§8651. Program authorized

(a) Authority

(1) In general

In order to implement the purposes of this subchapter, the Secretary is authorized to establish the National Diffusion Network (hereafter referred to in this chapter as "NDN") to carry out a State-based outreach, consultation, training, and dissemination program.

(2) Program requirements

In carrying out the program under this part, the Secretary shall award grants and contracts to National Diffusion Network State Facilitators in each State and outlying area, and to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, in order to assist State and local educational agencies, schools, and other appropriate educational entities-

(A) to identify and secure appropriate, high-quality technical assistance from the comprehensive regional assistance centers under part A of this subchapter and other sources; and

(B) to identify and implement exemplary or promising educational programs and practices.

(b) Eligible entities

The Secretary shall award grants and contracts under this section to public or private nonprofit organizations or institutions with demonstrated expertise in the areas of applied education research and program dissemination.

(c) Administration

The program under this part shall be administered through the Office of Reform Assistance and Dissemination established under section 6041(b) of this title.

(d) Coordination

The National Diffusion Network State Facilitators shall work in close cooperation, and coordinate their activities, with the comprehensive regional assistance centers established under part A of this subchapter.

(e) State facilitator activities

The National Diffusion Network State Facilitators shall provide professional development and technical assistance services to assist State educational agencies, local educational agencies, tribal divisions of education, schools, family and adult literacy programs, and other entities assisted under this chapter, in-

(1) defining such entities' technical assistance needs and aligning such needs with school reform under subchapter I of this chapter, professional development, and technology plans;

(2) securing the technical assistance and professional development services that can best fulfill such needs by utilizing the services of the comprehensive regional assistance centers, the regional education laboratories, the Eisenhower regional consortia, State Literacy Resource Centers authorized under the National Literacy Act of 1991 and other technical assistance providers, including local providers of professional development services;

(3) identifying educational technology needs and securing the necessary technical assistance to address such needs in coordination with the Eisenhower regional consortia under part C of this subchapter and the regional technical assistance and professional development consortia under subpart 3 ¹ of subchapter III of this chapter; and

(4) utilizing technology, including regional and national electronic networks, to increase such entities' access to technical assistance, professional development services, and dissemination of effective programs and promising practices.

(f) Additional duties

In addition, National Diffusion Network State Facilitators shall-

(1) disseminate information about school reform and effective and promising practices, and help local educational agencies and schools adapt such reform and practices to such agencies' needs;

(2) identify educational programs and practices for possible dissemination throughout the State and Nation;

(3) promote and facilitate teacher networks throughout the State;

(4) develop and implement an aggressive outreach plan for reaching the local educational agencies and schools receiving priority under section 8701 of this title; and

(5) provide such other outreach, coordination, and dissemination services as may be necessary to achieve the purposes of this subchapter.

(g) National Diffusion Network effective programs and promising practices system

(1) In general

The Secretary shall develop a system of validating effective programs and promising practices for dissemination through the National Diffusion Network. Such system may include exemplary programs funded through any office of the Department, the National Science Foundation, or other Federal agencies and shall be coordinated, aligned with, and administered by, the Office of Reform Assistance and Dissemination established under section 6041(b) of this title.

(2) Priority

The Secretary shall give priority to identifying, validating, and disseminating effective schoolwide projects, programs addressing the needs of high poverty schools, and programs with the capacity to offer high-quality, sustained technical assistance. The Office of Educational Research and Improvement Office of Reform Assistance and Dissemination shall also administer a grant program for the purpose of dissemination and the provision of technical assistance regarding such system.

(3) Priority of services

The National Diffusion Network State Facilitators shall give priority in providing the services described in this section to-

(A) schoolwide program under section 6314 of this title; and

(B) local educational agencies and Bureau-funded schools with the highest percentages or numbers of children in poverty.

(Pub. L. 89–10, title XIII, §13201, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, §101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3880 .)

References in Text

The National Literacy Act of 1991, referred to in subsec. (e)(2), was Pub. L. 102–73, July 25, 1991, 105 Stat. 333 , as amended, which was repealed by Pub. L. 105–220, title II, §251(a)(2), Aug. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1079 . For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 8622, 8623 of this title.

¹ So in original. Probably should be "subpart 3 of part A".