximize support for activities 
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of the regional educational laboratories to be estab-
lished under this section. 
‘‘(e) AWARDING GRANTS, CONTRACTS, OR COOPERA-
TIVE AGREEMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) ASSURANCES.—In awarding grants, con-
tracts, or cooperative agreements under this section, 
the Evaluation and Regional Assistance Commis-
sioner shall— 
‘‘(A) make such an award for not more 
than a 5-year period; 
‘‘(B) ensure that regional educational lab-
oratories established under this section have 
strong and effective governance, organization, 
management, and administration, and employ 
qualified staff; and 
‘‘(C) ensure that each such laboratory has 
the flexibility to respond in a timely fashion to 
the needs of the laboratory’s region, including— 
‘‘(i) through using the results of the 
laboratory’s interim evaluation under sub-
section (i)(3) to improve and modify the ac-
tivities of the laboratory before the end of 
the award period; and 
‘‘(ii) through sharing preliminary re-
sults of the laboratory’s research, as appro-
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priate, to increase the relevance and useful-
ness of the research. 
‘‘(2) COORDINATION.—To ensure coordination 
and prevent unnecessary duplication of activities 
among the regions, the Evaluation and Regional As-
sistance Commissioner shall— 
‘‘(A) share information about the activities 
of each regional educational laboratory with each 
other regional educational laboratory, the De-
partment, the Director, and the National Board 
for Education Sciences; 
‘‘(B) ensure, where appropriate, that the ac-
tivities of each regional educational laboratory 
established under this section also serve national 
interests; 
‘‘(C) ensure each such regional educational 
laboratory establishes strong partnerships among 
practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and oth-
ers, so that such partnerships are continued in 
the absence of Federal support; and 
‘‘(D) enable, where appropriate, for such a 
laboratory to work in a region being served by 
another laboratory or to carry out a project that 
extends beyond the region served by the labora-
tory. 
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‘‘(3) COLLABORATION WITH TECHNICAL ASSIST-
ANCE PROVIDERS.—Each regional educational labora-
tory established under this section shall, on an ongo-
ing basis, coordinate its activities, collaborate, and 
regularly exchange information with the comprehen-
sive centers (established in section 203) in the region 
in which the center is located, and with comprehen-
sive centers located outside of its region, as appro-
priate. 
‘‘(4) OUTREACH.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In conducting competi-
tions for grants, contracts, or cooperative agree-
ments under this section, the Evaluation and Re-
gional Assistance Commissioner shall— 
‘‘(i) by making information and tech-
nical assistance relating to the competition 
widely available, actively encourage eligible 
applicants to compete for such an award; 
and 
‘‘(ii) seek input from the chief executive 
officers of States, chief State school officers, 
educators, parents, superintendents, and 
other individuals with knowledge of the 
needs of the regions to be served by the 
awards, regarding— 
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‘‘(I) the needs in the regions for 
applied research, evaluation, develop-
ment, and wide-dissemination activi-
ties authorized by this title; and 
‘‘(II) how such needs may be ad-
dressed most effectively. 
‘‘(B) REGIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEES.— 
The individuals described in subparagraph 
(A)(ii) may include members of the regional ad-
visory committees established under section 
206(a). 
‘‘(5) PERFORMANCE
MANAGEMENT.—Before the 
Evaluation and Regional Assistance Commissioner 
awards a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement 
under this section, the Director shall establish meas-
urable performance indicators for assessing the ongo-
ing progress and performance of the regional edu-
cational laboratories established with such awards 
that address— 
‘‘(A) the requirements of the performance 
management system described in section 185; 
and 
‘‘(B) the relevant results of the regional as-
sessments under section 206(e) . 
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‘‘(6) STANDARDS.—The Evaluation and Re-
gional Assistance Commissioner shall adhere to the 
Institute’s system for technical and peer review under 
section 114(h) in reviewing the applied research ac-
tivities and research-based reports of the regional edu-
cational laboratories. 
‘‘(7) 
REQUIRED
CONSIDERATION.—In 
deter-
mining whether to award a grant, contract, or coop-
erative agreement under this section to an eligible ap-
plicant that previously established a regional edu-
cational laboratory under this section, the Evaluation 
and Regional Assistance Commissioner shall consider 
the results of such laboratory’s summative evaluation 
under subsection (i)(2). 
‘‘(f) MISSION.—Each regional educational laboratory 
established under this section shall— 
‘‘(1) conduct applied research, development, and 
evaluation activities with State educational agencies, 
local educational agencies, and, as appropriate, 
schools funded by the Bureau; 
‘‘(2) widely disseminate such work, consistent 
with section 114(j); and 
‘‘(3) develop the capacity of State educational 
agencies, local educational agencies, and, as appro-
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priate, schools funded by the Bureau to carry out the 
activities described in paragraphs (1) and (2). 
‘‘(g) ACTIVITIES.—To carry out the mission described 
in subsection (f), each regional educational laboratory es-
tablished under this section shall carry out the following 
activities: 
‘‘(1) Conduct, widely disseminate, and promote 
utilization of applied research, development activities, 
evaluations, and other scientifically valid research. 
‘‘(2) Develop and improve the plan for the lab-
oratory under subsection (d)(2) for serving the region 
of the laboratory, and as appropriate, national needs, 
on an ongoing basis, which shall include seeking 
input and incorporating feedback from the representa-
tives of State educational agencies and local edu-
cational agencies in the region, and other individuals 
with knowledge of the region’s needs. Such representa-
tives and other individuals may include members of 
the regional advisory committee for the region estab-
lished under section 206(a). 
‘‘(3) Ensure research and related products are 
relevant and responsive to the needs of the region, in-
cluding by using the relevant results of the region’s 
assessment under section 206(e). 
‘‘(h) GOVERNING BOARD.— 
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‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Each regional educational 
laboratory established under this section may estab-
lish a governing board to improve the management of 
activities that the laboratory carries out under this 
section. 
‘‘(2) BOARD
DUTIES.—A Board established 
under paragraph (1) shall coordinate and align its 
work with the work of the regional advisory com-
mittee for the region established under section 206. 
‘‘(i) EVALUATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Evaluation and Re-
gional Assistance Commissioner shall— 
‘‘(A) provide for ongoing summative and 
interim evaluations described in paragraphs (2) 
and (3), respectively, of each of the regional edu-
cational laboratories established under this sec-
tion in carrying out the full range of duties de-
scribed in this section; and 
‘‘(B) transmit the results of such evalua-
tions, through appropriate means, to the appro-
priate congressional committees, the Director, 
and the public. 
‘‘(2) SUMMATIVE
EVALUATIONS.—The Evalua-
tion and Regional Assistance Commissioner shall en-
sure each regional educational laboratory established 
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under this section is evaluated by an independent en-
tity at the end of the period of the grant, contract, or 
cooperative agreement that established such labora-
tory, which shall— 
‘‘(A) be completed in a timely fashion; 
‘‘(B) assess how well the laboratory is meet-
ing the measurable performance indicators estab-
lished under subsection (e)(5); and 
‘‘(C) consider the extent to which the labora-
tory ensures that the activities of such laboratory 
are relevant and useful to the work of State and 
local practitioners and policymakers. 
‘‘(3) INTERIM
EVALUATIONS.—The Evaluation 
and Regional Assistance Commissioner shall ensure 
each regional educational laboratory established 
under this section is evaluated at the midpoint of the 
period of the grant, contract, or cooperative agreement 
that established such laboratory, which shall— 
‘‘(A) assess how well such laboratory is 
meeting the performance indicators described in 
subsection (e)(5); and 
‘‘(B) be used to improve the effectiveness of 
such laboratory in carrying out its plan under 
subsection (d)(2). 
‘‘(j) CONTINUATION OF AWARDS; RECOMPETITION.— 
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‘‘(1) CONTINUATION OF AWARDS.—The Evalua-
tion and Regional Assistance Commissioner shall con-
tinue awards made to each eligible applicant for the 
support of regional educational laboratories estab-
lished under this section prior to the date of enact-
ment of the Strengthening Education through Re-
search Act, as such awards were in effect on the day 
before the date of enactment of the Strengthening 
Education through Research Act, for the duration of 
those awards, in accordance with the terms and 
agreements of such awards. 
‘‘(2) RECOMPETITION.—Not later than the end of 
the period of the awards described in paragraph (1), 
the Evaluation and Regional Assistance Commis-
sioner shall— 
‘‘(A) hold a competition to make grants, 
contracts, or cooperative agreements under this 
section to eligible applicants, which may include 
eligible applicants that held awards described in 
paragraph (1); and 
‘‘(B) in determining whether to select an el-
igible applicant that held an award described in 
paragraph (1) for an award under subparagraph 
(A) of this paragraph, consider the results of the 
summative evaluation under subsection (i)(2) of 
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the laboratory established with the eligible appli-
cant’s award described in paragraph (1).’’; 
(5) by striking subsection (l); 
(6) by redesignating subsections (m), (n), and (o) 
as subsections (l), (m), and (n), respectively; 
(7) in subsection (l), as so redesignated, by in-
serting ‘‘and local’’ after ‘‘achieve State’’; 
(8) by amending subsection (m), as so redesig-
nated, to read as follows: 
‘‘(m) ANNUAL REPORT.—Each regional educational 
laboratory established under this section shall submit to the 
Evaluation and Regional Assistance Commissioner an an-
nual report containing such information as the Commis-
sioner may require, but which shall include, at a minimum, 
the following: 
‘‘(1) A summary of the laboratory’s activities 
and products developed during the previous year. 
‘‘(2) A listing of the State educational agencies, 
local educational agencies, and schools the laboratory 
assisted during the previous year. 
‘‘(3) Using the measurable performance indica-
tors established under subsection (e)(5), a description 
of how well the laboratory is meeting educational 
needs of the region served by the laboratory. 
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‘‘(4) Any changes to the laboratory’s plan under 
subsection (d)(2) to improve its activities in the re-
maining years of the grant, contract, or cooperative 
agreement.’’; and 
(9) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(o) 
APPROPRIATIONS
RESERVATION.—Of 
the 
amounts appropriated under section 194(a), the Evaluation 
and Regional Assistance Commissioner shall reserve 16.13 
percent of such funds to carry out this section, of which 
the Commissioner shall use not less than 25 percent to serve 
rural areas (including schools funded by the Bureau which 
are located in rural areas).’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
in section 1 of the Act of November 5, 2002 (Public Law 
107–279; 116 Stat. 1940) is amended by striking the item 
relating to section 174 and inserting the following: 
‘‘Sec. 174. Regional educational laboratories for research, development, dissemina-
tion, and evaluation.’’. 
PART E—NATIONAL CENTER FOR SPECIAL 
EDUCATION RESEARCH 
SEC. 175. ESTABLISHMENT. 
Section 175(b) (20 U.S.C. 9567(b)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘and children’’ 
and inserting ‘‘children, and youth’’; 
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(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(3) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting a semicolon; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) 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 with re-
spect to special education research and evaluation de-
scribed in paragraphs (1) through (3); and 
‘‘(5) to promote scientifically valid research find-
ings in special education that may provide the basis 
for improving academic instruction and lifelong 
learning.’’. 
SEC. 176. COMMISSIONER FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION RE-
SEARCH. 
Section 176 (20 U.S.C. 9567a) is amended by insert-
ing ‘‘and youth’’ after ‘‘children’’. 
SEC. 177. DUTIES. 
Section 177 (20 U.S.C. 9567b) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting ‘‘and 
youth’’ after ‘‘children’’; 
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(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘scientif-
ically based educational practices’’ and inserting 
‘‘educational practices, including the use of tech-
nology based on scientifically valid research,’’; 
(C) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘based’’ 
and inserting ‘‘valid’’; 
(D) in paragraph (10), by inserting before 
the semicolon the following: ‘‘, including how sec-
ondary school credentials are related to postsec-
ondary and employment outcomes’’; 
(E) by redesignating paragraphs (11) 
through (15) and paragraphs (16) and (17) as 
paragraphs (12) through (16), respectively, and 
paragraphs (18) and (19), respectively; 
(F) by inserting after paragraph (10), the 
following: 
‘‘(11) examine the participation and outcomes of 
students with disabilities in secondary and postsec-
ondary career and technical education programs;’’; 
(G) in paragraph (14), as so redesignated, 
by inserting ‘‘and professional development’’ 
after ‘‘preparation’’; 
(H) in paragraph (16), as so redesignated, 
by striking ‘‘help parents’’ and inserting ‘‘exam-
ine the methods by which parents may’’; 
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(I) by inserting after paragraph (16), as so 
redesignated, the following: 
‘‘(17) assist the Board in the preparation and 
dissemination of each evaluation report under section 
116(d);’’; 
(J) in paragraph (18), as so redesignated, 
by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(K) by amending paragraph (19), as so re-
designated, to read as follows: 
‘‘(19) examine the needs of children with disabil-
ities who are English learners, gifted and talented, or 
who have other unique learning needs; and’’; and 
(L) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(20) examine innovations in the field of special 
education, such as multi-tiered systems of support.’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph 
(1)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘for the activities of 
the Special Education Research Center’’ 
after ‘‘research plan’’; and 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘and, subject to the 
approval of the Director, implement such 
plan’’ after ‘‘Services’’; 
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(B) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘de-
scribed in section 175(b)’’ after ‘‘Center’’; 
(C) by amending paragraph (2) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(2) is carried out, and, as appropriate, updated 
and modified, including by using the results of the 
Special Education Research Center’s most recent eval-
uation report under section 116(d);’’; 
(D) by striking paragraph (5); 
(E) by redesignating paragraphs (3), (4), 
and (6) as paragraphs (4), (5), and (7), respec-
tively; 
(F) by inserting after paragraph (2), as so 
amended, the following: 
‘‘(3) provides for research that addresses signifi-
cant questions of practice where such research is lack-
ing;’’; 
(G) in paragraph (5), as so redesignated, by 
striking ‘‘and types of children with’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘, student subgroups, and types of’’; and 
(H) by inserting after paragraph (5), as so 
redesignated and amended, the following: 
‘‘(6) describes how the Special Education Re-
search Center will use the performance management 
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system described in section 185 to assess and improve 
the activities of the Center; and’’; 
(3) in subsection (d)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘Direc-
tor’’ and inserting ‘‘Special Education Research 
Commissioner’’; 
(B) by amending paragraph (3) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(3) APPLICATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—An eligible applicant 
that wishes to receive a grant, or enter into a 
contract or cooperative agreement, under this 
section shall submit an application to the Spe-
cial Education Research Commissioner at such 
time, in such manner, and containing such in-
formation as the Special Education Research 
Commissioner may require. 
‘‘(B) CONTENTS.—An application submitted 
under subparagraph (A) shall describe how the 
eligible applicant will address and demonstrate 
progress on the requirements of the performance 
management system described in section 185, 
with respect to the activities that will be carried 
out under such grant, contract, or cooperative 
agreement.’’; and 
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(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) DURATION.—Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, the grants, contracts, and coopera-
tive agreements under this section may be awarded, 
on a competitive basis, for a period of not more than 
5 years, and may be renewed at the discretion of the 
Special Education Research Commissioner for an ad-
ditional period of not more than 2 years if the recipi-
ent demonstrates progress on the requirements of the 
performance management system described in section 
185, with respect to the activities carried out under 
the grant, contract, or cooperative agreement received 
under this section.’’; 
(4) by amending subsection (e) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(e) DISSEMINATION.—The Special Education Re-
search Center shall synthesize and, consistent with section 
114(j), widely disseminate and promote utilization of the 
findings and results of special education research conducted 
or supported by the Special Education Research Center.’’; 
and 
(5) in subsection (f), by striking ‘‘part such sums 
as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2005 
through 2010.’’ and inserting ‘‘part— 
‘‘(1) for fiscal year 2015, $54,000,000; 
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‘‘(2) for fiscal year 2016, $54,108,000; 
‘‘(3) for fiscal year 2017, $55,298,376; 
‘‘(4) for fiscal year 2018, $56,625,537; 
‘‘(5) for fiscal year 2019, $58,154,426; and 
‘‘(6) for fiscal year 2020, $65,645,169.’’. 
PART F—GENERAL PROVISIONS 
SEC. 182. PROHIBITIONS. 
Section 182 (20 U.S.C. 9572) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘or control’’ and inserting 
‘‘control, or coerce’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘specific academic stand-
ards or assessments,’’ after ‘‘the curriculum,’’ 
(3) in subsection (c)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘coerce,’’ after ‘‘approve,’’ 
and 
(B) by striking ‘‘an elementary school or 
secondary school’’ and inserting ‘‘early edu-
cation, or in an elementary school, secondary 
school, or institution of higher education’’. 
SEC. 183. CONFIDENTIALITY. 
Section 183 (20 U.S.C. 9573) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
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(A) by striking ‘‘their families, and infor-
mation with respect to individual schools,’’ and 
inserting ‘‘and their families’’; and 
(B) by inserting before the period at the end 
the following: ‘‘, and that any disclosed informa-
tion with respect to individual schools not reveal 
such individually identifiable information’’; 
(2) in subsection (d)(2), by inserting ‘‘, includ-
ing voluntary and uncompensated services under sec-
tion 190’’ after ‘‘providing services’’; and 
(3) in subsection (e)(1), in the matter preceding 
subparagraph (A), by inserting ‘‘and Director’’ after 
‘‘Secretary’’. 
SEC. 184. AVAILABILITY OF DATA. 
Section 184 (20 U.S.C. 9574) is amended by striking 
‘‘use of the Internet’’ and inserting ‘‘electronic means, such 
as posting to the Institute’s website in an easily accessible 
manner’’. 
SEC. 185. PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT. 
Section 185 (20 U.S.C. 9575) is amended to read as 
follows: 
‘‘SEC. 185. PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT. 
‘‘The Director shall establish a system for managing 
the performance of all activities authorized under this title 
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to promote continuous improvement of the activities and 
to ensure the effective use of Federal funds by— 
‘‘(1) developing and using measurable perform-
ance indicators, including timelines, to evaluate and 
improve the effectiveness of the activities; 
‘‘(2) using the performance indicators described 
in paragraph (1) to inform funding decisions, includ-
ing the awarding and continuation of all grants, con-
tracts, and cooperative agreements under this title; 
‘‘(3) establishing and improving formal feedback 
mechanisms to— 
‘‘(A) anticipate and meet stakeholder needs; 
and 
‘‘(B) incorporate, on an ongoing basis, the 
feedback of such stakeholders into the activities 
authorized under this title; and 
‘‘(4) promoting the wide dissemination and uti-
lization, consistent with section 114(j), of all informa-
tion, products, and publications of the Institute.’’. 
SEC. 186. AUTHORITY TO PUBLISH. 
Section 186(b) (20 U.S.C. 9576) is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘any information to be published under this section be-
fore publication’’ and inserting ‘‘publications under this 
section before the public release of such publications’’. 
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SEC. 187. REPEALS. 
(a) REPEALS.—Sections 187 (20 U.S.C. 9577) and 
193 (20 U.S.C. 9583) are repealed. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—The table of contents 
in section 1 of the Act of November 5, 2002 (Public Law 
107–279; 116 Stat. 1940) is amended by striking the items 
relating to sections 187 and 193. 
SEC. 188. FELLOWSHIPS. 
Section 189 (20 U.S.C. 9579) is amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘and the mission of each Na-
tional Education Center authorized under this title’’ 
after ‘‘related to education’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘historically Black colleges and 
universities’’ and inserting ‘‘minority-serving institu-
tions’’. 
SEC. 189. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
Section 194 (20 U.S.C. 9584) is amended— 
(1) by amending subsection (a) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated to administer and carry out this title (except part 
E)— 
‘‘(1) for fiscal year 2015, $337,343,000; 
‘‘(2) for fiscal year 2016, $338,017,686; 
‘‘(3) for fiscal year 2017, $345,454,075; 
‘‘(4) for fiscal year 2018, $353,744,974; 
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‘‘(5) for fiscal year 2019, $363,296,087; and 
‘‘(6) for fiscal year 2020, $368,745,528.’’. 
(2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(b) RESERVATIONS.—Of the amounts appropriated 
under subsection (a) for each fiscal year— 
‘‘(1) not less than the amount provided to the 
National Center for Education Statistics (as such 
Center was in existence on the day before the date of 
enactment of the Strengthening Education through 
Research Act) for fiscal year 2014 shall be provided 
to the National Center for Education Statistics, as 
authorized under part C; and 
‘‘(2) not more than the lesser of 2 percent of such 
funds or $2,000,000 shall be made available to carry 
out section 116 (relating to the National Board for 
Education Sciences).’’. 
TITLE II—EDUCATIONAL 
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 
SEC. 201. 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 
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other provision of the Educational Technical Assistance Act 
of 2002 (20 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.). 
SEC. 202. DEFINITIONS. 
Section 202 (20 U.S.C. 9601) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraph (2) as para-
graph (3); and 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (1), the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(2) SCHOOL LEADER.—The term ‘school leader’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 102.’’. 
SEC. 203. COMPREHENSIVE CENTERS. 
Section 203 (20 U.S.C. 9602)— 
(1) by amending subsection (a) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(a) AUTHORIZATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (3), the 
Secretary is authorized to award not more than 17 
grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to eligible 
applicants to establish comprehensive centers. 
‘‘(2) MISSION.—The mission of the comprehen-
sive centers is to provide State educational agencies 
and local educational agencies technical assistance, 
analysis, and training to build their capacity in im-
plementing the requirements of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et 
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seq.) and other Federal education laws, and research- 
based practices. 
‘‘(3) REGIONS.—In awarding grants, contracts, 
or cooperative agreements under paragraph (1), the 
Secretary— 
‘‘(A) shall establish at least one comprehen-
sive center for each of the 10 geographic regions 
served by the regional educational laboratories 
established under section 941(h) of the Edu-
cational Research, Development, Dissemination, 
and Improvement Act of 1994 (as such provision 
existed on the day before the date of enactment 
of this Act); and 
‘‘(B) may establish additional comprehen-
sive centers— 
‘‘(i) for one or more of the regions de-
scribed in subparagraph (A); or 
‘‘(ii) to serve the Nation as a whole by 
providing technical assistance on a par-
ticular content area of importance to the 
Nation, as determined by the Secretary with 
the advice of the regional advisory commit-
tees established under section 206(a). 
‘‘(4) NATION.—In the case of a comprehensive 
center established to serve the Nation as described in 
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paragraph (3)(B)(ii), the Nation shall be considered 
to be a region served by such Center. 
‘‘(5) AWARD PERIOD.—A grant, contract, or co-
operative agreement under this section may be award-
ed, on a competitive basis, for a period of not more 
than 5 years. 
‘‘(6) RESPONSIVENESS.—The Secretary shall en-
sure that each comprehensive center established under 
this section has the ability to respond in a timely 
fashion to the needs of State educational agencies and 
local educational agencies, including through using 
the results of the center’s interim evaluation under 
section 204(c), to improve and modify the activities 
of the center before the end of the award period.’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘, contracts, or cooper-
ative agreements’’ after ‘‘Grants’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘research organiza-
tions, institutions, agencies, institutions of 
higher education,’’ and inserting ‘‘public or 
private, nonprofit or for-profit research or-
ganizations, other organizations, or institu-
tions of higher education,’’; 
(iii) by striking ‘‘, or individuals,’’; 
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(iv) by striking ‘‘subsection (f)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘subsection (e)’’; and 
(v) by striking ‘‘, including regional’’ 
and all that follows through ‘‘107–110))’’; 
and 
(B) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3) and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(2) OUTREACH.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In conducting competi-
tions for grants, contracts, or cooperative agree-
ments under this section, the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(i) by making widely available infor-
mation and technical assistance relating to 
the competition, actively encourage eligible 
applicants to compete for such awards; and 
‘‘(ii) seek input from chief executive of-
ficers of States, chief State school officers, 
educators, parents, superintendents, 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 
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‘‘(II) how such needs may be ad-
dressed most effectively. 
‘‘(B) REGIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEES.— 
The individuals described in subparagraph 
(A)(ii) may include members of the regional ad-
visory committees established under section 
206(a). 
‘‘(3) 
PERFORMANCE
MANAGEMENT.—Before 
awarding a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement 
under this section, the Secretary shall establish meas-
urable performance indicators to be used to assess the 
ongoing progress and performance of the comprehen-
sive centers to be established under this title that ad-
dress— 
‘‘(A) paragraphs (1) through (3) of the per-
formance management system described in sec-
tion 185; and 
‘‘(B) the relevant results of the regional as-
sessments under section 206(e). 
‘‘(4) 
REQUIRED
CONSIDERATION.—In 
deter-
mining whether to award a grant, contract, or coop-
erative agreement under this section to an eligible ap-
plicant that previously established a comprehensive 
center under this section, the Secretary shall consider 
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the results of such center’s summative evaluation 
under section 204(b). 
‘‘(5) CONTINUATION OF AWARDS.— 
‘‘(A) CONTINUATION OF AWARDS.—The Sec-
retary shall continue awards made to each eligi-
ble applicant for the support of comprehensive 
centers established under this section prior to the 
date of enactment of the Strengthening Edu-
cation through Research Act, as such awards 
were in effect on the day before the date of enact-
ment of the Strengthening Education through 
Research Act, for the duration of those awards, 
in accordance with the terms and agreements of 
such awards. 
‘‘(B) RECOMPETITION.—Not later than the 
end of the period of the awards described in sub-
paragraph (A), the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(i) hold a competition to make grants, 
contracts, or cooperative agreements under 
this section to eligible applicants, which 
may include eligible applicants that held 
awards described in subparagraph (A); and 
‘‘(ii) in determining whether to select 
an eligible applicant that held an award de-
scribed in subparagraph (A) for an award 
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under clause (i) of this subparagraph, con-
sider the results of the summative evalua-
tion under section 204(b) of the center es-
tablished with the eligible applicant’s award 
described in subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(6) ELIGIBLE APPLICANT DEFINED.—For pur-
poses of this section, the term ‘eligible applicant’ 
means an entity described in paragraph (1).’’; 
(3) by amending subsection (c) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(c) APPLICATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) SUBMISSION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Each eligible applicant 
seeking a grant, contract, or cooperative agree-
ment under this section shall submit an applica-
tion at such time, in such manner, and con-
taining such additional information as the Sec-
retary may reasonably require. 
‘‘(B) INPUT.—To ensure that applications 
submitted under this paragraph are reflective of 
the needs of the regions to be served, each eligible 
applicant submitting such an application shall 
seek input from State educational agencies and 
local educational agencies in the region that the 
award will serve, and other individuals with 
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knowledge of the region’s needs. Such individuals 
may include members of the regional advisory 
committee for the region under section 206(a). 
‘‘(2) PLAN.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Each application sub-
mitted under paragraph (1) shall contain a plan 
for the comprehensive center to be established 
under this section, which shall be updated, modi-
fied, and improved, as appropriate, on an ongo-
ing basis, including by using the results of the 
center’s interim evaluation under section 204(c). 
‘‘(B) CONTENTS.—A plan described in sub-
paragraph (A) shall address— 
‘‘(i) the priorities for technical assist-
ance established under section 207; 
‘‘(ii) the needs of State educational 
agencies and local educational agencies, on 
an ongoing basis, using available State and 
local data, including the relevant results of 
the regional assessments under section 
206(e); and 
‘‘(iii) if available, demonstrated sup-
port from State educational agencies and 
local educational agencies, such as letters of 
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support or signed memoranda of under-
standing. 
‘‘(3) NON-FEDERAL SUPPORT.—In conducting a 
competition for grants, contracts, or cooperative 
agreements under subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
give priority to eligible applicants that will provide 
a portion of non-Federal funds to maximize support 
for activities of the comprehensive centers to be estab-
lished under this section.’’; 
(4) in subsection (d), by inserting ‘‘the number 
of low-performing schools in the region,’’ after ‘‘eco-
nomically disadvantaged students,’’; 
(5) by striking subsection (e) and redesignating 
subsections (f), (g), and (h) as subsections (e), (f), and 
(g), respectively; 
(6) in subsection (e), as so redesignated— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘support dissemination 
and technical assistance activities by’’ and 
inserting ‘‘support State educational agen-
cies and local educational agencies, includ-
ing by’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (A)(i), by insert-
ing ‘‘and other Federal education laws’’ be-
fore the semicolon; 
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(iii) in subparagraph (A)(ii)— 
(I) in the matter preceding sub-
clause (I), by striking ‘‘and assessment 
tools’’ and inserting ‘‘, assessment 
tools, and other educational strategies’’; 
(II) in subclause (I), by striking 
‘‘mathematics, science,’’ and inserting 
‘‘mathematics and science, which may 
include computer science or engineer-
ing,’’; and 
(III) in subclause (III), by insert-
ing ‘‘, including innovative tools and 
methods’’ before the semicolon; 
(iv) by striking subparagraph (A)(iii) 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(iii) the replication and adaptation of 
exemplary practices and innovative methods 
that have an evidence base of effectiveness; 
and’’; 
(v) in subparagraph (B)— 
(I) by inserting ‘‘, consistent with 
section 114(j),’’ after ‘‘disseminating’’; 
and 
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(II) by striking ‘‘(as described’’ 
and all that follows through ‘‘is lo-
cated’’; and 
(vi) by amending subparagraph (C) to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(C) ensuring activities carried out under 
this section are relevant and responsive to the 
needs of the region being served, including by 
using the relevant results of the regional assess-
ments under section 206(e).’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘, on an ongoing 
basis,’’ after ‘‘this section shall’’; and 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘or other regional 
educational laboratories or comprehensive 
centers, as appropriate,’’ after ‘‘center is lo-
cated,’’; and 
(7) by amending subsections (f) and (g), as each 
so redesignated, to read as follows: 
‘‘(f) COMPREHENSIVE CENTER ADVISORY BOARD.—A 
comprehensive center established under this section may es-
tablish an advisory board to support and monitor the prior-
ities and activities of such center. An advisory board estab-
lished under this subsection shall coordinate and align its 
work with the work of the regional advisory committee of 
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the region served by such center established under section 
206. 
‘‘(g) REPORT TO THE SECRETARY.—Each comprehen-
sive center established under this section shall submit to the 
Secretary an annual report, at such time, in such manner, 
and containing such information as the Secretary may re-
quire, which shall include the following: 
‘‘(1) A summary of the center’s activities and 
products developed during the previous year. 
‘‘(2) A listing of the State educational agencies, 
local educational agencies, and schools the center as-
sisted during the previous year. 
‘‘(3) Using the measurable performance indica-
tors established under subsection (b)(3), a description 
of how well the center is meeting educational needs of 
the region served by the center. 
‘‘(4) Any changes to the center’s plan under sub-
section (c)(2) to improve its activities in the remain-
ing years of the grant, contract, or cooperative agree-
ment.’’. 
SEC. 204. EVALUATIONS. 
Section 204 (20 U.S.C. 9603) is amended to read as 
follows: 
‘‘SEC. 204. EVALUATIONS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall— 
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‘‘(1) provide for ongoing summative and interim 
evaluations described in subsections (b) and (c), re-
spectively, of each of the comprehensive centers estab-
lished under this title in carrying out the full range 
of duties of the center under this title; and 
‘‘(2) transmit the results of such evaluations, 
through appropriate means, to the appropriate con-
gressional committees, the Director of the Institute of 
Education Sciences, and the public. 
‘‘(b) SUMMATIVE EVALUATION.—The Secretary shall 
ensure each comprehensive center established under this title 
is evaluated by an independent entity at the end of the pe-
riod of the grant, contract, or cooperative agreement that 
established such center, which shall— 
‘‘(1) be completed in a timely fashion; 
‘‘(2) assess how well the center is meeting the 
measurable performance indicators established under 
section 203(b)(3); and 
‘‘(3) consider the extent to which the center en-
sures that the technical assistance of such center is 
relevant and useful to the work of State and local 
practitioners and policymakers. 
‘‘(c) INTERIM EVALUATION.—The Secretary shall en-
sure that each comprehensive center established under this 
title is evaluated at the midpoint of the period of the grant, 
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contract, or cooperative agreement that established such cen-
ter, which shall— 
‘‘(1) assess how well such center is meeting the 
measurable performance indicators established under 
section 203(b)(3); and 
‘‘(2) be used to improve the effectiveness of such 
center in carrying out its plan under section 
203(c)(2).’’. 
SEC. 205. EXISTING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDERS. 
(a) REPEAL.—Section 205 (20 U.S.C. 9604) is re-
pealed. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
in section 1 of the Act of November 5, 2002 (Public Law 
107–279; 116 Stat. 1940) is amended by striking the item 
relating to section 205. 
SEC. 206. REGIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEES. 
Section 206 (20 U.S.C. 9605) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘Beginning in 2004, the’’ 
and inserting ‘‘The’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘of the Education Sciences 
Reform Act of 2002’’; 
(2) by striking subsection (c) and redesignating 
subsections (b) and (d) as subsections (d) and (e), re-
spectively; 
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(3) by inserting the following after subsection 
(a): 
‘‘(b) MISSION.—The mission of each regional advisory 
committee established under subsection (a) shall be to— 
‘‘(1) support, strengthen, and, as appropriate, 
align the work of the regional educational laboratories 
established under section 174 and the comprehensive 
centers established under this title; and 
‘‘(2) ensure that the regional educational labora-
tories and comprehensive centers are meeting the 
needs of their regions. 
‘‘(c) DUTIES.—Each advisory committee established 
under subsection (a) shall— 
‘‘(1) conduct, on at least a biennial basis, a 
needs assessments of the region served by the com-
mittee, as described in subsection (e); 
‘‘(2) to ensure the activities of the regional edu-
cational laboratory and comprehensive centers serving 
the region of the committee are responsive to the needs 
of such region, provide ongoing input to the labora-
tory and centers on planning and carrying out their 
activities under section 174 and this title, respec-
tively; 
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‘‘(3) maintain a high standard of quality in the 
performance of the activities of the laboratory and 
centers, respectively; and 
‘‘(4) support the continuous improvement of the 
laboratory and centers in the region served by the 
committee, especially in meeting the measurable per-
formance 
indicators 
established 
under 
sections 
174(e)(4) and 203(b)(3), respectively.’’; 
(4) by amending subsection (d), as so redesig-
nated, to read as follows: 
‘‘(d) MEMBERSHIP.— 
‘‘(1) COMPOSITION.—The membership of each re-
gional advisory committee shall— 
‘‘(A) not exceed 25 members; 
‘‘(B) include the chief State school officer, or 
such officer’s designee, or other State official, of 
States within the region of the committee who 
have primary responsibility under State law for 
elementary and secondary education in the 
State; 
‘‘(C) include representatives of local edu-
cational agencies, including rural and urban 
local educational agencies, that represent the geo-
graphic diversity of the region; and 
‘‘(D) include researchers. 
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‘‘(2) ELIGIBILITY.—The membership of each re-
gional advisory committee may include the following: 
‘‘(A) Representatives of institutions of high-
er education. 
‘‘(B) Parents. 
‘‘(C) Practicing educators, including class-
room teachers, school leaders, administrators, 
school board members, and other local school offi-
cials. 
‘‘(D) Representatives of business. 
‘‘(E) Policymakers. 
‘‘(F) Representatives from the regional edu-
cational laboratory and comprehensive centers in 
the region. 
‘‘(3) RECOMMENDATIONS.—In choosing individ-
uals for membership on a regional advisory com-
mittee, the Secretary shall consult with, and solicit 
recommendations from, the chief executive officers of 
States, chief State school officers, local educational 
agencies, and other education stakeholders within the 
applicable region. 
‘‘(4) SPECIAL RULE.—The total number of mem-
bers on each committee who are selected under sub-
paragraphs (B) and (C) of paragraph (1), in the ag-
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gregate, shall exceed the total number of members who 
are selected under paragraph (2), collectively.’’; 
(5) in subsection (e), as so redesignated— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘, at least on a bien-
nial basis,’’ after ‘‘assess’’; and 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘, strengths, and 
weaknesses’’ after ‘‘educational needs’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘State school officers,’’ 
and all that follows through ‘‘within the re-
gion)’’ and inserting ‘‘State school officers, 
local educational agencies, representatives of 
public charter schools, educators, parents, 
and others within the region’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘of the Education 
Sciences Reform Act of 2002 and section 
203 of this title’’ and inserting ‘‘and section 
203’’; and 
(iii) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(C) by redesignating paragraph (3) as 
paragraph (4); 
(D) by inserting after paragraph (2) the fol-
lowing new paragraph: 
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‘‘(3) use available State and local data, con-
sistent with privacy protections under section 183, to 
determine regional educational needs; and’’. 
SEC. 207. PRIORITIES. 
Section 207 (20 U.S.C. 9606) is amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘Director and’’ before ‘‘Sec-
retary shall establish’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘of the Education Sciences Re-
form Act of 2002’’; 
(3) by striking ‘‘of this title’’; 
(4) by striking ‘‘to address, taking onto account’’ 
and inserting ‘‘, respectively, using the results of’’; 
and 
(5) by striking ‘‘relevant regional’’ and all that 
follows through ‘‘Secretary deems appropriate’’ and 
inserting ‘‘relevant regional and national surveys of 
educational needs’’. 
SEC. 208. GRANT PROGRAM FOR STATEWIDE LONGITU-
DINAL DATA SYSTEMS. 
Section 208 (20 U.S.C. 9607) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by inserting before the period at the end 
the following: ‘‘, the Higher Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.), and the Individ-
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uals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 
1400 et seq.)’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘State educational agencies receiving a grant 
under this section may provide subgrants to local 
educational agencies to improve the capacity of 
local educational agencies to carry out the activi-
ties authorized under this section.’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsections (c), (d), and (e) 
as subsections (d), (e), and (g), respectively; 
(3) by inserting after subsection (b), the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(c) PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT.—Before awarding 
a grant under this section, the Secretary shall establish 
measurable performance indicators— 
‘‘(1) to be used to assess the ongoing progress and 
performance of State educational agencies receiving a 
grant under this section; and 
‘‘(2) that address paragraphs (1) through (3) of 
the performance management system described in sec-
tion 185.’’; 
(4) in subsection (d), as so redesignated— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘, pro-
motes linkages across States,’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
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(i) in the matter preceding subpara-
graph (A), by inserting ‘‘supports school 
improvement and’’ after ‘‘data that’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘and other reporting requirements and close 
achievement gaps; and’’ and inserting ‘‘, 
other reporting requirements, close achieve-
ment gaps, and improve teaching;’’; 
(iii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘and close achievement gaps’’ and by insert-
ing ‘‘, close achievement gaps, and improve 
teaching’’; and 
(iv) by inserting after subparagraph 
(B) the following: 
‘‘(C) to align statewide longitudinal data 
systems from early education through postsec-
ondary education (including pre-service prepara-
tion programs), and the workforce, consistent 
with privacy protections under section 183;’’; 
and 
(C) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(3) ensures the protection of student privacy, 
and includes a review of how State educational agen-
cies, local educational agencies, and others that will 
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have access to the statewide data systems under this 
section will adhere to Federal privacy laws and pro-
tections, consistent with section 183, in the building, 
maintenance, and use of such data systems; 
‘‘(4) ensures State educational agencies receiving 
a grant under this section support professional devel-
opment that builds the capacity of teachers and school 
leaders to use data effectively; and 
‘‘(5) gives priority to State educational agencies 
that leverage the use of longitudinal data systems to 
improve student achievement and growth, including 
such State educational agencies that— 
‘‘(A) meet the voluntary standards and 
guidelines described in section 153(a)(5); 
‘‘(B) define the roles of State educational 
agencies, local educational agencies, and others 
in providing timely access to data under the 
statewide data systems, consistent with privacy 
protections in section 183; and 
‘‘(C) demonstrate the capacity to share 
teacher and school leader performance data, in-
cluding student achievement and growth data, 
with local educational agencies and teacher and 
school leader preparation programs.’’; 
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(5) by inserting after subsection (e), as so redes-
ignated, the following: 
‘‘(f) RENEWAL
OF AWARDS.—The Secretary may 
renew a grant awarded to a State educational agency under 
this section for a period not to exceed 3 years, if the State 
educational agency has demonstrated progress on the meas-
urable performance indicators established under subsection 
(c).’’; and 
(6) by amending subsection (g), as so redesig-
nated, to read as follows: 
‘‘(g) REPORTS.— 
‘‘(1) FIRST REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of the Strengthening Education 
through Research Act, the Secretary shall prepare and 
make publicly available a report on the implementa-
tion and effectiveness of the activities carried out by 
State educational agencies receiving a grant under 
this section, including— 
‘‘(A) information on progress in the devel-
opment and use of statewide longitudinal data 
systems described in this section; 
‘‘(B) information on best practices and 
areas for improvement in such development and 
use; and 
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‘‘(C) how the State educational agencies are 
adhering to Federal privacy laws and protec-
tions in the building, maintenance, and use of 
such data systems. 
‘‘(2) SUCCEEDING REPORTS.—Every succeeding 
3 years after the report is made publicly available 
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall prepare and 
make publicly available a report on the implementa-
tion and effectiveness of the activities carried out by 
State educational agencies receiving a grant under 
this section, including— 
‘‘(A) information on the requirements of 
subparagraphs (A) through (C) of paragraph (1); 
and 
‘‘(B) the progress, in the aggregate, State 
educational agencies are making on the measur-
able performance indicators established under 
subsection (c).’’. 
SEC. 209. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
Section 209 (20 U.S.C. 9608) is amended to read as 
follows: 
‘‘SEC. 209. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
‘‘There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this title— 
‘‘(1) for fiscal year 2015, $82,984,000; 
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‘‘(2) for fiscal year 2016, $83,149,968; 
‘‘(3) for fiscal year 2017, $84,979,268; 
‘‘(4) for fiscal year 2018, $87,018,769; 
‘‘(5) for fiscal year 2019, $89,368,277; and 
‘‘(6) for fiscal year 2020, $90,708,801.’’. 
TITLE 
III—NATIONAL 
ASSESS-
MENT 
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 (a), by striking ‘‘shall formu-
late policy guidelines’’ and inserting ‘‘shall oversee 
and set policies, in a manner consistent with sub-
section (e) and accepted professional standards,’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)(1)(L)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘principals’’ and inserting 
‘‘leaders’’; and 
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100 
(B) by striking ‘‘principal’’ both places it 
appears and inserting ‘‘leader’’; 
(3) in subsection (c), by striking paragraph (4); 
(4) in subsection (d)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting 
‘‘the Assessment Board after consultation 
with’’ before ‘‘organizations’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (B)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘Each organiza-
tion submitting nominations to the 
Secretary with’’ and inserting ‘‘With’’; 
and 
(II) by inserting ‘‘, the Assessment 
Board’’ after ‘‘particular vacancy’’; 
and 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘that each organization 
described in paragraph (1)(A) submit addi-
tional nominations’’ and inserting ‘‘addi-
tional nominations from the Assessment 
Board or each organization described in 
paragraph (1)(A)’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘such organization’’ 
and inserting ‘‘the Assessment Board’’; and 
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101 
(5) in subsection (e)(1)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘in consultation with 
the Commissioner for Education Statistics,’’ 
before ‘‘select’’; 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘and grades or ages’’ 
before ‘‘to be’’; and 
(iii) by inserting ‘‘, and determine the 
year in which such assessments will be con-
ducted’’ after ‘‘assessed’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (D), by inserting 
‘‘school leaders,’’ after ‘‘teachers,’’; 
(C) in subparagraph (E), by striking ‘‘de-
sign’’ and inserting ‘‘provide input on’’; 
(D) by redesignating subparagraph (J) as 
subparagraph (K); 
(E) by inserting after subparagraph (I), the 
following: 
‘‘(J) provide input to the Director on an-
nual budget requests for the National Assessment 
of Educational Progress; and’’; 
(F) in subparagraph (K), as so redesig-
nated— 
(i) by striking ‘‘plan and execute the 
initial public release of’’; and 
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102 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘release the initial’’ 
before ‘‘National’’; and 
(G) in the matter following subparagraph 
(K), as so amended and redesignated, by striking 
‘‘subparagraph (J)’’ and inserting ‘‘subpara-
graph (K)’’. 
SEC. 
303. 
NATIONAL 
ASSESSMENT 
OF 
EDUCATIONAL 
PROGRESS. 
Section 303 (20 U.S.C. 9622) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘with the ad-
vice of the Assessment Board established under section 
302’’ and inserting ‘‘in a manner consistent with ac-
cepted professional standards and the policies set 
forth by the Assessment Board under section 302(a)’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)(2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (D), by inserting ‘‘and 
consistent with section 302(e)(1)(A)’’ after ‘‘re-
sources allow’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of sub-
paragraph (G); 
(C) by striking the period and inserting ‘‘; 
and’’ at the end of subparagraph (H); and 
(D) by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph: 
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103 
‘‘(I) determine, after taking into account 
section 302(e)(1)(I), the content of initial and 
subsequent reports of all assessments authorized 
under this section and ensure that such reports 
are valid and reliable.’’; 
(3) in subsection (c)(2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘of 
Education’’ after ‘‘Secretary’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (D)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘Chairman of the 
House’’ before ‘‘Committee on Education’’; 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘of the House of Rep-
resentatives’’ after ‘‘Workforce’’; 
(iii) by striking ‘‘Chairman of the Sen-
ate’’ before ‘‘Committee on Health’’; and 
(iv) by inserting ‘‘of the Senate’’ after 
‘‘Pensions’’; 
(4) in subsection (d)(1), by inserting before the 
period, the following: ‘‘, except as required under sec-
tion 1112(b)(1)(F) of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6312(b)(1)(F))’’; 
(5) in subsection (e)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘or age’’; 
and 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
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104 
(i) in subparagraph (A)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘shall’’ and all 
that follows through ‘‘be’’ and insert 
‘‘shall be’’; 
(II) by redesignating subclauses 
(I) and (II) as clauses (i) and (ii), re-
spectively (and by moving the margins 
2 ems to the left); and 
(III) in clause (ii) (as so redesig-
nated), by striking ‘‘, or the age of the 
students, as the case may be’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (B)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘After the deter-
minations described in subparagraph 
(A), devising’’ and inserting ‘‘The As-
sessment Board shall, in making the 
determination described in subpara-
graph (A), use’’; and 
(II) by inserting after ‘‘approach’’ 
the following: ‘‘, providing for the ac-
tive participation of teachers, school 
leaders, curriculum specialists, local 
school administrators, parents, and 
concerned members of the general pub-
lic’’; and 
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105 
(iii) in subparagraph (D), by inserting 
‘‘Assessment’’ before ‘‘Board’’; and 
(6) in subsection (g)(2)— 
(A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘AFFAIRS’’ 
and inserting ‘‘EDUCATION’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘Affairs’’ and inserting 
‘‘Education’’. 
SEC. 304. DEFINITIONS. 
Section 304 (20 U.S.C. 9623) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘(1)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘(1) DIRECTOR.—’’; 
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘(2)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘(2) STATE.—’’; and 
(3) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) (as 
so amended) as paragraphs (2) and (5), respectively; 
(4) by inserting before paragraph (2) (as so re-
designated) the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(1) 
IN
GENERAL.—The 
terms 
‘elementary 
school’, ‘local educational agency’, and ‘secondary 
school’ have the meanings given those terms in section 
9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).’’; and 
(5) by inserting after paragraph (2) (as so redes-
ignated), the following new paragraphs: 
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106 
‘‘(3) SCHOOL LEADER.—The term ‘school leader’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 102. 
‘‘(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘Secretary’ means 
the Secretary of Education.’’. 
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 appro-
priated— 
‘‘(1) for fiscal year 2015— 
‘‘(A) $8,235,000 to carry out section 302 
(relating to the National Assessment Governing 
Board); and 
‘‘(B) $132,000,000 to carry out section 303 
(relating to the National Assessment of Edu-
cational Progress); 
‘‘(2) for fiscal year 2016— 
‘‘(A) $8,251,470 to carry out section 302 
(relating to the National Assessment Governing 
Board); and 
‘‘(B) $132,264,000 to carry out section 303 
(relating to the National Assessment of Edu-
cational Progress); 
‘‘(3) for fiscal year 2017— 
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107 
‘‘(A) $8,433,002 to carry out section 302 
(relating to the National Assessment Governing 
Board); and 
‘‘(B) $135,173,808 to carry out section 303 
(relating to the National Assessment of Edu-
cational Progress); 
‘‘(4) for fiscal year 2018— 
‘‘(A) $8,635,395 to carry out section 302 
(relating to the National Assessment Governing 
Board); and 
‘‘(B) $138,417,979 to carry out section 303 
(relating to the National Assessment of Edu-
cational Progress); 
‘‘(5) for fiscal year 2019— 
‘‘(A) $8,868,550 to carry out section 302 
(relating to the National Assessment Governing 
Board); and 
‘‘(B) $142,155,266 to carry out section 303 
(relating to the National Assessment of Edu-
cational Progress); and 
‘‘(6) for fiscal year 2020— 
‘‘(A) $9,001,578 to carry out section 302 
(relating to the National Assessment Governing 
Board); and 
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‘‘(B) $144,287,595 to carry out section 303 
(relating to the National Assessment of Edu-
cational Progress).’’. 
TITLE IV—EVALUATION PLAN 
SEC. 401. RESEARCH AND EVALUATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Institute of Education Sciences 
shall be the primary entity for conducting research on and 
evaluations of Federal education programs within the De-
partment of Education to ensure the rigor and independ-
ence of such research and evaluation. 
(b) FLEXIBLE AUTHORITY.— 
(1) RESERVATION.—Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law in the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. et seq.) related to 
evaluation, the Secretary of Education, in consulta-
tion with the Director of the Institute of Education 
Sciences— 
(A) may, for purposes of carrying out the 
activities described in paragraph (2)(B)— 
(i) reserve not more than 0.5 percent of 
the total amount of funds appropriated for 
each program authorized under the Elemen-
tary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.), other than part A 
of title I of such Act (20 U.S.C. 6311 et 
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seq.) and section 1501 of such Act (20 
U.S.C. 6491); and 
(ii) reserve, in the manner described in 
subparagraph (B), an amount equal to not 
more than 0.1 percent of the total amount 
of funds appropriated for— 
(I) part A of title I of the Elemen-
tary and Secondary Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311 et seq.); and 
(II) section 1501 of such Act (20 
U.S.C. 6491); and 
(B) in reserving the amount described in 
subparagraph (A)(ii)— 
(i) shall reserve up to the total amount 
of funds appropriated for section 1501 of 
the Elementary and Secondary Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6491); and 
(ii) may, in a case in which the total 
amount of funds appropriated for such sec-
tion 1501 (20 U.S.C. 6491) is less than the 
amount described in subparagraph (A)(ii), 
reserve the amount of funds appropriated 
for part A of title I of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 6311 et seq.) that is needed for the 
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sum of the total amount of funds appro-
priated for such section 1501 (20 U.S.C. 
6491) and such amount of funds appro-
priated for such part A of title I (20 U.S.C. 
6311 et seq.) to equal the amount described 
in subparagraph (A)(ii). 
(2) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.—If funds are re-
served under paragraph (1)— 
(A) neither the Secretary of Education nor 
the Director of the Institute of Education 
Sciences shall— 
(i) carry out evaluations under section 
1501 of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6491); or 
(ii) reserve funds for evaluation activi-
ties under section 3111(c)(1)(C) of such Act 
(20 U.S.C. 6821); and 
(B) the Secretary of Education, in consulta-
tion with the Director of the Institute of Edu-
cation Sciences— 
(i) shall use the funds reserved under 
paragraph (1) to carry out high-quality 
evaluations (consistent with the require-
ments of section 173(a) of the Education 
Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (20 U.S.C. 
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9563(a)), as amended by this Act, and the 
evaluation plan described in subsection (c) 
of this section) of programs authorized 
under the Elementary and Secondary Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.); 
and 
(ii) may use the funds reserved under 
paragraph (1) to— 
(I) increase the usefulness of the 
evaluations conducted under clause (i) 
to promote continuous improvement of 
programs under the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 6301 et seq.); or 
(II) assist grantees of such pro-
grams in collecting and analyzing data 
and other activities related to con-
ducting high-quality evaluations under 
clause (i). 
(3) DISSEMINATION.—The Secretary of Edu-
cation or the Director of the Institute of Education 
Sciences shall disseminate evaluation findings, con-
sistent with section 114(j) of the Education Sciences 
Reform Act of 2002 (20 U.S.C. 9514(j)), as amended 
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by this Act, of evaluations carried out under para-
graph (2)(B)(i). 
(4) CONSOLIDATION.—The Secretary of Edu-
cation, in consultation with the Director of the Insti-
tute of Education Sciences— 
(A) may consolidate the funds reserved 
under paragraph (1) for purposes of carrying 
out the activities under paragraph (2)(B); and 
(B) shall not be required to evaluate under 
paragraph (2)(B)(i) each program authorized 
under the Elementary and Secondary Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) each year. 
(c) EVALUATION PLAN.—The Director of the Institute 
of Education Sciences, in consultation with the Secretary 
of Education, shall, on a biennial basis, develop, submit to 
Congress, and make publicly available an evaluation plan, 
that— 
(1) describes the specific activities that will be 
carried out under subsection (b)(2)(B) for the 2-year 
period applicable to the plan, and the timelines of 
such activities; and 
(2) contains the results of the activities carried 
out under subsection (b)(2)(B) for the most recent 2- 
year period. 
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(d) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section 
shall be construed to affect section 173(b) of the Education 
Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (20 U.S.C. 9563(b)), as 
amended by this Act. 
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Union Calendar No. 313 
113TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4366 
[Report No. 113–424] 
A BILL 
To strengthen the Federal education research sys-
tem to make research and evaluations more time-
ly and relevant to State and local needs in order 
to increase student achievement. 
APRIL 29, 2014 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 
and ordered to be printed 
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