Sec. 151. National Center for Education Evaluation and Evidence Use
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Part D (20 U.S.C. 9561 et seq.) is amended to read as follows: There is established in the Institute a National Center for Education Evaluation and Evidence Use (in this part referred to as the Evaluation and Evidence Use Center ). The mission of the Evaluation and Evidence Use Center shall be— to increase evidence use among practitioners, education system leaders, and policymakers, support innovation responsive to the challenges facing students and practitioners, and promote continuous improvement across early childhood through postsecondary study; to conduct evaluations of Federal education programs administered by the Secretary (and as time and resources allow, other education programs) in order to— determine the impact of the programs, such as in improving— educational outcomes, particularly student academic achievement, for all students, particularly each subgroup of students; or access to high-quality educational opportunities; and support the identification of evidence-based practices that may be adapted and implemented in heterogeneous local educational contexts; to support synthesis and wide dissemination of results of evaluation, research, and products to support continuous improvement, including the development of products or tools to increase the impact of the activities of the Institute; and to oversee regional educational laboratories to serve the educational needs of the geographic regions served by such laboratories.
The Evaluation and Evidence Use Center shall be headed by a Commissioner for Education Evaluation and Evidence Use (in this part referred to as the Evaluation and Evidence Use Commissioner ) who— is highly qualified in carrying out scientifically valid education evaluation; and has demonstrated a capacity to support engagement between researchers, practitioners, education system leaders, and policymakers to effectively communicate the implications of scientifically valid research, statistics, and evaluations to support evidence use and continuous improvement.
The Evaluation and Evidence Use Commissioner shall serve as the evaluation officer designated for the Department in accordance with section 313 of title 5, United States Code. The Evaluation and Evidence Use Commissioner shall— conduct evaluations under section 154; promote evidence use among practitioners, education system leaders, and policymakers and promote continuous improvement across early childhood through postsecondary study; manage the What Works Clearinghouse and related functions described in section 155; support engagement between the Institute and practitioners, education system leaders, and policymakers, which may include— analyzing the evidence bases of research areas related to challenges facing students and practitioners across early childhood through postsecondary study, and identifying such areas that require additional study; supporting practitioners in understanding research processes in order to maximize the participation and engagement of such practitioners in developing research questions, designs, measurements, and methods; and communicating research areas identified under subparagraph
(A)to the Commissioner for Education Research, the Commissioner for Special Education Research, and researchers in order to help increase and build the evidence bases of research areas related to challenges facing students and practitioners, which may be carried out through the functions of the National Education Research Database developed under section 155(b); support the regional educational laboratories in serving the educational needs of the geographic regions of such laboratories; manage the Educational Resources Information Center clearinghouse; manage the National Library of Education described in section 156(b) and other sources of digital information on education research; ensure that evidence-based products or tools developed by the Evaluation and Evidence Use Center are prepared in a timely manner and are widely disseminated to practitioners, education system leaders, and policymakers in formats that are high quality, easily accessible, understandable, and actionable; respond, as appropriate, to inquiries from practitioners, education system leaders, policymakers, researchers, public and private entities, and entities responsible for carrying out technical assistance related to evaluation and evidence use; ensure that information disseminated under this part is provided in a cost-effective, nonduplicative manner that includes the most current research findings, as of the date of the dissemination; and assist the Director in the preparation of a biennial report, as described in section 119. Not later than 60 days after the date on which the Board approves the priorities under section 115, the Evaluation and Evidence Use Commissioner shall develop and submit an evaluation and evidence use plan to the Director that— is consistent with the mission of the Institute and the mission of the Evaluation and Evidence Use Center and specifies how the Evaluation and Evidence Use Center will carry out— evaluations described in section 154; and activities that promote— evidence use among practitioners, education system leaders, and policymakers; and continuous improvement across early childhood through postsecondary study, such as the development and promotion of practice guides to improve teaching and learning; uses objective and measurable indicators, including timelines, to assess the progress and results of such evaluations or activities; describes the efforts of the Evaluation and Evidence Use Commissioner to manage the What Works Clearinghouse and related functions described in section 155 and promote engagement between the Institute and practitioners, education system leaders, and policymakers to increase the impact of the Institute’s activities; and describes how the regional educational laboratories will effectively coordinate with comprehensive centers established under section 207 to increase the impact of such laboratories’ activities. In carrying out the duties under this part, the Director may award grants, enter into contracts and cooperative agreements, and provide technical assistance. In carrying out the mission of the Evaluation and Evidence Use Center, the Evaluation and Evidence Use Commissioner shall— conduct or support evaluations consistent with the mission of the Evaluation and Evidence Use Center, as described in section 151(b); evaluate programs administered, in whole or in part, by the Secretary; to the extent such Commissioner determines practicable, examine evaluations conducted or supported by others in order to determine the quality and relevance of the evidence of effectiveness generated by such evaluations; coordinate the activities of the Evaluation and Evidence Use Center with other evaluation activities in the Department; review and, where feasible, supplement Federal education program evaluations, particularly those by the Department, to determine or enhance the quality and relevance of the evidence generated by those evaluations; establish evaluation policies and methodology; and support the identification of evidence-based practices that may be adapted and implemented in heterogeneous local educational contexts. Each evaluation conducted under paragraph
(1)shall— adhere to the highest possible standards of quality for conducting scientifically valid education evaluation; and be subject to high-quality, timely, and rigorous peer review. The Evaluation and Evidence Use Commissioner, consistent with the mission of the Evaluation and Evidence Use Center, shall administer all operations and contracts associated with evaluations authorized by section 8601 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 and administered by the Department. In carrying out the mission of the Evaluation and Evidence Use Center, the Evaluation and Evidence Use Commissioner shall develop and maintain each of the following: The National Education Research Database consisting of scientifically valid research, statistics, and evaluations on education reviewed by the Evaluation and Evidence Use Center, as authorized under subsection (b). The What Works Clearinghouse consisting of evidence-based practices designed for practitioners, education system leaders, and policymakers, as authorized under subsection (c). The Evaluation and Evidence Use Commissioner shall develop, maintain, and regularly update the National Education Research Database to support researchers. The Evaluation and Evidence Use Commissioner shall establish a system for technical and peer review to ensure that scientifically valid research, statistics, and evaluations reviewed and included in the National Education Research Database are consistent with the high-quality research standards described in section 134 and the evaluation standards adhered to under section 154(a)(2)(A). In reviewing scientifically valid research, statistics, and evaluations under this subsection, including individual studies, the Evaluation and Evidence Use Commissioner shall— describe prominently the type of scientific evidence that is used to support the evidence-based findings; and explain clearly the scientifically appropriate and inappropriate uses of— the findings that are disseminated; and the types of evidence used to support such findings. The Evaluation and Evidence Use Commissioner shall develop, maintain, and regularly update the What Works Clearinghouse to support practitioners, education system leaders, and policymakers in easily accessing actionable information. In carrying out paragraph (1), the Evaluation and Evidence Use Commissioner shall— develop evidence-based recommendations for practitioners to promote evidence use and improve student outcomes by— synthesizing findings in research areas related to challenges facing students and practitioners; and analyzing and summarizing the findings of high-quality research reviewed and included in the National Education Research Database developed under subsection (b); and develop and disseminate evidence-based products or tools designed to improve teaching and learning in order to provide all students, particularly each subgroup of students, access to high-quality educational opportunities and to improve educational outcomes, particularly student academic achievement. The Evaluation and Evidence Use Commissioner shall ensure that the evidence-based practices, products, and tools of the What Works Clearinghouse are disseminated through the regional educational laboratories. In carrying out the mission of the Evaluation and Evidence Use Center, the Evaluation and Evidence Use Commissioner shall— promote engagement between researchers, practitioners, education system leaders, and policymakers to effectively communicate the implications of scientifically valid research, statistics, and evaluations to support evidence use and continuous improvement; and develop resources or train practitioners and education system leaders in early childhood education through postsecondary study in identifying, selecting, implementing, and adapting evidence-based practices in heterogeneous local educational contexts, such as through (as applicable)— the activities of the regional educational laboratories; the What Works Clearinghouse established under section 155; the provision of technical assistance to— an early childhood education program, Head Start agency, or lead agency designated under section 658D of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858b); a public elementary school or secondary school (including a charter school), local educational agency, or State educational agency; or an institution of higher education, including a community college, a historically Black college or university, a Tribal College or University, or another minority-serving institution; and partnerships with public agencies or private entities that have demonstrated the ability and capacity to scale activities related to evidence use supported by such Center. There is established, within the Evaluation and Evidence Use Center, a National Library of Education that shall— be headed by an individual who is highly qualified in library science; collect and archive information; provide a central location within the Federal Government for information about education; provide comprehensive reference services on matters related to education to employees, contractors, and grantees of the Department, other Federal employees, and members of the public; and promote greater cooperation and resource sharing among providers and repositories of education information in the United States. The information collected and archived by the National Library of Education shall include— products and publications developed through, or supported by, the Institute; and other relevant and useful education-related research, statistics, and evaluation materials, and other information, projects, and publications, that are— consistent with— scientifically valid research; or the priorities and mission of the Institute; and developed by the Department, other Federal agencies, or other entities. The Evaluation and Evidence Use Commissioner shall enter into contracts with entities to establish a networked system of 10 regional educational laboratories that serve the needs of each geographic region of the United States in accordance with the provisions of this section. A contract under this subsection shall be for a period of not less than 5 years and not more than 7 years. The regions served by the regional educational laboratories shall be the 10 geographic regions served by the regional educational laboratories established under section 941(h) of the Educational Research, Development, Dissemination, and Improvement Act of 1994 (as such provision existed on the day before the date of enactment of this Act). The amount of assistance allocated to each regional educational laboratory by the Evaluation and Evidence Use Commissioner shall reflect the number of local educational agencies and the number of school-age children within the region served by such laboratory, as well as the cost of providing services within the geographic area encompassed by the region. In entering into contracts under this section for regional educational laboratories, the Evaluation and Evidence Use Commissioner shall ensure that the regional educational laboratories established under this section have strong and effective governance, organization, management, and administration, and employ qualified staff. In order to ensure coordination and prevent unnecessary duplication of activities among the regions, the Evaluation and Evidence Use Commissioner shall— share information about the activities of each regional educational laboratory awarded a contract under this section with— each other regional educational laboratory awarded a contract under this section; and the Department, including the Director and the Board; oversee a strategic plan for ensuring that each regional educational laboratory awarded a contract under this section increases collaboration and resource-sharing in such activities; ensure, where appropriate, that the activities of each regional educational laboratory awarded a contract under this section also serve national interests; and ensure that each regional educational laboratory awarded a contract under this section coordinates such laboratory’s activities with the activities of other technical assistance centers, particularly the comprehensive center established under section 207 that serves such region. Before entering into a contract under this section, the Evaluation and Evidence Use Commissioner shall design specific objectives and measurable indicators to be used to assess the particular programs or initiatives, and ongoing progress and performance, of the regional educational laboratories, in order to ensure that— the educational needs of the region are being met; and the latest and best research and proven practices are being carried out as part of school improvement efforts. The Evaluation and Evidence Use Commissioner, in consultation with the Secretary or designated official who oversees the comprehensive center program authorized under title II, shall, to the greatest extent practicable, ensure that the duration of contracts for regional educational laboratories under this subsection is consistent with the duration of grants, contacts, or cooperative agreements awarded by the Secretary or such designated official under the comprehensive center program, subject to paragraph (1)(B). The Evaluation and Evidence Use Commissioner may enter into contracts under this section with research organizations, institutions, agencies, institutions of higher education, or partnerships among such entities, or individuals, with the demonstrated ability or capacity to carry out the activities described in this section. In conducting competitions for any contract under this section, the Director shall— actively encourage eligible entities to compete for such award by making information and technical assistance relating to the competition widely available; and seek input from the chief executive officers of States, chief State school officers, educators, and parents regarding— the need for applied research, development, innovation responsive to the challenges facing students and practitioners, research-practice partnerships (as defined in section 133(e)(2)), training, coaching, evidence use activities, and other activities to serve the educational needs of the geographic regions of the regional educational laboratory; and how those educational needs could be addressed most effectively. In determining whether to award a contract under this section to an eligible entity, the Evaluation and Evidence Use Commissioner shall ensure that an eligible entity has a history of effectiveness in carrying out applied research, development, and evidence use activities, including by considering the results of any completed evaluation required under this part or title II if such entity previously received a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under such part or title. Each eligible entity desiring a contract under this section shall submit an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Evaluation and Evidence Use Commissioner may reasonably require. Each application submitted under paragraph
(1)shall contain— a 5-year plan for carrying out the activities described in this section in a manner that addresses— the priorities established under section 205; the needs of all States (and to the extent practicable, of local educational agencies) within the region to be served by the regional educational laboratory, on an ongoing basis; and how the eligible entity will support the development and operation of one or more high-quality research-practice partnerships (as defined in section 133(e)(2)) to serve the applicable geographic region that will be self-sustaining by the end of the eligible entity's contract under this section; and an assurance that the eligible entity will regularly update the plan under subparagraph
(A)during the period of the grant. The Evaluation and Evidence Use Commissioner shall establish a system for technical review to ensure that applied research activities, evidence-based reports, and products of the regional educational laboratories are consistent with— the high-quality research standards developed and maintained by such Commissioner, which shall require peer review for resources developed by the regional educational laboratory before such resources are made available in public, restricted-use, and easily accessible formats, in accordance with subparagraph (B); and the evaluation standards adhered to under section 154(a)(2)(A). In developing and maintaining standards under this paragraph, the Evaluation and Evidence Use Commissioner shall ensure that research or data resulting from regional educational laboratories shall be made available in public, restricted-use, and easily accessible formats for further analyses, reproducibility studies, and replication of research, as long as any reported information does not reveal personally identifiable information. Each regional educational laboratory awarded a contract under this section shall support applied research, development, and evidence use activities by— developing a plan for identifying and serving the needs of the geographic region, in consultation with the corresponding comprehensive center that serves such region, by conducting a continuing survey of the educational needs, strengths, and weaknesses within the region, including a process of open hearings to solicit the views of schools, teachers, principals, other school leaders, administrators, paraprofessionals, other staff, parents, librarians, local educational agencies, and State educational agencies within the region; carrying out applied research projects (including data analysis or evaluation) that are designed to serve the particular educational needs of the geographic region and that result in actionable information; or supporting teams of researchers, practitioners, education system leaders, and policymakers, as applicable, in carrying out field-initiated research; assisting in solving site-specific problems and in development activities; identifying, in a manner that is responsive to the challenges facing students and practitioners, exemplary and promising practices, supporting research and evaluation of such practices, and piloting or scaling relevant evidence-based practices; assisting in gathering information on— school finance systems to promote improved access to educational opportunities and to better serve all public school students; and alternative administrative structures that are more conducive to planning, implementing, and sustaining school improvement and improved educational outcomes, particularly student academic achievement; providing training or professional learning (which may include supporting internships and fellowships and providing stipends) to practitioners, education system leaders, State educational agencies, local educational agencies, Bureau-funded school boards, and State boards of education, regarding evidence use and resources developed by the What Works Clearinghouse established under section 155; and developing and widely disseminating, in formats that are high quality, easily accessible, understandable, and actionable, scientifically valid research, information, reports, and publications, to— student, parents, practitioners, education system leaders, and policymakers, as appropriate, within the region in which the regional educational laboratory is located; and the Evaluation and Evidence Use Center. In carrying out the activities described in subsection (d), each regional educational laboratory awarded a contract under this section shall— collaborate with the National Education Centers in order to— maximize the use of research conducted through the National Education Centers in the work of such laboratory; keep the National Education Centers apprised of the work of the regional educational laboratory in the field; and inform the National Education Centers about additional research needs identified in the field; collaborate with the corresponding comprehensive center serving the same geographic region in order to minimize duplication and increase client satisfaction, as required under section 204; support the development and operation of one or more high-quality research-practice partnerships (as such term is defined in section 133(e)(2)) to serve the applicable geographic region that are self-sustaining at the end of such laboratory's contract period; and identify successful educational programs that have been developed by such laboratory in carrying out such laboratory’s functions or that have been developed or used by others within the region served by the laboratory; and make such information available to the Secretary and the network of regional educational laboratories so that such programs may be evaluated, replicated, or scaled. The Evaluation and Evidence Use Commissioner shall— provide for independent evaluations of each of the regional educational laboratories in carrying out the duties described in this section in the third year that such laboratory receives assistance under this section, in accordance with the standards developed by the Evaluation and Evidence Use Commissioner; and transmit the results of such evaluations to the corresponding regional governing board established under section 206, the relevant committees of Congress, and the Board. No regional educational laboratory receiving assistance under this section shall, by reason of the receipt of that assistance, be ineligible to receive any other assistance from the Department as authorized by law or be prohibited from engaging in activities involving international projects or endeavors. Each regional educational laboratory awarded a contract under this section shall participate in the advance payment system at the Department. In addition to activities authorized under this section, the Director is authorized to enter into contracts or agreements with a regional educational laboratory for the purpose of carrying out additional projects to enable such regional educational laboratory to assist in efforts to achieve State education goals and for other purposes. Not later than July 1 of each year, each regional educational laboratory awarded a contract under this section shall submit to the Evaluation and Evidence Use Commissioner— a plan covering the succeeding fiscal year, in which such laboratory’s mission, activities, and scope of work are described, including a general description of the plans such laboratory expects to submit in the remaining years of such laboratory’s contract; and a report of how well such laboratory is meeting the needs of the region, including— a summary of activities during the preceding year; a list of entities served; a list of the products of the regional educational laboratory; and any other information that the regional educational laboratory may consider relevant or the Evaluation and Evidence Use Commissioner may require. Subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code, shall not apply to the voluntary collection of information during the conduct of research by regional educational laboratories. .
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