116 STAT. 1962 PUBLIC LAW 107-279—NOV. 5, 2002 20 USC 9547. SEC. 157. COOPERATIVE EDUCATION STATISTICS SYSTEMS. The Statistics Center may establish 1 or more national cooperative education statistics systems for the purpose of producing and maintaining, with the cooperation of the States, comparable and uniform information and data on early childhood education, elementary and secondary education, postsecondary education, adult education, and libraries, that are useful for polic3anaking at the Federal, State, and local levels. 20 USC 9548. SEC. 158. STATE DEFINED. In this part, the term "State" means each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. PART D—NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION EVALUATION AND REGIONAL ASSISTANCE 20 USC 9561. SEC. 171. ESTABLISHMENT. (a) ESTABLISHMENT.— T here is established in the Institute a National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance. (b) MISSION. — The mission of the National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance shall be— (1) to provide technical assistance; (2) to conduct evaluations of Federal education programs administered by the Secretary (and as time and resources allow, other education programs) to determine the impact of such programs (especially on student academic achievement in the core academic areas of reading, mathematics, and science); (3) to support synthesis and wide dissemination of results of evaluation, research, and products developed; and (4) to encourage the use of scientifically valid education research and evaluation throughout the United States. (c) GRANTS, CONTRACTS, AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—In carrying out the duties under this part, the Director may award grants, enter into contracts and cooperative agreements, and provide technical assistance. 20 USC 9562. SEC. 172. COMMISSIONER FOR EDUCATION EVALUATION AND REGIONAL ASSISTANCE. (a) IN GENERAL.— The National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance shall be headed by a Commissioner for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance (in this part referred to as the "Evaluation and Regional Assistance Commissioner") who is highly qualified and has demonstrated a capacity to carry out the mission of the Center and shall— (1) conduct evaluations pursuant to section 173; (2) widely disseminate information on scientifically valid research, statistics, and evaluation on education, particularly to State educational agencies 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 information relating to, at a minimum— (A) the core academic areas of reading, mathematics, and science; (B) closing the achievement gap between high-performing students and low-performing students;
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