108 STAT. 214 PUBLIC LAW 103-227—MAR. 31, 1994 (A) The mission of the Office shall be to provide national leadership in— (i) expanding fundamental knowledge and understanding of education; (ii) promoting excellence and equity in education; and the achievement of the National Educational Goals by spurring reform in the school systems of the United States; (iii) promoting the use and application of research and development to improve practice in the classroom; and (iv) monitoring the state of education. (B) The mission of the Office shall be accomplished in collaboration with researchers, teachers, school administrators, parents, students, employers, and polic3niiakers. (b) PURPOSE AND STRUCTURE OF OFFICE. — (1) IN GENERAL. — The Secretary, acting through the Office, shall carry out the policies set forth in subsection (a). In carry- ing out such policies, the Office shall be guided by the Research Priorities Plan developed by the Assistant Secretary working collaboratively with the Board and which has been approved by the Board. (2) ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE. —The Office shall be administered by the Assistant Secretary and shall include— (A) the National Educational Research Policy and Priorities Board established by section 921; (B) the national research institutes established by section 931; (C) the national education dissemination system established by section 941; (D) the National Center for Education Statistics; and (E) such other units as the Secretary deems appropriate to carry out the purposes of the Office. (3) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.— (A) OFFICE. — In fulfilling its purposes under this section, the Office is authorized to— (i) conduct and support education-related research activities, including basic and applied research, development, planning, surveys, assessments, evaluations, investigations, experiments, and demonstrations of national significance; (ii) disseminate the findings of education research, and provide technical assistance to apply such information to specific problems at school sites; (iii) collect, analyze, and disseminate data related to education, and to library and information services; (iv) promote the use of knowledge gained from research and statistical findings in schools, other educational institutions, and communities; (v) provide training in education research; and (vi) promote the coordination of education research and research support within the Federal Government, and otherwise assist and foster such research. (c) APPOINTMENT OF EMPLOYEES.— (1) IN GENERAL.— The Assistant Secretary may appoint, for terms not to exceed three years (without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointment
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