2011 National Board for Education Sciences Annual Report
Board Activities

Meetings

The Board met on September 29, 2010; November 1, 2010; and March 23, 2011. It is scheduled to meet again on June 29, 2010.

At its November 1, 2010 meeting, the Board approved the Director's proposed priorities for IES.

At its March 23 meeting, the Board unanimously approved the following two Board resolutions:

Resolutions

1. That Congress continue funding for the Regional Educational Laboratories at current levels as part of any Congressional spending agreement for FY 2011, and authorize the Institute of Education Sciences to extend the existing Laboratory contracts for one additional year beyond their scheduled completion date.
2. That Congress include the following reforms in the authorizing language of Education Department grant programs, wherever feasible and cost-effective, to advance the use of evidence of effectiveness in decision-making:
   • Funding incentives for grant applicants to use program models or strategies ("interventions") supported by evidence of effectiveness, as judged by IES standards such as those used in the Department's Investing in Innovation program;
     
     
   • Funding to evaluate previously untested but highly-promising interventions, through studies overseen by IES that allow for strong causal conclusions, including randomized controlled trials where appropriate; and
     
     
   • Funding incentives for state and local educational agencies to engage in systematic evaluation and improvement of local initiatives, consistent with evidence standards established by IES.