The Senate education committee last week approved the federal education research bill, a measure that it didn’t get around to passing during the Congress’ last lame-duck session, even though the House and the Senate had reached bipartisan and bicameral agreement.
Committee Chairman Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Ranking Member Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., touted the measure as strengthening the National Assessment Governing Board, which oversees policy for the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Sen. Alexander said bolstering naep is important to work on the No Child Left Behind reauthorization.
The measure must pass the full Senate and also must be taken up by the House.
The Institute of Education Sciences, the U.S. Department of Education’s research arm, has been waiting for new legislation since 2008.