Educational Research, Development, and Dissemination Excellence Act

Summary

Educational Research, Development, and Dissemination Excellence Act - Title I: General Provisions Regarding Office of Educational Research and Improvement - Amends the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) to revise certain provisions relating to the purpose, administration, functions, and structure of the Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI). Eliminates provisions for the National Advisory Council on Educational Research and Improvement. Directs the Secretary of Education (the Secretary), acting through OERI, to carry out specified policies, in accordance with the policies and priorities established by the Board. Requires that OERI consist of programs and units in accordance with specified current GEPA provisions, as well as those added under this Act. Directs the Secretary to report annually to the appropriate congressional committees data on OERI, including numbers of current personnel, broken down by sex, race, and civil service classification, current vacancies, and projections of future personnel needs. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 through 1996 for OERI programs and units (both current ones and ones added by this Act). Allocates specified portions of such funds for certain purposes. Title II: National Educational Research Policy and Priorities Board - Amends GEPA to establish within OERI a National Educational Research Policy and Priorities Board (the Board). Makes the Board, acting through the Assistant Secretary, responsible for: (1) determining priorities to guide OERI's work and congressional oversight of it; (2) establishing standards for conduct and evaluation of all research, development, and dissemination carried out under auspices of the Department of Education (the Department); (3) making periodic recommendations to the President, the Congress, and the Secretary on administrative and statutory changes both to improve coordination of education research, development, and dissemination carried out by the Federal Government and to develop a comprehensive and integrated system for dissemination of results of education research and developments; and (4) regularly review and evaluate implementation of its recommended priorities and policies by the Department and the Congress. Directs the Board to develop a research priorities program. Requires the Board to survey and assess the state of knowledge in education research and development to identify disciplines and areas of inquiry where knowledge is insufficient and which warrant further investigation, taking into account the views of both education researchers and practicing educators. Requires the Board to consult with the National Goals Panel and other authorities on education to identify national priorities for the improvement of education. Requires that such research priorities program recommend priorities for investment of OERI resources over the next five-, ten-, and 15-year periods. Requires including as priorities those areas of inquiry in which further research and development: (1) is necessary to attain the identified goals for improvement of education; (2) promises to yield the greatest practical benefits to teachers and other educators in improving education; and (3) will not be undertaken in sufficient scope or intensity by other Federal and non-Federal entities engaged in education research and development. Sets forth required contents of such program, including goals for OERI expenditures within recommended priority areas, specific objectives expected to be achieved by such expenditures, and recommendations as to relative distribution of resources within each priority area among the various entities engaged in such education research and development. Requires the Secretary to publish a biennial report, and submit such report and any public comment and suggestions to the President and the Congress, on the Board's proposed research priorities. Directs the Board to establish and maintain an ongoing program to improve coordination of education research, development, and dissemination activities within the Department and the Federal Government generally. Requires specified inventories and reports in connection with such coordination program. Directs the Board to develop (after soliciting and giving due consideration to public comments) standards for the conduct and evaluation of all OERI research, development, and dissemination activities, to assure that such activities meet the highest standards of professional excellence. Requires such standards to include ones for peer review, evaluation of applications for, and periodic review and evaluation of, all grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements by OERI. Directs the Secretary to promulgate regulations implementing such standards within 60 days of their transmittal by the Board. Authorizes the Board to establish subcommittees, convene workshops and conferences, and collect data. Sets forth Board powers and membership qualifications, in general. Requires that the 20 Board voting members be appointed by the Secretary, with specified numbers representing educational researchers, classroom teachers, State and local school officials, librarians, parents, nonprofit foundations, business and industry, and State Governors. Designates specified Federal officials as ex-officio, nonvoting members. Requires that the Board be chaired by the Chair of the National Goals Panel. Sets forth provisions for terms of office and meetings. Title III: National Research Institutes - Amends GEPA to establish the following National Research Institutes within OERI: (1) the National Institute for Education of At-Risk Students; (2) the National Institute for Innovation in Educational Governance and Management; (3) the National Institute for Early Childhood Development and Education; and (4) the National Institute on Student Achievement. Sets forth provisions relating to such Institute's: (1) Directors; (2) authorities and duties; (3) targeting historically underrepresented researchers and institution; (4) appointment of scientific and professional employees; (5) advisory councils; (6) coordination of research on cross-cutting issues; and (7) transition within OERI. Sets forth separate provisions relating to the role of each such Institute. Title IV: National Education Dissemination System - Amends GEPA to establish within OERI an Office of Dissemination and School Improvement (Dissemination Office), through which the Secretary shall carry out a national education dissemination system for school improvement to identify, validate, and disseminate to educators, parents, and policymakers those educational programs that have been shown to improve educational opportunities for all students. Sets forth provisions relating to Dissemination Office functions and duties, including: (1) identification, designation, and dissemination of exemplary and promising programs; (2) 16 education resources information clearinghouses; (3) an America On-Line interactive electronic network to link all Department entities to share information and resources, be extended to libraries, schools, universities, colleges, and homes, and be linked to any electronic online dissemination system operated by the Government Printing Office; (4) a system of regional educational laboratories; and (5) an America 2000 communities special assistance program, with grants for Learning Grant Institutions and District Education Agents within eligible communities, development of a comprehensive America 2000 plan for assuring educational success for all students in the community, and implementation of a community-wide plan for educational improvement. Title V: National Education Research Library - Amends GEPA to establish within OERI a National Education Research Library (the Library), to be maintained as a governmental activity, to: (1) provide a central location within the Federal Government for information about education; (2) provide comprehensive reference services on education-related matters; and (3) promote greater cooperation and resource-sharing among education information providers and repositories in the United States. Requires the Library to establish and maintain a one-stop central information and referral service to respond to inquiries from the public concerning: (1) Department of Education (Department) programs and activities; (2) Department and other Federal agency education-related publications; (3) OERI services and resources available to the public, including the ERIC Clearinghouses, the National Research and Development Centers, and the Regional Laboratories; (4) statistics and other information produced by the National Center for Education Statistics; and (5) referrals to additional sources of information and expertise about educational issues. Directs the Library to maintain and publicize a toll-free telephone number for public inquiries. Directs the Library to deliver comprehensive reference services of various types on education-related subjects to Department employees, other Federal employees, and members of the general public, with first priority to Department employees' requests. Directs the Library to promote greater cooperation and resource-sharing among libraries and archives with significant collections in the area of education, through various means. Requires the Library to be administered by an Executive Director appointed by the Secretary from among persons with significant training or experience in library and information science. Transfers to the Library all functions of the Department's: (1) Research Library; (2) Reference Section; (3) Information Branch; and (4) Information Technology Branch (except those relating to automatic data processing and other electronic equipment used for Department internal administrative purposes). Directs the Library, within 90 days after enactment of this Act, to promulgate a comprehensive collection development policy to govern its operations, acquisitions, and services to users. Sets forth required components of such policy. Directs the Executive Director, on the basis of such policy, to develop a multiyear plan for elimination of cataloging arrearages and for response to preservation needs.

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Documents

7 official files

• Reported in House (text)

  Reported in House · EN

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• Referred in Senate (text)

  Referred in Senate · EN

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• Introduced in House (text)

  Introduced in House · EN

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• Engrossed in House (text)

  Engrossed in House · EN

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• Passed House amended

  summary · EN · 22 September 1992

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• Reported to House with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 12 August 1992

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• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 26 November 1991

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