A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH
POLICY AND PRIORITIES BOARD

Minutes of Quarterly Meeting

June 18, 1999

Location
Room 100
80 F Street, NW
Washington, DC 20208-7564

Members Present
Kenji Hakuta, Chair
James E. Bottoms
Jomills Braddock
Ann Clark
Edmund Gordon
Paul Goren
Robert Marley
Joyce Muhlestein
Alba Ortiz
Claire Pelton
Lea Schelke

Members Absent
Patricia Ann Baltz
John Bruer
Sharon Lynn Kagan
Glenda Lappan

Ex Officio Member Present
C. Kent McGuire, OERI

Designated Federal Official
Mary Grace Lucier

Board Staff Present
Eve M. Bither

OERI Staff Present
Diane Aleem, Pat Ross, Sue Klein, Steve O'Brien, Margo Anderson, Fritz Moser, Gil Garcia, Carol Chelemer, Jim Fox, Ivor Pritchard, Peirce Hammond, Ram Singh, Duc Le To, Luna Levinson, Michael Ross, Sharon Bobbitt

Members of the Public Present
Maris Vinovskis, University of Michigan; Rich Hershman, NEKIA; Charles Haughey, AERA, Gerald Sroufe, AERA, Emerson Elliott, Alexandra Wigdor and Suzanne Bonifant, National Research Council.

The chair called the meeting to order at 9:10 a.m.

Proposed Study of OERI?s Phase II Standards

Peirce Hammond, ORAD director, introduced the panel, consisting of Margo Anderson, Sharon Bobbitt, Sue Klein, Diane Aleem, and Steve O?Brien. Sharon Bobbitt recapitulated the background of the standards and how they were developed. Phase II involved the establishment of criteria for panels to use in designating exemplary and promising educational programs. These standards were published on November 17, 1997. Four panels are in operation. One panel, mathematics and science, has completed its work of designating promising and exemplary mathematics programs. Three other panels, on the topics of gender equity; safe, disciplined, and drug-free schools; and educational technology, are engaged in review and deliberation.

The Board has proposed to conduct an assessment of the standards and processes for the designation of exemplary and promising programs; to examine the manner in which the standards were applied in the expert panels formed to date; and to make recommendations about the effectiveness of dissemination efforts and strategies for scaling up.

Report of National Research Council

Alexandra Wigdor of the Commission on Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education made a presentation on the recently released report, Improving Student Learning: A Strategic Plan for Education Research and Its Utilization

Report of the Assistant Secretary, Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs

Scott Fleming discussed recent legislative initiatives, such as the Teacher Empowerment Act, class size reduction and school modernization, the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and the appropriations process as well as possible timetables for Congressional action.

Planning for Research Policy Conference on September 17, 1999

Members discussed a conference on emerging issues in educational research with particular reference to the reauthorization of OERI.

Action Items

  1. The Board approved a motion to authorize a study of the Phase II standards.

  2. The Board authorized the Executive Committee to conduct the performance evaluation of the Executive Director using the evaluation form as amended.

  3. The Board directed the Executive Committee to work in collaboration with OERI to determine what can be learned about the [R&D] system and what insights might be gained about improving the centers and labs and their connectedness.

  4. The Board directed the Executive Committee to convey to the Assistant Secretary its recommendations for the reauthorization of OERI, which will result in a greater independence for the Board, including a provision for a broader hiring authority (beyond that of the director) and a budget above that of the current level. The Committee should also discuss the need for procedures which would allow earlier input into agency discussions regarding the budget and decisions about funding competitions.

  5. The Board referred to the Executive Committee deliberations on the matter of the September conference.

The meeting adjourned at 4:15 p.m.

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