20 U.S.C. § 9562 — Commissioner for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance

(a) In general. The National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance must be led by a highly qualified Commissioner who has shown the ability to carry out the Center's mission. The Commissioner must— (1) conduct evaluations under section 9563; (2) widely share scientifically valid education research, statistics, and evaluation information, especially about (A) reading, mathematics, and science; (B) closing the achievement gap between high- and low-performing students; (C) practices that improve achievement and learning; (D) education technology, including software; and (E) topics covered by the Educational Resources Information Center Clearinghouses; (3) make that information timely, user-friendly, and efficient to access, including through a searchable Internet database covering all paragraph (2)(E) topics, for schools, higher-education institutions, educators, parents, administrators, policymakers, researchers, public and private entities, technical-assistance entities, and the public; (4) support regional laboratories' applied research^*, development^* and sharing of research, products and processes, technical assistance^*, and other regional work; (5) manage the National Library of Education and other digital education-research sources; (6) help the Director^* prepare the biennial report under section 9519; and (7) award a contract for a prekindergarten-through-grade-12 mathematics and science teacher clearinghouse.

(b) Additional duties. The Commissioner must (1) ensure information is shared cost-effectively, without unnecessary duplication, and with the most current findings; (2) prominently describe the scientific evidence supporting shared findings; (3) clearly explain scientifically proper and improper uses of the findings and supporting evidence; and (4) respond as appropriate to inquiries from the listed education participants and entities.

(c) Continuation. The Director must continue support awards for the Educational Resources Information Center Clearinghouses and contracts for regional educational laboratories for the duration of those awards, under their terms.

(d) National Library of Education. (1) Establishment. The Institute^* must have a National Library headed by someone highly qualified in library science. It must collect and archive information, provide a central Federal location for education information, provide comprehensive education reference services to Department^* employees and contractors and grantees, other Federal employees, and the public, and promote cooperation and resource sharing among United States education-information providers and repositories. (2) Information. The Library must collect and archive (A) Institute-developed or supported products and publications; and (B) other useful education research, statistics, evaluation materials, information, projects, and publications that are consistent with scientifically valid research^* or the Institute's priorities and mission and are developed by the Department, other Federal agencies, or covered entities, including entities supported under subchapter II and the Clearinghouses.