KRS 158.646: Kentucky Institute for Education Research Board.

(1) The Kentucky Institute for Education Research Board is hereby created.

(2) The board shall establish a corporation which can qualify and obtain status under

Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The purpose and mission of the

corporation shall be to solicit and raise funds through private foundations, grants,

and government agencies to support the independent evaluation of the Kentucky

Education Reform Act and related activities. The corporation shall serve as a

stimulus and clearinghouse for Kent ucky Education Reform Act related research

projects.

(3) (a) The board shall cause an in -depth evaluation of the impact of Kentucky

Education Reform Act to be performed. This evaluation shall include, but not

be limited to, the effect of the reforms on stu dents, individual schools, school

systems, and educators. The evaluation shall also include an analysis of the

reliability and validity of the changes in scores between baseline scores and

scores from subsequent administrations of tests.

(b) The board shal l make recommendations to the citizens and elected leaders of

the Commonwealth concerning the enhancement of the benefits of the

Kentucky Education Reform Act and the expansion and improvement of

services to students.

(c) The board shall establish an organizational capacity to:

1. Develop and manage implementation of a research design to include the

issuing of requests for proposals; awarding of contracts; and general

oversight and coordination of the quality and quantity of research;

2. Conduct research in accordance with a comprehensive research design

and establish priorities; and

3. Design and implement a comprehensive educational data information

system.

(d) The board shall prepare an annual report of its activities and the activities of

the corporation and forward copies to the Governor, the Legislative Research

Commission, the Kentucky Board of Education, and the Council on

Postsecondary Education and make copies available to the citizens of the

Commonwealth.

(e) The board shall hire an executive offic er and other necessary personnel to

carry out its responsibilities.

(f) The board shall consist of ten (10) members who shall initially be appointed

to two (2) year terms by the Governor. The board shall select from its

membership a chairperson and establi sh bylaws, including bylaws governing

board membership and length of terms. Upon expiration of the initial

appointments and adoption of bylaws governing membership and length of

terms by the board, the board shall be self -perpetuating, and the appointment

and length of terms shall be made in accordance with the board's bylaws.

Vacancies which occur before the expiration of the initial appointments shall

be filled by the Governor for the remaining term of the vacancy.