Minutes of Quarterly Meeting

March 18, 1999

Location

Room 100

80 F Street, NW

Washington, DC 20208-7564

Members Present

Kenji Hakuta, Chair

Patricia A. Baltz

James E. Bottoms

John Bruer

Glenda Lappan

Robert Marley

Joyce Muhlestein

Alba Ortiz

Claire Pelton

Members Absent

Jomills Braddock

Ann Clark

Edmund Gordon

Paul Goren

Lea Schelke

Sharon Lynn Kagan

Ex Officio Members Present

C. Kent McGuire, OERI
Norman Fortenberry, NSF (delegate)
Bonnie Kalberer, NIH (delegate)
Douglas Herbert, National Endowment for the Arts (delegate)

Designated Federal Official

Thelma Leenhouts

 

Board Staff Present

Eve M. Bither

OERI Staff Present

Lance Ferderer, Sharon Horn, Holly Martinez, Jackie Jenkins, Peirce Hammond, Sue Klein, Jim Griffin, Elizabeth Demarest, Carole Lacampagne, Ron Anson, Barbara Humes, Gil Garcia, Joe Teresa, Harold Himmelfarb, Ron Pedone, Carol Sue Fromboluti, Dan Berch, Nevzer Stacy, Ann Sweet, Judith Segal, Oliver Moles, Sue Betka, Enid Simmons

Department of Education / Other Federal Staff Present

Joanne Weiman, ED
Rita Colwell, John Cherniavsky, Ken Chang, Michael Sieverts, NSF

Members of the Public Present

Emerson Elliott, Penny Engel, Richard Hershman, Charles Haughey, Tom Glennan

 

Chairman Hakuta called the meeting to order at 9 a.m. The Designated Federal Official confirmed the presence of a quorum. The chair reported on his interim activities and correspondence on behalf of the Board, including his attendance at the State of American Education address, delivered by Secretary Riley in Long Beach, CA, in February, and his participation, along with Dr. Bruer, in a conference in March on Critical Periods in Learning. He announced that Mrs. Muhlestein had become project director of the Utah Family Information Resource Center, an organization designed to increase parents' knowledge and competence in child rearing activities, and that Dr. Bottoms' projects were cited as exemplary in the Obey-Porter legislation.

Report of the Assistant Secretary

The Assistant Secretary gave a progress report on competitions for Field Initiated Studies, 21^st Century Learning Centers, Technology Innovation Challenge Grants, Star Schools, and Comprehensive School Reform, their structure and timetables, and capacity building for research evaluation. He introduced Dan Berch, now associated with his office, who will be providing leadership on issues related to peer review.

Report of the Director of the National Science Foundation

Dr. Rita Colwell discussed the transformation of the economy and the demands it is making on the educational system. Recent reports from the National Research Council, the National Science Board, and the President's Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology have assessed the scope of the challenges confronting the system and some policies to improve the effectiveness of it. Research findings are leading to new insights in learning at its most fundamental level. NSF supports a continuum of research efforts related to learning and education and to the integration of education and research in numerous programs, from K-12 to post doctorates. She cited the commitment of NSF to the Interagency Education Research Initiative, in collaboration with OERI and the National Institute for Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). This model will bring disciplines together to connect research-based teaching tools with evaluation.

Report of the Executive Director

Ms. Bither reported on the budget for the second quarter and made recommendations for a plan of work (approved by the Executive Committee) for the remainder of FY 1999.

Action Items

1. The Board approved the appointment of a Nominating Committee to propose nominees for chair, vice-chair, and members of the Executive Committee. The slate will be announced at the June Board meeting. Nominating Committee members are Ann Clark, Joyce Muhlestein, and John Bruer, chair.
2. The Board approved the minutes of its January 14-15, 1999 meeting as read.

Discussion Items

1. Members raised issues about the Research and Development Centers in the context of the third year evaluations, which the Assistant Secretary proposed to address in a memo prepared for the June meeting.
2. Dr. Gerald Sroufe, director of government relations, American Educational Research Association, discussed, in historical perspective, the reauthorization of OERI, and the problems that were successively addressed over time by legislation, as well as current issues and perceptions.
3. Members reviewed a draft of its first policy statement with recommendations on research in education based upon its findings over the past four years. The draft was prepared by Emerson Elliott, who led the discussion and will incorporate revisions.

March 19, 1999

Location

Room 100

80 F Street, NW

Washington, DC 20208-7564

Members Present

Kenji Hakuta, Chair

Patricia A. Baltz

James E. Bottoms

John Bruer

Robert Marley

Joyce Muhlestein

Alba Ortiz

Claire Pelton

Members Absent

Jomills Braddock

Ann Clark

Edmund Gordon

Paul Goren

Glenda Lappan

Lea Schelke

Sharon Lynn Kagan

Designated Federal Official

Thelma Leenhouts

Board Staff Present

Eve M. Bither

OERI Staff Present

Carole Lacampagne, Maura Daly, Elizabeth Demarest, Barbara Lieb, Ron Pedone, Sue Klein, Barbara Greenberg, Sue Betka, Carol Sue Fromboluti, Dan Birch, Peirce Hammond, Gil Garcia, Fritz Moser, Audrey Warcola

Members of the Public Present

Diane August; Richard Hershman, NEKIA; Emerson Elliott; Gerald Sroufe; Tom Glennan; Deborah Viadero, Education Week; Carl Kaestle and Jim Greeno, National Academy of Education

The chair called the meeting to order at 9 a.m.

Report of the National Academy of Education

Carl Kaestle, member of the executive committee of the National Academy of Education, presented the highlights of the report, Recommendations Regarding Research Priorities, which the Board had commissioned from the Academy.

Report on the Ed Pubs System

Audrey Warcola of OERI's Media and Information Services gave a presentation on the Education Publication Service Center, which has an online inventory and allows online ordering of all Department of Education publications. The first annual catalog will be available in June.

Discussion Items

The members revisited the work plan, considered the possibility of conferences on English language learning, middle schools, and on issues related to the reauthorization of OERI; a study on the standards for promising and exemplary programs (Phase II Standards); setting up a web site on topics in educational research; revisions of the NAE Report for specific audiences. Time would be reserved on the June meeting agenda to discuss a long-term agenda. The executive director would recapitulate in a memo to all members the suggestions brought up at this meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:15 p.m.