163 
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); 
(v) by redesignating subparagraph (D) 
as subparagraph (C); 
(vi) by striking subparagraphs (E) and 
(G); 
(vii) by redesignating subparagraph 
(F) as subparagraph (D); 
(viii) in subparagraph (D), as redesig-
nated by clause (vii), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; and 
(ix) by inserting after subparagraph 
(D), as redesignated by clause (vii), the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(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-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:57 Nov 17, 2014
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00163
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H4366.RS
H4366
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
164 
cation through Research Act that are carried out 
by the Director; and 
‘‘(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)— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:57 Nov 17, 2014
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00164
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H4366.RS
H4366
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
165 
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(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 ‘‘The Director’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘Except as provided in subsection (e)(8), the 
Evaluation and Regional Assistance Commis-
sioner’’; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:57 Nov 17, 2014
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00165
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H4366.RS
H4366
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
166 
(B) by striking ‘‘contracts’’ and inserting 
‘‘grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements’’; 
(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: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:57 Nov 17, 2014
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00166
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H4366.RS
H4366
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
167 
‘‘(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. 
‘‘(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, 
as appropriate, on an ongoing basis, including 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:57 Nov 17, 2014
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00167
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H4366.RS
H4366
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
168 
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; 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 
of the regional educational laboratories to be estab-
lished under this section. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:57 Nov 17, 2014
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00168
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H4366.RS
H4366
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS