(18) 
SCIENTIFICALLY
BASED
RESEARCH
STANDARDS.—(A) The term ‘‘scientifically based re-
search standards’’ means research standards that—
(i) apply rigorous, systematic, and objec-
tive methodology to obtain reliable and valid
knowledge relevant to education activities and
programs; and
(ii) present findings and make claims that
are appropriate to and supported by the meth-
ods that have been employed.
(B) The term includes, appropriate to the re-
search being conducted—
(i) employing systematic, empirical meth-
ods that draw on observation or experiment;
(ii) involving data analyses that are ade-
quate to support the general findings;
(iii) relying on measurements or observa-
tional methods that provide reliable data;
(iv) making claims of causal relationships
only in random assignment experiments or
other designs (to the extent such designs sub-
stantially eliminate plausible competing expla-
nations for the obtained results);
(v) ensuring that studies and methods are
presented 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) obtaining acceptance by a peer-re-
viewed journal or approval by a panel of inde-
pendent experts through a comparably rigorous,
objective, and scientific review; and
(vii) using research designs and methods
appropriate to the research question posed.
(19) SCIENTIFICALLY VALID EDUCATION EVAL-
UATION.—The term ‘‘scientifically valid education
evaluation’’ means an evaluation that—
(A) adheres to the highest possible stand-
ards of quality with respect to research design
and statistical analysis;
(B) provides an adequate description of the
programs evaluated and, to the extent possible,
examines the relationship between program im-
plementation and program impacts;
(C) provides an analysis of the results
achieved by the program with respect to its pro-
jected effects;
(D) employs experimental designs using
random assignment, when feasible, and other
research methodologies that allow for the
strongest possible causal inferences when ran-
dom assignment is not feasible; and
(E) may study program implementation
through a combination of scientifically valid and
reliable methods.
(20) SCIENTIFICALLY VALID RESEARCH.—The
term ‘‘scientifically valid research’’ includes applied
research, basic research, and field-initiated research
in which the rationale, design, and interpretation are
soundly developed in accordance with scientifically
based research standards.
(21) 
SECRETARY.—The 
term 
‘‘Secretary’’
means the Secretary of Education.
(22) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ includes (ex-
cept as provided in section 158) each of the 50
States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico, the freely associated states, and the
outlying areas.
(23) 
TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE.—The 
term
‘‘technical assistance’’ means—
(A) assistance in identifying, selecting, or
designing solutions based on research, including
professional development and high-quality train-
ing to implement solutions leading to—
(i) improved educational and other
practices and classroom instruction based
on scientifically valid research; and
(ii) improved planning, design, and
administration of programs;
(B) assistance in interpreting, analyzing,
and utilizing statistics and evaluations; and
(C) other assistance necessary to encour-
age the improvement of teaching and learning
through the applications of techniques sup-
ported by scientifically valid research.
PART A—THE INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION
SCIENCES
SEC. 111. ESTABLISHMENT.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There shall be in the Depart-
ment the Institute of Education Sciences, to be adminis-
tered by a Director (as described in section 114) and, to
the extent set forth in section 116, a board of directors.
(b) MISSION.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The mission of the Institute
is to provide national leadership in expanding funda-
mental knowledge and understanding of education
from early childhood through postsecondary study,
in order to provide parents, educators, students, re-
searchers, policymakers, and the general public with
reliable information about—
(A) the condition and progress of edu-
cation in the United States, including early
childhood education;
(B) educational practices that support
learning and improve academic achievement and
access to educational opportunities for all stu-
dents; and
(C) the effectiveness of Federal and other
education programs.
(2) CARRYING OUT MISSION.—In carrying out
the mission described in paragraph (1), the Institute
shall compile statistics, develop products, and con-
duct research, evaluations, and wide dissemination
activities in areas of demonstrated national need (in-
cluding in technology areas) that are supported by
Federal funds appropriated to the Institute and en-
sure that such activities—
(A) conform to high standards of quality,
integrity, and accuracy; and
(B) are objective, secular, neutral, and
nonideological and are free of partisan political
influence and racial, cultural, gender, or re-
gional bias.
(c) ORGANIZATION.—The Institute shall consist of
the following:
(1) The Office of the Director (as described in
section 114).
(2) The National Board for Education Sciences
(as described in section 116).
(3) The National Education Centers, which
include—
(A) the National Center for Education Re-
search (as described in part B);
(B) the National Center for Education
Statistics (as described in part C); and
(C) the National Center for Education
Evaluation and Regional Assistance (as de-
scribed in part D).
SEC. 112. FUNCTIONS.
From funds appropriated under section 194, the In-
stitute, directly or through grants, contracts, or coopera-
tive agreements, shall—
(1) conduct and support scientifically valid re-
search activities, including basic research and ap-
plied research, statistics activities, scientifically valid
education evaluation, development, and wide dissemi-
nation;
(2) widely disseminate the findings and results
of scientifically valid research in education;
(3) promote the use, development, and applica-
tion of knowledge gained from scientifically valid re-
search activities;
(4) strengthen the national capacity to conduct,
develop, and widely disseminate scientifically valid
research in education;
(5) promote the coordination, development, and
dissemination of scientifically valid research in edu-
cation within the Department and the Federal Gov-
ernment; and
(6) promote the use and application of research
and development to improve practice in the class-
room.
SEC. 113. DELEGATION.
(a) DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY.—Notwithstanding
section 412 of the Department of Education Organization
Act (20 U.S.C. 3472), the Secretary shall delegate to the
Director all functions for carrying out this title (other
than administrative and support functions), except that—
(1) nothing in this title or in the National As-
sessment of Educational Progress Authorization Act
(except section 302(e)(1)(J) of such Act) shall be
construed to alter or diminish the role, responsibil-
ities, or authority of the National Assessment Gov-
erning Board with respect to the National Assess-
ment of Educational Progress (including with re-
spect to the methodologies of the National Assess-
ment of Educational Progress described in section
302(e)(1)(E)) from those authorized by the National
Education Statistics Act of 1994 (20 U.S.C. 9001 et
seq.) on the day before the date of enactment of this
Act;
(2) members of the National Assessment Gov-
erning Board shall continue to be appointed by the
Secretary;
(3) section 302(f)(1) of the National Assess-
ment of Educational Progress Authorization Act
shall apply to the National Assessment Governing
Board in the exercise of its responsibilities under
this Act;
(4) sections 115 and 116 shall not apply to the
National Assessment of Educational Progress; and
(5) sections 115 and 116 shall not apply to the
National Assessment Governing Board.
(b) OTHER ACTIVITIES.—The Secretary may assign
the Institute responsibility for administering other activi-
ties, if those activities are consistent with—
(1) the Institute’s priorities, as approved by the
National Board for Education Sciences under sec-
tion 116, and the Institute’s mission, as described in
section 111(b); or
(2) the Institute’s mission, but only if those ac-
tivities do not divert the Institute from its priorities.
SEC. 114. OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR.
(a) APPOINTMENT.—Except as provided in sub-
section (b)(2), the President, by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate, shall appoint the Director of the
Institute.
(b) TERM.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall serve for
a term of 6 years, beginning on the date of appoint-
ment of the Director.
(2) FIRST DIRECTOR.—The President, without
the advice and consent of the Senate, may appoint
the Assistant Secretary for the Office of Educational
Research and Improvement (as such office existed
on the day before the date of enactment of this Act)
to serve as the first Director of the Institute.
(3) SUBSEQUENT DIRECTORS.—The Board may
make recommendations to the President with respect
to the appointment of a Director under subsection
(a), other than a Director appointed under para-
graph (2).
(c) PAY.—The Director shall receive the rate of basic
pay for level II of the Executive Schedule.
(d) QUALIFICATIONS.—The Director shall be selected
from individuals who are highly qualified authorities in the
fields of scientifically valid research, statistics, or evalua-
tion in education, as well as management within such
areas, and have a demonstrated capacity for sustained
productivity and leadership in these areas.
(e) ADMINISTRATION.—The Director shall—
(1) administer, oversee, and coordinate the ac-
tivities carried out under the Institute, including the
activities of the National Education Centers; and
(2) coordinate and approve budgets and oper-
ating plans for each of the National Education Cen-
ters for submission to the Secretary.
(f) DUTIES.—The duties of the Director shall include
the following:
(1) To propose to the Board priorities for the
Institute, in accordance with section 115(a).
(2) To ensure the methodology applied in con-
ducting research, development, evaluation, and sta-
tistical analysis is consistent with the standards for
such activities under this title.
(3) To coordinate education research and re-
lated activities carried out by the Institute with such
research and activities carried out by other agencies
within the Department and the Federal Government.
(4) To advise the Secretary on research, evalua-
tion, and statistics activities relevant to the activities
of the Department.
(5) To establish necessary procedures for tech-
nical and scientific peer review of the activities of
the Institute, consistent with section 116(b)(3).
(6) To ensure that all participants in research
conducted or supported by the Institute are afforded
their privacy rights and other relevant protections as
research subjects, in accordance with section 183 of
this title, section 552a of title 5, United States
Code, and sections 444 and 445 of the General Edu-
cation Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g, 1232h).
(7) To ensure that activities conducted or sup-
ported by the Institute are objective, secular, neu-
tral, and nonideological and are free of partisan po-
litical influence and racial, cultural, gender, or re-
gional bias.
(8) To undertake initiatives and programs to
increase the participation of researchers and institu-
tions that have been historically underutilized in