Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interests^*

The mandate for the National Assessment of Title I included an Independent Review Panel to advise on methodological and other issues that arise in carrying out the evaluation. The Independent Review Panel's function is to insure that the assessment and studies adhere to the highest possible standards of quality with respect to research design, statistical analysis, and the dissemination of findings; and that the studies use valid and reliable measures to document program implementation and impacts; and that they ensure that the final report be reviewed by at least two independent experts in program evaluation. No one on the Independent Review Panel has financial interests that could be affected by the findings from the National Assessment of Title I.

^* Contractors carrying out research and evaluation projects for IES frequently need to obtain expert advice and technical assistance from individuals and entities whose other professional work may not be entirely independent of or separable from the particular tasks they are carrying out for the IES contractor. Contractors endeavor not to put such individuals or entities in positions in which they could bias the analysis and reporting of results, and their potential conflicts of interest are disclosed.