§9501 Definitions

Summary

Defines the key words used in this part of the law. It gives short meanings for schools, research types, government offices, and services so people know what the rules are talking about. Elementary school, secondary school, local educational agency, and State educational agency mean what section 7801 says. Outlying areas mean what section 6331(c) says. Freely associated states means the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau. Applied research means research to learn how to meet a specific, recognized need and to improve education practice. Basic research means research to gain fundamental knowledge about how things work in education, not aimed at a specific product. Board means the National Board for Education Sciences (per section 9516). Bureau means the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Comprehensive center means an entity set up under section 9602. Department means the Department of Education. Development means using research findings to create and test materials, methods, or practices that improve students’ skills and that can be used in different schools. Director means the Director of the Institute of Education Sciences. Dissemination means sharing research, statistics, and evaluations in clear, usable ways with teachers, parents, policymakers, and others. Early childhood educator means someone who works for a legally operating, nonresidential child care provider serving children from birth through the age they may start kindergarten in that State. Field-initiated research means basic or applied research where investigators (including teachers) choose the questions and methods and follow scientific standards. Historically Black college or university means a Part B institution as defined in section 1061. Institute means the Institute of Education Sciences (per section 9511). Institution of higher education means what section 1001(a) says. National research and development center means a center supported under section 9533(c). Provider of early childhood services means a public or private group that serves young children, such as child care providers, Head Start and Early Head Start programs, preschools, kindergartens, and libraries. Scientifically based research standards means using strong, careful, and objective methods that give reliable knowledge for education; this includes proper observation or experiments, adequate data analysis, reliable measurements, making causal claims only when the design supports them, clear reporting so others can replicate or build on the work, peer review or expert approval, and using methods that fit the question. Scientifically valid education evaluation means an evaluation that uses the best possible research design and statistics, describes the program and how it was carried out, analyzes results versus expected effects, uses random assignment when feasible or other strong methods for causal inference, and can study implementation with reliable methods. Scientifically valid research includes applied, basic, and field-initiated research that meet the research standards. Secretary means the Secretary of Education. State includes each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the freely associated states, and the outlying areas (except as provided in section 9548). Technical assistance means help to pick, design, or use research-based solutions (including training), help to analyze statistics and evaluations, and other help to improve teaching and learning using research-backed techniques.