115 STAT. 1812 PUBLIC LAW 107-110-^AN. 8, 2002 "(B) closing the academic achievement gap for those groups of students farthest away from the proficient level on the academic assessments administered by the State under section 1111. "(4) Scientifically based studies and evaluations of education reform strategies and innovations, and the dissemination of information on the effectiveness of such strategies and innovations. "(5) Identification and recognition of exemplary schools and programs, such as Blue Ribbon Schools, including programs to evaluate the effectiveness of using the best practices of exemplary or Blue Ribbon Schools to improve academic achievement. "(6) Activities to support Scholar-Athlete Games programs, including the World Scholar-Athlete Games and the U.S. Scholar-Athlete Games. "(7) Programs to promote voter participation in American elections through programs, such as the National Student/ Parent Mock Election and Kids Voting USA. "(8) Demonstrations relating to the planning and evaluation of the effectiveness of programs under which local educational agencies or schools contract with private management organizations to reform a school or schools. "(9) Other programs that meet the purposes of this Act. "(c) BASIS OF AWARDS.—The Secretary is authorized to— "(1) make awards under this subpart on the basis of competitions announced by the Secretary; and "(2) support meritorious unsolicited proposals for awards under this subpart. "(d) EFFECTIVENESS OF PROGRAMS.— The Secretary shall ensure that programs supported under this subpart are designed so that their effectiveness is readily ascertainable, and shall ensure that such effectiveness is assessed using rigorous, scientifically based research and evaluations. 20 USC 7243a. " SEC. 5412. APPLICATIONS. "(a) SUBMISSION.—To be eligible for an award under this subpart, an entity shall submit an application to the Secretary, at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. "(b) CONTENTS. — Each application submitted under subsection (a) shall— "(1) establish clear objectives, which are based on scientif- ically based research, for the proposed program; and "(2) describe the activities the applicant will carry out in order to meet the objectives described in paragraph (1). "(c) PEER REVIEW. — The Secretary shall use a peer review process in reviewing applications for awards under this subpart and in recognizing States, local educational agencies, and schools under section 5411(b)(3), only if funds are used for such recognition programs. The Secretary may use funds appropriated under this subpart for the cost of such peer review. 20 USC 7243b. " SEC. 5413. PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS. "(a) EVALUATIONS. — A recipient of an award under this subpart shall—
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