(1) Historically, the United States has under- 
invested in education research and development de-
spite evidence that scientifically validated innova-
tions in teaching and learning can result in signifi-
cant improvements in student achievement and suc-
cess. 
(2) When understood as systematic innovation, 
research and development can spur education im-
provement in scalable and sustainable ways. 
(3) Education research and development should 
be part of a strategy for innovation and ongoing im-
provement within individual classrooms, schools, and 
other learning environments, as well as within spe-
cialized research and development units. 
(4) The active involvement of teachers, prin-
cipals, local educational agency administrators, and 
State school officers in knowledge and innovation ac-
tivities is essential to the effective application of re-
search-based knowledge to policy and practice. 
(5) More instructional activities and practices 
supported by scientifically valid research need to be 
developed to meet the current and expected demands 
of educators in schools. 
(6) National leadership is needed to provide 
targeted initiatives, collaboration, and coordination 
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of innovative best practices in teaching and learning 
to ensure that classroom educators have access to, 
and effectively use practices supported by, scientif-
ically valid research. 
SEC. 3. PURPOSES. 
The purposes of this Act are to promote and coordi-
nate the use of research-based knowledge to assess, accel-
erate, expand, and sustain innovation to increase student 
achievement. To assist the Federal Government in achiev-
ing this purpose, this Act does the following: 
(1) Establishes the National Center for Knowl-
edge Use within the Institute of Education Sciences 
to administer knowledge use and innovation pro-
grams that develop and bring to scale successful 
educational practices that are based on scientifically 
valid research. 
(2) Creates a Developing What Works Venture 
Fund for the fast development of scientifically valid 
research innovations to solve persistent problems of 
instructional practice in schools. 
(3) Establishes and supports a National Knowl-
edge Officer Program of Chief Knowledge Officers to 
help schools collect, translate, and apply the best 
available empirical evidence for solving problems of 
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instructional practice to increase student achieve-
ment. 
(4) Creates the National Leadership Office for 
Research to Innovation to strengthen coordination 
across the Department of Education and other Fed-
eral departments and agencies to ensure that edu-
cational practices, policies, and investments based on 
scientifically valid research are brought to scale. 
SEC. 4. NATIONAL CENTER FOR KNOWLEDGE USE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Education 
shall establish a National Center for Knowledge Use with-
in the Institute of Education Sciences. 
(b) COMMISSIONER.—The National Center for 
Knowledge Use shall be headed by a Commissioner who 
shall have a high level of expertise in the use of knowledge 
to foster innovation, including promoting the effective im-
plementation of the results of research in the classroom 
and managing large institutions or consortia that conduct 
a broad array of research applications. The Commissioner 
shall be appointed by, and report to, the Director of the 
Institute of Education Sciences. The Commissioner is au-
thorized— 
(1) to select, appoint, and employ such officers 
and employees as may be necessary to carry out the 
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functions of the National Center for Knowledge Use; 
and 
(2) to disseminate widely information on sci-
entifically valid research, statistics, and evaluation 
on education to State educational agencies, local 
educational agencies, institutions of higher edu-
cation, the public, the media, voluntary organiza-
tions, professional associations, and other constitu-
encies, especially with respect to information relating 
to— 
(A) reading, mathematics, science, and for-
eign languages; 
(B) closing the achievement gap between 
high-performing students and low-performing 
students; 
(C) educational practices that improve aca-
demic achievement and promote learning; and 
(D) education technology, including soft-
ware. 
(c) OVERALL MISSION.—The Commissioner of the 
National Center for Knowledge Use shall foster and sup-
port the use and application of scientifically valid research 
to develop and disseminate innovative practices and poli-
cies— 
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(1) 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; 
(2) to promote scientifically valid research find-
ings that can be applied to improve academic in-
struction and lifelong learning; and 
(3) to provide to educational institutions tech-
nical assistance related to paragraphs (1) and (2). 
(d) SPECIFIC DUTIES.—The Commissioner of the 
National Center for Knowledge Use— 
(1) shall carry out sections 5 and 6; 
(2) shall administer the regional educational 
laboratories; 
(3) shall administer the National Library of 
Education (established in section 172(d) of the Edu-
cation Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (20 U.S.C. 
9562(d)); and 
(4) shall administer the Educational Resources 
Information 
Center 
Clearinghouses 
(established 
under section 941(f) of the Educational Research, 
Development, Dissemination, and Improvement Act 
of 1994 (20 U.S.C. 6041(f)). 
(e) 
GRANTS, 
CONTRACTS, 
AND
COOPERATIVE 
AGREEMENTS.—The Commissioner of the National Cen-
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