42 U.S.C. § 1862n–8 — Evaluations

(a) Education (1) Generally The Director, through the Research, Evaluation and Communication Division of the Education and Human Resources Directorate of the Foundation, must evaluate the effectiveness of all undergraduate science, mathematics, engineering, or technology education activities supported by the Foundation in increasing the number and quality of students, including people identified in section 1885a or 1885b of this title studying toward and completing associate’s or baccalaureate degrees in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology. In conducting the evaluation, the Director must consider information on— (A) the number of students enrolled in undergraduate science, mathematics, engineering, and technology programs; (B) student academic achievement, including quantifiable measurements of students’ mastery of content and skills; (C) persistence to degree completion, including students who transfer from science, mathematics, engineering, and technology programs to programs in other academic disciplines; and (D) placement during the first year after degree completion in post-graduate education or career pathways. (2) Assessment benchmarks and tools The Director, through the Research, Evaluation and Communication Division of the Education and Human Resources Directorate of the Foundation, must establish a common set of assessment benchmarks and tools, and must enable every Foundation-sponsored project to incorporate the use of these benchmarks and tools in their project-based assessment activities. (3) Reports to Congress By 3 years after December 19, 2002, and once every 3 years after that, the Director must send to the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report containing the results of evaluations under paragraph (1). (b) Awards Even if another part of this Act says otherwise, the Director must annually evaluate a random sample of grants, contracts, or other awards made under this Act. (c) Dissemination The Director must— (1) provide for the dissemination of the results of the evaluations conducted under this section to the public; and (2) provide notice to the public that such evaluations are available.