PUBLIC LAW 107-279—NOV. 5, 2002 116 STAT. 1947 (2) To ensure the methodology applied in conducting research, development, evaluation, and statistical analysis is consistent with the standards for such activities under this title. (3) To coordinate education research and related activities carried out by the Institute with such research and activities carried out by other agencies within the Department and the Federal Government. (4) To advise the Secretary on research, evaluation, and statistics activities relevant to the activities of the Department. (5) To establish necessary procedures for technical and scientific peer review of the activities of the Institute, consistent with section 116(b)(3). (6) To ensure that all participants in research conducted or supported by the Institute are afforded their privacy rights and other relevant protections as research subjects, in accordance with section 183 of this title, section 552a of title 5, United States Code, and sections 444 and 445 of the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g, 1232h). (7) To ensure that activities conducted or supported by the Institute are objective, secular, neutral, and nonideological and are free of partisan political influence and racial, cultural, gender, or regional bias. (8) To undertake initiatives and programs to increase the participation of researchers and institutions that have been historically underutilized in Federal education research activities of the Institute, including historically Black colleges or universities or other institutions of higher education with large numbers of minority students. (9) To coordinate with the Secretary to promote and provide for the coordination of research and development activities and technical assistance activities between the Institute and comprehensive centers. (10) To solicit and consider the recommendations of education stakeholders, in order to ensure that there is broad and regular public and professional input from the educational field in the planning and carrying out of the Institute's activities. (11) To coordinate the wide dissemination of information on scientifically valid research. (12) To carry out and support other activities consistent with the priorities and mission of the Institute. (g) EXPERT GUIDANCE AND ASSISTANCE.— The Director may establish technical and scientific peer-review groups and scientific program advisory committees for research and evaluations that the Director determines are necessary to carry out the requirements of this title. The Director shall appoint such personnel, except that officers and employees of the United States shall comprise no more than V4 of the members of any such group or committee and shall not receive additional compensation for their service as members of such a group or committee. The Director shall ensure that reviewers are highly qualified and capable to appraise education research and development projects. The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to a peer-review group or an advisory committee established under this subsection. (h) REVIEW.— The Director may, when requested by other officers of the Department, and shall, when directed by the Secretary,
�
