§ 6002. — Findings.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 20USC6002]
TITLE 20--EDUCATION
CHAPTER 68--NATIONAL EDUCATION REFORM
SUBCHAPTER IX--EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH AND IMPROVEMENT
Sec. 6002. Findings
The Congress finds as follows with respect to improving education in
the United States:
(1) A majority of public schools in the United States are
failing to prepare students to achieve the National Education Goals.
The Federal Government should support an extensive program of
educational research, development, dissemination, replication and
assistance to identify and support the best responses for the
challenges ahead. A significant investment in attaining a deeper
understanding of the processes of learning and schooling and
developing new ideas holds the best hope of making a substantial
difference to the lives of every student in the United States. The
Office of Educational Research and Improvement within the Department
of Education should be at the center of this campaign in order to
coordinate such efforts.
(2) The Federal role in educational research has been closely
identified with youths who are socioeconomically disadvantaged, are
minorities, belong to a language minority, or have a disability. The
Federal commitment to education was sufficient to serve not more
than--
(A) in 1993, 1 out of every 6 low-income children in need of
preschool education;
(B) in 1990, 3 out of every 5 children in need of
remediation;
(C) in 1991, 1 out of every 5 children in need of bilingual
education; and
(D) in 1992, 1 out of every 20 youths eligible for
assistance under the Job Training Partnership Act.
(3) The failure of the Federal Government to adequately invest
in educational research and development has denied the United States
a sound foundation of knowledge on which to design school
improvements. The educational achievement of minority children is of
particular concern because at least half of the public school
students in 25 of the largest cities of the United States are
minority children, and demographers project that, by the year 2005,
almost all urban public school students will be minority children or
other children in poverty.
(4) The investment goal of the Federal research, development,
and dissemination function should be at least 1 percent of the total
amount of funds spent on education.
(5) Nationwide model programs and reliable interventions should
be demonstrated and replicated, and for such purposes, programs
should be established to conduct research and evaluations, and to
disseminate information.
(6) The Office should develop a national dissemination policy
that will advance the goal of placing a national treasure chest of
research results, models, and materials at the disposal of the
education decisionmakers of the United States.
(7) A National Educational Research Policy and Priorities Board
should be established to work collaboratively with the Assistant
Secretary to forge a national consensus with respect to a long-term
agenda for educational research, development, dissemination, and the
activities of the Office.
(8) Existing research and development entities should adopt
expanded, proactive roles and new institutions should be created to
promote knowledge development necessary to accelerate the
application of research findings to high priority areas.
(9) Greater use should be made of existing technologies in
efforts to improve the educational system of the United States,
including efforts to disseminate research findings.
(10) Minority educational researchers are inadequately
represented throughout the Department of Education, but particularly
in the Office. The Office therefore should assume a leadership
position in the recruitment, retention, and promotion of qualified
minority educational researchers.
(11) The coordination of the mission of the Office with that of
other components of the Department of Education is critical. The
Office should improve the coordination of the educational research,
development, and dissemination function with those of other Federal
agencies.
(Pub. L. 103-227, title IX, Sec. 902, Mar. 31, 1994, 108 Stat. 212.)
References in Text
The Job Training Partnership Act, referred to in par. (2)(D), is
Pub. L. 97-300, Oct. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1322, as amended, which was
classified generally to chapter 19 (Sec. 1501 et seq.) of Title 29,
Labor, and was repealed by Pub. L. 105-220, title I, Sec. 199(b)(2),
(c)(2)(B), Aug. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1059, effective July 1, 2000.
Pursuant to section 2940(b) of Title 29, references to a provision of
the Job Training Partnership Act, effective Aug. 7, 1998, are deemed to
refer to that provision or the corresponding provision of the Workforce
Investment Act of 1998, Pub. L. 105-220, Aug. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 936,
and effective July 1, 2000, are deemed to refer to the corresponding
provision of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998. For complete
classification of the Job Training Partnership Act to the Code, see
Tables. For complete classification of the Workforce Investment Act of
1998 to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 9201 of
this title and Tables.
Office of Educational Research and Improvement
The Office of Educational Research and Improvement was established
by section 3419 of this title. Section 3419 was repealed and a new
section 3419 establishing the Institute of Educational Sciences was
enacted by Pub. L. 107-279, title IV, Sec. 402(2), Nov. 5, 2002, 116
Stat. 1985.
