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Title 20, EducationRelease 119-110

§9534 Standards for Conduct and Evaluation of Research

Title 20 › CHAPTER 76 — EDUCATION RESEARCH, STATISTICS, EVALUATION, INFORMATION, AND DISSEMINATION › SUBCHAPTER I — EDUCATION SCIENCES REFORM › Part B — National Center for Education Research › § 9534

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Make sure research at the Research Center uses sound scientific methods and meets high professional standards. Create any other rules needed, look at how NIH, NSF, and other federal agencies run research, and ask research groups and the public for advice. Follow federal rules about research misconduct. The Director must set up a peer review system of experts to review grant and cooperative agreement applications over $100,000 and to judge research results. The Research Commissioner must write the evaluation procedures and criteria, including when needed long-term linked data (test scores, enrollment, graduation). Recipients must be evaluated at the end of their award. At least 50 percent of each year’s research funds must go to programs lasting 5 years or more that match the Institute’s and the Research Center’s missions.

Full Legal Text

Title 20, §9534

Education, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general
In carrying out this part, the Research Commissioner shall—
(1)ensure that all research conducted under the direction of the Research Center follows scientifically based research standards;
(2)develop such other standards as may be necessary to govern the conduct and evaluation of all research, development, and wide dissemination activities carried out by the Research Center to assure that such activities meet the highest standards of professional excellence;
(3)review the procedures utilized by the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and other Federal departments or agencies engaged in research and development, and actively solicit recommendations from research organizations and members of the general public in the development of the standards described in paragraph (2); and
(4)ensure that all research complies with Federal guidelines relating to research misconduct.
(b)Peer review
(1)In general
The Director shall establish a peer review system, involving highly qualified individuals with an in-depth knowledge of the subject to be investigated, for reviewing and evaluating all applications for grants and cooperative agreements that exceed $100,000, and for evaluating and assessing the products of research by all recipients of grants and cooperative agreements under this Act.
(2)Evaluation
The Research Commissioner shall—
(A)develop the procedures to be used in evaluating applications for research grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts, and specify the criteria and factors (including, as applicable, the use of longitudinal data linking test scores, enrollment, and graduation rates over time) which shall be considered in making such evaluations; and
(B)evaluate the performance of each recipient of an award of a research grant, contract, or cooperative agreement at the conclusion of the award.
(c)Long-term research
The Research Commissioner shall ensure that not less than 50 percent of the funds made available for research for each fiscal year shall be used to fund long-term research programs of not less than 5 years, which support the priorities and mission of the Institute and the mission of the Research Center.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(1), means Pub. L. 107–279, Nov. 5, 2002, 116 Stat. 1940, which enacted this chapter and section 3419 of this title, amended section 1232j, 3412, 3461, 6194, 6311, 6312, 7013, 7451, 7703, 7909, 9007, 9010, 9011, 9573, 9623, and 9624 and former section 6317, 6491, 6932, 7253c, 7283b, and 7283d of this title and section 5315 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, transferred section 9010 and 9011 of this title to section 9621 and 9622 of this title, respectively, repealed section 3419, 6011, 6021, 6031, 6041, 6051, 6053 to 6053e, 6054 to 6054b, 6055 to 6055h, 6056, 6056a, 9001 to 9009, and 9012 of this title, enacted provisions set out as notes under section 7703 and 9501 of this title, and repealed provisions set out as notes under section 1221e and 9001 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

20 U.S.C. § 9534

Title 20, Education

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110