Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 108 Part 1.djvu/165

 PUBLIC LAW 103^27—MAR. 31, 1994 108 STAT. 139 including the need for new sources of data necessary to assess the broad range of early childhood developmental needs. (c) ADVICE.— The Groups shall advise and assist the Congress, the Secretary, the G^als Panel, and others regarding how to improve the assessment of young children and how such assessments can improve services to children. (d) REPORT. —The Goals Panel shall provide reports on the work of the Groups to the appropriate committees of the Congress, the Secretary, and the public. PART B—NATIONAL EDUCATION STANDARDS AND IMPROVEMENT COUNCIL SEC. 211. PURPOSE. 20 USC 5841. It is the purpose of this part to establish a mechanism to— (1) certify and periodically review voluntary national content standards and voluntary national student performance standards that define what all students should know and be able to do; (2) certify State content standards and State student performance standards submitted by States on a voluntary basis, if such standards are comparable or higher in rigor and quality to the voluntary national content standards and voluntary national student performance standards certified by the National Education Standards and Improvement Council; (3) certify and periodically review voluntary national opportunity-to-leam standards that describe the conditions of teaching and learning necessary for all students to have a fair opportunity to achieve the knowledge and skills described in the voluntary national content standards and the voluntary national student performance standards certified by the National Education Standards and Improvement Council; (4) certify opportunity-to-leam standards submitted by States on a voluntary basis, if such standards are comparable or higher in rigor and Quality to the voluntary national opportunity-to-leam standards certified by the National Education Standards and Improvement Council; and (5) certify State assessments submitted by States or groups of States on a voluntary basis, if such assessments— (A) are aligned with and support State content standards certified by such Council; and (B) are valid, reliable, and consistent with relevant, nationally recognized, professional and technical standards for assessment when used for their intended purposes. SEC. 212. NATIONAL EDUCATION STANDARDS AND IMPROVEMENT 20 USC 5842. COUNCIL. (a) ESTABLISHMENT. —There is established in the executive branch a National Education Standards and Improvement Council (hereafter in this part referred to as the "Councir). (b) COMPOSITION.— (1) IN GENERAL.— The Council shall be composed of 19 members (hereafter in this part referred to as "members") who shall be appointed as follows: (A) The President shall appoint 7 individuals to the President. Council from among nominations received from the Secretary under subsection (c)(l)(B)(i), of whom—

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