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, dissemi-
nation, and evaluation. 
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 provi-
sion, the reference shall be considered to be made to a 
section or other provision of the Education Sciences Re-
form 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: 
‘‘(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 
methods 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 experi-
ment; 
‘‘(ii) use of data analyses that are 
adequate 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 
eliminate plausible competing explanations 
for observed results, such as, but not lim-
ited to, random-assignment experiments; 
‘‘(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 
generality 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 
leader’ means a principal, assistant principal, or 
other individual who is— 
‘‘(A) an employee or officer of— 
‘‘(i) an elementary school or sec-
ondary school; 
‘‘(ii) a local educational agency serv-
ing an elementary school or secondary 
school; or 
‘‘(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 
‘‘disability,’’ after ‘‘gender,’’. 
SEC. 112. FUNCTIONS. 
Section 112 (20 U.S.C. 9512) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘(including evaluations of 
impact and implementation)’’ after ‘‘education 
evaluation’’; and
(B) by inserting before the semicolon the 
following ‘‘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 
Educational Progress Authorization Act’’; 
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘Secretary 
may assign the Institute responsibility for admin-
istering’’ and inserting ‘‘Director may accept re-
quests from the Secretary for the Institute to admin-
ister’’; and 
(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 
provided 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 expiration of the Director’s term, or 
until a successor has been appointed under sub-
section (a), whichever occurs first’’; 
(B) by amending paragraph (2) to read as 
follows:
‘‘(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 ‘‘SUB-
SEQUENT
DIRECTORS’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘RECOMMENDATIONS’’; 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,’’;
(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 coordi-
nated with, and utilized by, the Department’s tech-
nical assistance providers and dissemination net-
works.’’; 
(G) by striking paragraphs (10) and (11); 
(H) by redesignating paragraph (12) as 
paragraph (10); 
(4) by redesignating subsection (h) as sub-
section (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 
investigated, for— 
‘‘(1) reviewing and evaluating each application 
for a grant or cooperative agreement under this title 
that exceeds $100,000; and
‘‘(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 in-
serting 
‘‘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 
knowledge 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 understand-
able, easily accessible, and usable, or 
adaptable for use in, the improvement of 
educational practice; and
(B) in paragraph (1)— 
(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 achieve-
ment 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 
secondary schools, particularly among low-per-
forming 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 as posting in an easily accessible manner on 
the Institute’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 Insti-
tute are relevant to education policy and 
practice by soliciting, on an ongoing 
basis,’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘consistent with’’ and 
inserting ‘‘consistent with section 114(j) 
and’’; 
(E) in paragraph (11)—
(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, eval-
uations, or development’’; 
(B) in paragraph (4)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A)— 
(I) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘, 
which may include those researchers
recommended by the National Acad-
emy 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 in-
clude school based professional educators, 
teachers, school leaders, local educational 
agency superintendents, 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 
superintend-
ents,’’; 
(cc) 
by 
striking 
‘‘prin-
cipals,’’; 
(dd) by striking ‘‘or local’’; 
and
(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 
paragraph (1), whichever occurs first.’’; 
(iii) by striking subparagraph (C); 
and
(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 fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(G) SUBCOMMITTEES.—The Board may 
establish standing or temporary subcommittees
to make recommendations to the Board for car-
rying out activities authorized under this title.’’; 
(3) by striking subsection (d); 
(4) by redesignating subsection (e) as sub-
section (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 
described 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 manage-
ment system described in section 185; and
‘‘(ii) is conducted by an independent 
entity; 
‘‘(B) a review of the Institute to ensure its 
work, consistent with the requirements of sec-
tion 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 
Centers to carry out their priorities and mis-
sions; and 
‘‘(D) a summary of the major research 
findings of the Institute and the activities car-
ried out under section 113(b) during the 3 pre-
ceding 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 de-
scribed 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 
Education 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); 
(3) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as 
subsections (b) and (c), respectively; and 
(4) in subsection (c), as so redesignated, by 
striking ‘‘, except the Commissioner for Education 
Statistics,’’. 
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, 
contract, or cooperative agreement under this title in ex-
cess of $100,000, the Director shall make publicly avail-
able (including through electronic means such as posting 
in an easily accessible manner on the Institute’s website) 
a description of the grant, contract, or cooperative agree-
ment, including, at a minimum, the amount, duration, re-
cipient, and the purpose of the grant, contract, or coopera-
tive agreement.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of con-
tents 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 fol-
lowing: 
‘‘Sec. 119. Transparency.’’.
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 under-
standing 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 
disseminate 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)—
(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 pro-
grams carried out by the Department and other 
agencies’’ before ‘‘within the Federal Govern-
ment’’; 
(G) in paragraph (5), as so redesignated, 
by striking ‘‘disseminate, through the National 
Center for Education Evaluation and Regional 
Assistance,’’ 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)’’; 
(I) in paragraph (7), as so redesignated, 
by inserting ‘‘and which may include research 
on social and emotional learning,’’ after ‘‘gap,’’; 
(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 provoke relevant follow up questions, carry out 
research initiatives on such follow up questions;’’; 
(K) by redesignating paragraphs (10) and 
(11) as paragraphs (9) and (10), respectively; 
(L) by amending paragraph (9), as so re-
designated, to read as follows: 
‘‘(9) carry out research initiatives, including 
rigorous, peer-reviewed, large-scale, long-term, and 
broadly applicable empirical research, regarding the 
impact of technology on education, including online 
education and hybrid learning;’’; 
(M) in paragraph (10), as so redesignated, 
by striking the period and inserting ‘‘; and’’; 
and 
(N) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(11) to the extent feasible, carry out research 
on the quality of implementation of practices and 
strategies determined to be effective through sci-
entifically valid research.’’; 
(2) by amending subsection (b) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(b) PLAN.—The Research Commissioner shall pro-
pose 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 mis-
sion of the Institute and the mission of the Research 
Center described in section 131(b), and includes the 
activities described in subsection (a); 
‘‘(2) is carried out and, as appropriate, updated 
and modified, including through the use of the re-
sults of the Research Center’s most recent evalua-
tion report under section 116(d); 
‘‘(3) describes how the Research Center will use 
the performance management system described in 
section 185 to assess and improve the activities of 
the Center; 
‘‘(4) meets the procedures for peer review es-
tablished and maintained by the Director under sec-
tion 114(f)(5) and the standards of research de-
scribed in section 134; and 
‘‘(5) includes both basic research and applied 
research, which shall include research conducted 
through field-initiated research and ongoing research 
initiatives.’’; 
(3) by redesignating subsection (c) as sub-
section (d); 
(4) by inserting after subsection (b), as so 
amended, the following: 
‘‘(c) GRANTS, CONTRACTS, 
AND
COOPERATIVE 
AGREEMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Research Commis-
sioner may award grants to, or enter into contracts 
or cooperative 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 
manner, and containing such information as the 
Research Commissioner may require. 
‘‘(B) CONTENT.—An application submitted 
under subparagraph (A) shall describe how the 
eligible applicant will address and demonstrate 
progress on the requirements of the perform-
ance management system described in section 
185, with respect to the activities that will be 
carried out under the grant, contract, or coop-
erative 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 cen-
ters that address topics of importance and relevance 
in the field of education across the country and are 
consistent with the Institute’s priorities under sec-
tion 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— 
(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 in-
serting ‘‘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, 
research 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)— 
(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 sub-
section (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— 
(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 
completion rates, including the four-year ad-
justed cohort graduation rate (as defined in sec-
tion 200.19(b)(1)(i)(A) of title 34, Code of Fed-
eral Regulations, as such section was in effect 
on November 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 ef-
fect on November 28, 2008), and school drop-
out 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-
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 sus-
pensions and expulsions’’ before ‘‘, includ-
ing 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 
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 stat-
utory authority to provide assistance on appli-
cable 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 
collections protect student privacy consistent 
with section 183’’; 
(H) by amending paragraph (8) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(8) assisting the Board in the preparation and 
dissemination of each evaluation report under sec-
tion 116(d); and’’; and 
(I) by striking paragraph (9); 
(2) by redesignating subsection (b) as sub-
section (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 
Director, implement a plan for activities of the Statistics 
Center that— 
‘‘(1) is consistent with the priorities and mis-
sion of the Institute and the mission of the Statistics 
Center described in section 151(b);
‘‘(2) is carried out and, as appropriate, updated 
and modified, including through the use of the re-
sults 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 
section 185 to assess and improve the activities of 
the Center.’’. 
SEC. 153. PERFORMANCE OF DUTIES. 
Section 154 (20 U.S.C. 9544) is amended— 
(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 sec-
tion, the term ‘eligible applicant’ means an applicant 
that has the ability and capacity to carry out activi-
ties 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 Sta-
tistics Commissioner at such time, in such man-
ner, and containing such information as the 
Statistics Commissioner may require. 
‘‘(B) CONTENTS.—An application sub-
mitted under subparagraph (A) shall describe 
how the eligible applicant will address and dem-
onstrate 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.’’; 
(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 
section 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 
inserting ‘‘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 
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 confidentiality of the data consistent with 
the requirements 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 fol-
lowing: ‘‘Before receiving access to data 
under this paragraph, an interested party 
shall describe to the Statistics Center the 
specific research intent for use of the data,
how access to the data may meet such re-
search intent, and how the party will pro-
tect the confidentiality of the data con-
sistent with the requirements of section 
183.’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) DENIAL AUTHORITY.—The Statistics Cen-
ter shall have the authority to deny any requests for 
access to data under paragraph (1) or (2) for any 
scientific deficiencies in the proposed research design 
or research intent for use of the data, or if the re-
quest 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 es-
tablished under this section, nor shall such partner-
ships establish a national student data system.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of con-
tents 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 157 and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘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 fol-
lows through ‘‘science)’’ and inserting ‘‘and to 
evaluate 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)— 
(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 prior-
ities described in section 115;’’;
(B) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘, con-
sistent with section 114(j)’’ after ‘‘timely, and 
efficient 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)— 
(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 
activities of the National Center for Education Evaluation 
and Regional Assistance that— 
‘‘(1) is consistent with the priorities and mis-
sion of the Institute and the mission of the Center 
described in section 171(b); 
‘‘(2) is carried out and, as appropriate, updated 
and modified, including through the use of the re-
sults 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 Cen-
ter. 
‘‘(d) GRANTS, CONTRACTS, 
AND
COOPERATIVE 
AGREEMENTS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the duties 
under this part, the Evaluation and Regional Assist-
ance Commissioner may— 
‘‘(A) award grants, contracts, or coopera-
tive agreements to eligible applicants to carry 
out the activities under this part; and 
‘‘(B) provide technical assistance. 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBILITY.—For purposes of this sec-
tion, the term ‘eligible applicant’ means an applicant 
that has the ability and capacity to carry out activi-
ties under this part. 
‘‘(3) ENTITIES TO CONDUCT EVALUATIONS.—In 
awarding grants, contracts, or cooperative agree-
ments under paragraph (1) to carry out activities 
under section 173, the Evaluation and Regional As-
sistance Commissioner shall make such awards to el-
igible applicants with the ability and capacity to con-
duct scientifically valid education evaluations. 
‘‘(4) APPLICATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—An eligible applicant 
that wishes to receive a grant, contract, or co-
operative agreement under paragraph (1) shall 
submit an application to the Evaluation and 
Regional Assistance Commissioner at such time,
in such manner, and containing such informa-
tion as the Commissioner may require. 
‘‘(B) CONTENTS.—An application sub-
mitted under subparagraph (A) shall describe 
how the eligible applicant will address and dem-
onstrate progress on the requirements of the 
performance management system described in 
section 185, with respect to the activities car-
ried out under such grant, contract, or coopera-
tive 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 
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 
requirements of the performance management sys-
tem described in section 185, with respect to the ac-
tivities carried out under the grant, contract, or co-
operative 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’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘evaluations’’ and inserting ‘‘high-quality 
evaluations, including impact evaluations 
that use rigorous methodologies that per-
mit the strongest possible causal infer-
ences,’’; 
(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 subparagraphs (E) and 
(G), and redesignating subparagraph (F) 
as subparagraph (D); 
(vi) in subparagraph (D), as so redes-
ignated, by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; and 
(vii) by inserting after subparagraph 
(D), as so redesignated, the following: 
‘‘(E) provide evaluation findings in an un-
derstandable, easily accessible, and usable for-
mat to support program improvement; 
‘‘(F) support the evaluation activities de-
scribed in section 401 of the Strengthening 
Education through Research Act that are car-
ried about by the Director; and 
‘‘(G) to the extent feasible— 
‘‘(i) examine evaluations conducted or 
supported by others to determine the qual-
ity and relevance of the evidence of effec-
tiveness generated by those evaluations, 
with the approval 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 improve-
ment 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 De-
partment; and 
‘‘(v) synthesize the results of evalua-
tion studies for and across Federal edu-
cation programs, policies, and practices.’’; 
and 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(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 
agreements’’. 
SEC. 174. REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL LABORATORIES FOR 
RESEARCH, 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 
(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 sec-
tion with research organizations, institutions, 
agencies, institutions of higher education,’’ and 
inserting ‘‘grants, contracts, or cooperative 
agreements under this section with public or 
private, nonprofit or for-profit research organi-
zations, 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 sec-
tion, the term ‘eligible applicant’ means an entity 
described in paragraph (1).’’; 
(4) by striking subsections (d) through (j) and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(d) APPLICATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) SUBMISSION.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Each eligible appli-
cant desiring a contract grant, contract, or co-
operative agreement under this section shall
submit an application at such time, in such 
manner, and containing such information as the 
Evaluation and Regional Assistance Commis-
sioner 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 eligi-
ble 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 indi-
viduals 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, 
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 
subparagraph (A) shall address— 
‘‘(i) the priorities for applied research, 
development, evaluations, and wide dis-
semination 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 
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, includ-
ing— 
‘‘(i) through using the results of the 
laboratory’s interim evaluation under sub-
section (i)(3) to improve and modify the 
activities of the laboratory before the end 
of the award period; and 
‘‘(ii) through sharing preliminary re-
sults of the laboratory’s research, as ap-
propriate, to increase the relevance and 
usefulness 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 
Department, the Director, and the National 
Board for Education Sciences; 
‘‘(B) ensure, where appropriate, that the 
activities of each regional educational laboratory 
established under this section also serve na-
tional interests; 
‘‘(C) ensure each such regional educational 
laboratory 
establishes 
strong 
partnerships 
among practitioners, policymakers, researchers, 
and others, so that such partnerships are con-
tinued 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 
laboratory.
‘‘(3) COLLABORATION WITH TECHNICAL ASSIST-
ANCE PROVIDERS.—Each regional educational lab-
oratory established under this section shall, on an 
ongoing basis, coordinate its activities, collaborate, 
and regularly exchange information with the com-
prehensive centers (established in section 203) in the 
region in which the center is located, and with com-
prehensive centers located outside of its region, as 
appropriate. 
‘‘(4) OUTREACH.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—In conducting com-
petitions for grants, contracts, or cooperative 
agreements under this section, the Evaluation 
and Regional 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 execu-
tive officers of States, chief State school 
officers, educators, parents, superintend-
ents, 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 
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 Commis-
sioner awards a grant, contract, or cooperative 
agreement under this section, the Director shall es-
tablish measurable performance indicators for as-
sessing the ongoing progress and performance of the 
regional educational 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 
assessments under section 206(e).
priate, schools funded by the Bureau to carry out 
the activities described in paragraphs (1) and (2). 
‘‘(g) ACTIVITIES.—To carry out the mission de-
scribed in subsection (f), each regional educational labora-
tory established under this section shall carry out the fol-
lowing activities: 
‘‘(1) Conduct, widely disseminate, and promote 
utilization of applied research, development activi-
ties, evaluations, and other scientifically valid re-
search. 
‘‘(2) Develop and improve the plan for the lab-
oratory under subsection (d)(2) for serving the re-
gion of the laboratory, and as appropriate, national 
needs, on an ongoing basis, which shall include seek-
ing input and incorporating feedback from the rep-
resentatives of State educational agencies and local 
educational agencies in the region, and other individ-
uals with knowledge of the region’s needs. Such rep-
resentatives and other individuals may include mem-
bers of the regional advisory committee for the re-
gion established under section 206(a). 
‘‘(3) Ensure research and related products are 
relevant and responsive to the needs of the region, 
including by using the relevant results of the re-
gion’s assessment under section 206(e).
‘‘(h) GOVERNING BOARD.— 
‘‘(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 
educational laboratories established under this 
section in carrying out the full range of duties 
described 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 
under this section is evaluated by an independent 
entity at the end of the period of the grant, contract, 
or cooperative agreement that established such lab-
oratory, which shall— 
‘‘(A) be completed in a timely fashion; 
‘‘(B) assess how well the laboratory is 
meeting the measurable performance indicators 
established under subsection (e)(5); and 
‘‘(C) consider the extent to which the lab-
oratory ensures that the activities of such lab-
oratory 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 agree-
ment 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.— 
‘‘(1) CONTINUATION OF AWARDS.—The Evalua-
tion and Regional Assistance Commissioner shall 
continue awards made to each eligible applicant for 
the support of regional educational laboratories es-
tablished under this section prior to the date of en-
actment of the Strengthening Education through 
Research Act, as such awards were in effect on the 
day before the date of enactment of the Strength-
ening Education through Research Act, for the du-
ration 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 Com-
missioner 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 
eligible applicant that held an award described 
in paragraph (1) for an award under subpara-
graph (A) of this paragraph, consider the re-
sults of the summative evaluation under sub-
section (i)(2) of the laboratory established with 
the eligible applicant’s award described in para-
graph (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 
annual 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 labora-
tory assisted during the previous year. 
‘‘(3) Using the measurable performance indica-
tors established under subsection (e)(5), a descrip-
tion of how well the laboratory is meeting edu-
cational needs of the region served by the laboratory. 
‘‘(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 Evalua-
tion 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 Bu-
reau which are located in rural areas).’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of con-
tents 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 fol-
lowing: 
‘‘Sec. 174. Regional educational laboratories for research, development, dissemi-
nation, 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 chil-
dren’’ and inserting ‘‘children, and youth’’; 
(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 
respect to special education research and evaluation 
described in paragraphs (1) through (3); and 
‘‘(5) to promote scientifically valid research 
findings 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’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘scientif-
ically based educational practices’’ and inserting 
‘‘educational practices, including the use of 
technology based on scientifically valid re-
search,’’; 
(C) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘based’’ 
and inserting ‘‘valid’’; 
(D) in paragraph (10), by inserting before 
the semicolon the following: ‘‘, including how 
secondary school credentials are related to post-
secondary 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 post-
secondary career and technical education pro-
grams;’’;
(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’’; 
(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 sec-
tion 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 dis-
abilities who are English learners, gifted and tal-
ented, 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’’; 
(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, up-
dated and modified, including by using the results of 
the Special Education Research Center’s most recent 
evaluation 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 sig-
nificant questions of practice where such research is 
lacking;’’; 
(G) in paragraph (5), as so redesignated, 
by striking ‘‘and types of children with’’ and in-
how the eligible applicant will address and dem-
onstrate 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 
(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 
additional period of not more than 2 years if the re-
cipient 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 con-
ducted 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; 
‘‘(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)— 
(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 in-
formation with respect to individual schools not 
reveal such individually identifiable informa-
tion’’; 
(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 ac-
cessible 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 
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 feed-
back 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 infor-
mation, 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 
before publication’’ and inserting ‘‘publications under this 
section before the public release of such publications’’. 
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 con-
tents 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 ap-
propriated 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; 
‘‘(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 Sta-
tistics, 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 provi-
sion, the reference shall be considered to be made to a 
section or other provision of the Educational Technical As-
sistance 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 lead-
er’ 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 cen-
ters. 
‘‘(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 seq.) and other Federal education laws, and re-
search-based practices. 
‘‘(3) REGIONS.—In awarding grants, contracts, 
or cooperative agreements under paragraph (1), the 
Secretary— 
‘‘(A) shall establish at least one com-
prehensive center for each of the 10 geographic 
regions served by the regional educational lab-
oratories established under section 941(h) of 
the Educational Research, Development, Dis-
semination, 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 
committees 
established 
under 
section 
206(a). 
‘‘(4) NATION.—In the case of a comprehensive 
center established to serve the Nation as described 
in paragraph (3)(B)(ii), the Nation shall be consid-
ered to be a region served by such Center. 
‘‘(5) AWARD PERIOD.—A grant, contract, or co-
operative agreement under this section may be 
awarded, on a competitive basis, for a period of not 
more than 5 years. 
‘‘(6) RESPONSIVENESS.—The Secretary shall 
ensure 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 coop-
erative 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,’’; 
(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 com-
petitions for grants, contracts, or cooperative 
agreements 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 
officers of States, chief State school offi-
cers, 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 
‘‘(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 agree-
ment under this section, the Secretary shall establish 
measurable performance indicators to be used to as-
sess the ongoing progress and performance of the 
comprehensive centers to be established under this 
title that address—
‘‘(A) paragraphs (1) through (3) of the 
performance management system described in 
section 185; and 
‘‘(B) the relevant results of the regional 
assessments 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 
applicant that previously established a comprehen-
sive center under this section, the Secretary shall 
consider the results of such center’s summative eval-
uation under section 204(b). 
‘‘(5) CONTINUATION OF AWARDS.— 
‘‘(A) CONTINUATION
OF
AWARDS.—The 
Secretary shall continue awards made to each 
eligible applicant for the support of comprehen-
sive centers established under this section prior 
to the date of enactment of the Strengthening 
Education through Research Act, as such 
awards were in effect on the day before the 
date of enactment of the Strengthening Edu-
cation 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 
subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(i) hold a competition to make 
grants, contracts, or cooperative agree-
ments under this section to eligible appli-
cants, which may include eligible appli-
cants that held awards described in sub-
paragraph (A); and 
‘‘(ii) in determining whether to select 
an eligible applicant that held an award 
described in subparagraph (A) for an 
award under clause (i) of this subpara-
graph, 
consider 
the 
results 
of 
the 
summative evaluation under section 204(b) 
of the center established with the eligible 
applicant’s award described in subpara-
graph (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 appli-
cant seeking a grant, contract, or cooperative 
agreement under this section shall submit an 
application at such time, in such manner, and 
containing such additional information as the 
Secretary 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 eligi-
ble 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 indi-
viduals 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, 
modified, and improved, as appropriate, on an 
ongoing basis, including by using the results of
the center’s interim evaluation under section 
204(c). 
‘‘(B) CONTENTS.—A plan described in 
subparagraph (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 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 es-
tablished 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; 
(iii) in subparagraph (A)(ii)— 
(I) in the matter preceding sub-
clause (I), by striking ‘‘and assess-
ment tools’’ and inserting ‘‘, assess-
ment 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 meth-
ods that have an evidence base of effective-
ness; and’’; 
(v) in subparagraph (B)— 
(I) by inserting ‘‘, consistent with 
section 
114(j),’’ 
after 
‘‘dissemi-
nating’’; and 
(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 
located,’’; 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 
establish an advisory board to support and monitor the 
priorities and activities of such center. An advisory board 
established under this subsection shall coordinate and 
align its work with the work of the regional advisory com-
mittee of the region served by such center established 
under section 206. 
‘‘(g) REPORT
TO
THE SECRETARY.—Each com-
prehensive center established under this section shall sub-
mit to the Secretary an annual report, at such time, in 
such manner, and containing such information as the Sec-
retary may require, 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 descrip-
tion 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 
subsection (c)(2) to improve its activities in the re-
maining years of the grant, contract, or cooperative 
agreement.’’. 
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— 
‘‘(1) provide for ongoing summative and interim 
evaluations described in subsections (b) and (c), re-
spectively, of each of the comprehensive centers es-
tablished 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 period 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, contract, or cooperative agreement that established 
such center, 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 con-
tents 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), 
respectively; 
(3) by inserting the following after subsection 
(a): 
‘‘(b) MISSION.—The mission of each regional advi-
sory committee established under subsection (a) shall be 
to— 
‘‘(1) support, strengthen, and, as appropriate, 
align the work of the regional educational labora-
tories established under section 174 and the com-
prehensive centers established under this title; and
‘‘(2) ensure that the regional educational lab-
oratories 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 serv-
ing the region of the committee are responsive to the 
needs of such region, provide ongoing input to the 
laboratory and centers on planning and carrying out 
their activities under section 174 and this title, re-
spectively; 
‘‘(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 
regional advisory committee shall— 
‘‘(A) not exceed 25 members; 
‘‘(B) include the chief State school officer, 
or such officer’s designee, or other State offi-
cial, of States within the region of the com-
mittee who have primary responsibility under 
State law for elementary and secondary edu-
cation in the State; 
‘‘(C) include representatives of local edu-
cational agencies, including rural and urban 
local educational agencies, that represent the 
geographic diversity of the region; and 
‘‘(D) include researchers. 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBILITY.—The membership of each 
regional advisory committee may include the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(A) Representatives of institutions of 
higher education. 
‘‘(B) Parents. 
‘‘(C) Practicing educators, including class-
room teachers, school leaders, administrators, 
school board members, and other local school 
officials.
‘‘(D) Representatives of business. 
‘‘(E) Policymakers. 
‘‘(F) Representatives from the regional 
educational laboratory and comprehensive cen-
ters 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 
members on each committee who are selected under 
subparagraphs (B) and (C) of paragraph (1), in the 
aggregate, 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, par-
ents, 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 sec-
tion 203’’; and 
(iii) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(C) by redesignating paragraph (3) as 
paragraph (4); 
(D) by inserting after paragraph (2) the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(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 ac-
count’’ and inserting ‘‘, respectively, using the re-
sults 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 Indi-
viduals 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 capac-
ity of local educational agencies to carry out the 
activities 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 award-
ing a grant under this section, the Secretary shall estab-
lish measurable performance indicators— 
‘‘(1) to be used to assess the ongoing progress 
and performance of State educational agencies re-
ceiving a grant under this section; and 
‘‘(2) that address paragraphs (1) through (3) of 
the performance management system described in 
section 185.’’; 
(4) in subsection (d), as so redesignated— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘, pro-
motes linkages across States,’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(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 
achievement gaps, and improve teaching;’’; 
(iii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘and close achievement gaps’’ and by in-
serting ‘‘, close achievement gaps, and im-
prove 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 prepa-
ration programs), and the workforce, consistent 
with privacy protections under section 183;’’; 
and 
(C) by striking paragraph (3) and insert-
ing 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 
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 receiv-
ing a grant under this section support professional 
development 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.’’; 
(5) by inserting after subsection (e), as so re-
designated, 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 measurable 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 
implementation 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 
‘‘(C) how the State educational agencies 
are adhering to Federal privacy laws and pro-
tections 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 imple-
mentation 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; 
‘‘(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
100 
of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provi-
sion, 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 
(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
101 
Secretary with’’ and inserting ‘‘With’’; 
and 
(II) by inserting ‘‘, the Assess-
ment Board’’ after ‘‘particular va-
cancy’’; 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 
(5) in subsection (e)(1)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘in consultation with 
the Commissioner for Education Statis-
tics,’’ 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 
conducted’’ after ‘‘assessed’’;
102 
(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 striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of sub-
paragraph (I); 
(E) by redesignating subparagraph (J) as 
subparagraph (K); 
(F) by inserting after subparagraph (I), 
the following: 
‘‘(J) provide input to the Director on an-
nual budget requests for the National Assess-
ment of Educational Progress; and’’; 
(G) in subparagraph (K), as so redesig-
nated— 
(i) by striking ‘‘plan and execute the 
initial public release of’’; and 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘release the initial’’ 
before ‘‘National’’; and 
(H) in the matter following subparagraph 
(K), as so amended and redesignated, by strik-
ing ‘‘subparagraph (J)’’ and inserting ‘‘sub-
paragraph (K)’’.
103 
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 sec-
tion 302’’ and inserting ‘‘in a manner consistent 
with accepted 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 ‘‘resources 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: 
‘‘(I) determine, after taking into account 
section 302(e)(1)(I), the content of initial and 
subsequent reports of all assessments author-
ized under this section and ensure that such re-
ports are valid and reliable.’’; 
(3) in subsection (c)(2)—