Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 102 Part 1.djvu/385

 PUBLIC LAW 100-297—APR. 28, 1988

102 STAT. 347

"(ii) In the exercise of its functions, powers, and duties, the Board shall hire its own staff and shall be independent of the Secretary and the other offices and officers of the Department of Education, "(iii) The Secretary may appoint, at the direction of the Board, for terms not to exceed 3 years, without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, not more than 6 technical employees to administer this subsection who may be paid without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates. "(D)(i) The members of the Assessment Policy Committee, serving on the date of enactment of the National Assessment of Educational Progress Improvement Act, shall become members of the Board for the remainder of the terms of the appointment to the Assessment Policy Committee. "(ii) To complete the initial membership of the Board, the Secretary shall appoint members of the Board as necessary in the categories described in subparagraph (B) for which there are no members continuing from the Assessment Policy Committee on the date of enactment of the National Assessment of Educational Progress Improvement Act. The Secretary shall appoint such members from among nominees furnished by the Governors, chief State school officers, education associations and organizations, the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Education, parent organizations, and learned societies. "(iii) As vacancies occur, new members of the Board shall be appointed by the Secretary from among individuals who are nominated by the Board after consultation with representatives of the groups listed in subparagraph (B). For each vacancy the Board shall nominate at least 3 individuals who, by reason of experience or training, are qualified in that particular Board vacancy. "(E) Members of the Board appointed in accordance with this paragraph shall serve for terms not to exceed 4 years which shall be staggered, as determined by the Secretary, subject to the provisions of subparagraph (D)(i). Any appointed member of the Board who changes status under subparagraph (B) during the term of the appointment of the member may continue to serve as a member until the expiration of that term. "(6)(A) In carrying out its functions under this subsection, the Board shall be responsible for— "(i) selecting subject areas to be assessed (consistent with paragraph (2)(A)); "(ii) identifying appropriate achievement goals for each age and grade in each subject area to be tested under the National Assessment; "(iii) developing assessment objectives; "(iv) developing test specifications; "(v) designing the methodology of the assessment; "(vi) developing guidelines and standards for analysis plans and for reporting and disseminating results; "(vii) developing standards and procedures for interstate, regional and national comparisons; and "(viii) taking appropriate actions needed to improve the form and use of the National Assessment. "(B) The Board may delegate any functions described in subparagraph (A) to its staff.

19-194 O—91—Part 1

13: OL 3

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