“(2) School leader—The term school leader has the meaning given the term in section 102.”
“(a) Authorization
“(1) In general—Subject to paragraph (3), the Secretary is authorized to award not more than 17 grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to eligible applicants to establish comprehensive centers.
“(2) Mission—The mission of the comprehensive centers is to provide State educational agencies and local educational agencies technical assistance, analysis, and training to build their capacity in implementing the requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) and other Federal education laws, and research-based practices.
“(3) Regions—In awarding grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements under paragraph (1), the Secretary—
“(A) shall establish at least one comprehensive center for each of the 10 geographic regions served by the regional educational laboratories established under section 941(h) of the Educational Research, Development, Dissemination, and Improvement Act of 1994 (as such provision existed on the day before the date of enactment of this Act); and
“(B) may establish additional comprehensive centers—
“(i) for one or more of the regions described in subparagraph (A); or
“(ii) to serve the Nation as a whole by providing technical assistance on a particular content area of importance to the Nation, as determined by the Secretary with the advice of the regional advisory committees established under section 206(a).
“(4) Nation—In the case of a comprehensive center established to serve the Nation as described in paragraph (3)(B)(ii), the Nation shall be considered to be a region served by such Center.
“(5) Award period—A grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this section may be awarded, on a competitive basis, for a period of not more than 5 years.
“(6) Responsiveness—The Secretary shall ensure that each comprehensive center established under this section has the ability to respond in a timely fashion to the needs of State educational agencies and local educational agencies, including through using the results of the center’s interim evaluation under section 204(c), to improve and modify the activities of the center before the end of the award period.”
“(2) Outreach
“(A) In general—In conducting competitions for grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements under this section, the Secretary shall—
“(i) by making widely available information and technical assistance relating to the competition, actively encourage eligible applicants to compete for such awards; and
“(ii) seek input from chief executive officers of States, chief State school officers, educators, parents, superintendents, and other individuals with knowledge of the needs of the regions to be served by the awards, regarding—
“(I) the needs in the regions for technical assistance authorized under this title; and
“(II) how such needs may be addressed most effectively.
“(B) Regional advisory committees—The individuals described in subparagraph (A)(ii) may include members of the regional advisory committees established under section 206(a).
“(3) Performance management—Before awarding a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this section, the Secretary shall establish measurable performance indicators to be used to assess the ongoing progress and performance of the comprehensive centers to be established under this title that address—
“(A) paragraphs (1) through (3) of the performance management system described in section 185; and
“(B) the relevant results of the regional assessments under section 206(e).
“(4) Required consideration—In determining whether to award a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this section to an eligible applicant that previously established a comprehensive center under this section, the Secretary shall consider the results of such center’s summative evaluation under section 204(b).
“(5) Continuation of awards
“(A) Continuation of awards—The Secretary shall continue awards made to each eligible applicant for the support of comprehensive centers established under this section prior to the date of enactment of the Strengthening Education through Research Act, as such awards were in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the Strengthening Education through Research Act, for the duration of those awards, in accordance with the terms and agreements of such awards.
“(B) Recompetition—Not later than the end of the period of the awards described in subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall—
“(i) hold a competition to make grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements under this section to eligible applicants, which may include eligible applicants that held awards described in subparagraph (A); and
“(ii) in determining whether to select an eligible applicant that held an award described in subparagraph (A) for an award under clause (i) of this subparagraph, consider the results of the summative evaluation under section 204(b) of the center established with the eligible applicant’s award described in subparagraph (A).
“(6) Eligible applicant defined—For purposes of this section, the term eligible applicant means an entity described in paragraph (1).”
“(c) Applications
“(1) Submission
“(A) In general—Each eligible applicant seeking a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this section shall submit an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such additional information as the Secretary may reasonably require.
“(B) Input—To ensure that applications submitted under this paragraph are reflective of the needs of the regions to be served, each eligible applicant submitting such an application shall seek input from State educational agencies and local educational agencies in the region that the award will serve, and other individuals with knowledge of the region’s needs. Such individuals may include members of the regional advisory committee for the region under section 206(a).
“(2) Plan
“(A) In general—Each application submitted under paragraph (1) shall contain a plan for the comprehensive center to be established under this section, which shall be updated, modified, and improved, as appropriate, on an ongoing basis, including by using the results of the center’s interim evaluation under section 204(c).
“(B) Contents—A plan described in subparagraph (A) shall address—
“(i) the priorities for technical assistance established under section 207;
“(ii) the needs of State educational agencies and local educational agencies, on an ongoing basis, using available State and local data, including the relevant results of the regional assessments under section 206(e); and
“(iii) if available, demonstrated support from State educational agencies and local educational agencies, such as letters of support or signed memoranda of understanding.
“(3) Non-Federal Support—In conducting a competition for grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority to eligible applicants that will provide a portion of non-Federal funds to maximize support for activities of the comprehensive centers to be established under this section.”
“(iii) the replication and adaptation of exemplary practices and innovative methods that have an evidence base of effectiveness; and”
“(C) ensuring activities carried out under this section are relevant and responsive to the needs of the region being served, including by using the relevant results of the regional assessments under section 206(e).”
“(f) Comprehensive Center Advisory Board—A comprehensive center established under this section may establish an advisory board to support and monitor the priorities and activities of such center. An advisory board established under this subsection shall coordinate and align its work with the work of the regional advisory committee of the region served by such center established under section 206.
“(g) Report to the Secretary—Each comprehensive center established under this section shall submit to the Secretary an annual report, at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, which shall include the following:
“(1) A summary of the center’s activities and products developed during the previous year.
“(2) A listing of the State educational agencies, local educational agencies, and schools the center assisted during the previous year.
“(3) Using the measurable performance indicators established under subsection (b)(3), a description of how well the center is meeting educational needs of the region served by the center.
“(4) Any changes to the center’s plan under subsection (c)(2) to improve its activities in the remaining years of the grant, contract, or cooperative agreement.”
“204. Evaluations
“(a) In general—The Secretary shall—
“(1) provide for ongoing summative and interim evaluations described in subsections (b) and (c), respectively, of each of the comprehensive centers established under this title in carrying out the full range of duties of the center under this title; and
“(2) transmit the results of such evaluations, through appropriate means, to the appropriate congressional committees, the Director of the Institute of Education Sciences, and the public.
“(b) Summative evaluation—The Secretary shall ensure each comprehensive center established under this title is evaluated by an independent entity at the end of the period of the grant, contract, or cooperative agreement that established such center, which shall—
“(1) be completed in a timely fashion;
“(2) assess how well the center is meeting the measurable performance indicators established under section 203(b)(3); and
“(3) consider the extent to which the center ensures that the technical assistance of such center is relevant and useful to the work of State and local practitioners and policymakers.
“(c) Interim evaluation—The Secretary shall ensure that each comprehensive center established under this title is evaluated at the midpoint of the period of the grant, contract, or cooperative agreement that established such center, which shall—
“(1) assess how well such center is meeting the measurable performance indicators established under section 203(b)(3); and
“(2) be used to improve the effectiveness of such center in carrying out its plan under section 203(c)(2).”
“(b) Mission—The mission of each regional advisory committee established under subsection (a) shall be to—
“(1) support, strengthen, and, as appropriate, align the work of the regional educational laboratories established under section 174 and the comprehensive centers established under this title; and
“(2) ensure that the regional educational laboratories and comprehensive centers are meeting the needs of their regions.
“(c) Duties—Each advisory committee established under subsection (a) shall—
“(1) conduct, on at least a biennial basis, a needs assessments of the region served by the committee, as described in subsection (e);
“(2) to ensure the activities of the regional educational laboratory and comprehensive centers serving the region of the committee are responsive to the needs of such region, provide ongoing input to the laboratory and centers on planning and carrying out their activities under section 174 and this title, respectively;
“(3) maintain a high standard of quality in the performance of the activities of the laboratory and centers, respectively; and
“(4) support the continuous improvement of the laboratory and centers in the region served by the committee, especially in meeting the measurable performance indicators established under sections 174(e)(4) and 203(b)(3), respectively.”
“(d) Membership
“(1) Composition—The membership of each regional advisory committee shall—
“(A) not exceed 25 members;
“(B) include the chief State school officer, or such officer’s designee, or other State official, of States within the region of the committee who have primary responsibility under State law for elementary and secondary education in the State;
“(C) include representatives of local educational agencies, including rural and urban local educational agencies, that represent the geographic diversity of the region; and
“(D) include researchers.
“(2) Eligibility—The membership of each regional advisory committee may include the following:
“(A) Representatives of institutions of higher education.
“(B) Parents.
“(C) Practicing educators, including classroom teachers, school leaders, administrators, school board members, and other local school officials.
“(D) Representatives of business.
“(E) Policymakers.
“(F) Representatives from the regional educational laboratory and comprehensive centers in the region.
“(3) Recommendations—In choosing individuals for membership on a regional advisory committee, the Secretary shall consult with, and solicit recommendations from, the chief executive officers of States, chief State school officers, local educational agencies, and other education stakeholders within the applicable region.
“(4) Special rule—The total number of members on each committee who are selected under subparagraphs (B) and (C) of paragraph (1), in the aggregate, shall exceed the total number of members who are selected under paragraph (2), collectively.”
“(3) use available State and local data, consistent with privacy protections under section 183, to determine regional educational needs; and”
“(c) Performance management—Before awarding a grant under this section, the Secretary shall establish measurable performance indicators—
“(1) to be used to assess the ongoing progress and performance of State educational agencies receiving a grant under this section; and
“(2) that address paragraphs (1) through (3) of the performance management system described in section 185.”
“(C) to align statewide longitudinal data systems from early education through postsecondary education (including pre-service preparation programs), and the workforce, consistent with privacy protections under section 183;”
“(3) ensures the protection of student privacy, and includes a review of how State educational agencies, local educational agencies, and others that will have access to the statewide data systems under this section will adhere to Federal privacy laws and protections, consistent with section 183, in the building, maintenance, and use of such data systems;
“(4) ensures State educational agencies receiving a grant under this section support professional development that builds the capacity of teachers and school leaders to use data effectively; and
“(5) gives priority to State educational agencies that leverage the use of longitudinal data systems to improve student achievement and growth, including such State educational agencies that—
“(A) meet the voluntary standards and guidelines described in section 153(a)(5);
“(B) define the roles of State educational agencies, local educational agencies, and others in providing timely access to data under the statewide data systems, consistent with privacy protections in section 183; and
“(C) demonstrate the capacity to share teacher and school leader performance data, including student achievement and growth data, with local educational agencies and teacher and school leader preparation programs.”
“(f) Renewal of awards—The Secretary may renew a grant awarded to a State educational agency under this section for a period not to exceed 3 years, if the State educational agency has demonstrated progress on the measurable performance indicators established under subsection (c).”
“(g) Reports
“(1) First report—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Strengthening Education through Research Act, the Secretary shall prepare and make publicly available a report on the implementation and effectiveness of the activities carried out by State educational agencies receiving a grant under this section, including—
“(A) information on progress in the development and use of statewide longitudinal data systems described in this section;
“(B) information on best practices and areas for improvement in such development and use; and
“(C) how the State educational agencies are adhering to Federal privacy laws and protections in the building, maintenance, and use of such data systems.
“(2) Succeeding reports—Every succeeding 3 years after the report is made publicly available under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall prepare and make publicly available a report on the implementation and effectiveness of the activities carried out by State educational agencies receiving a grant under this section, including—
“(A) information on the requirements of subparagraphs (A) through (C) of paragraph (1); and
“(B) the progress, in the aggregate, State educational agencies are making on the measurable performance indicators established under subsection (c).”
“209. Authorization of appropriations
“There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title—
“(1) for fiscal year 2015, $82,984,000;
“(2) for fiscal year 2016, $83,149,968;
“(3) for fiscal year 2017, $84,979,268;
“(4) for fiscal year 2018, $87,018,769;
“(5) for fiscal year 2019, $89,368,277; and
“(6) for fiscal year 2020, $90,708,801.”