Purpose:

The Educational Research, Development, Dissemination and Improvement Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-227, which includes Title IX. This link will transfer users to the Library of Congress Web Site.) directed the Assistant Secretary of Educational Research and Improvement to establish "panels of appropriate qualified experts and practitioners" to evaluate educational programs and recommend to the Secretary those programs that should be designated as promising or exemplary. It is the purpose of the Expert Panels to oversee a valid and viable process for identifying and designating promising and exemplary educational programs so that practitioners can make better-informed decisions in their ongoing efforts to improve the quality of student learning. Specific responsibilities of the Expert Panel include overseeing the entire review process; revising and fine-tuning the review process, as necessary; identifying, selecting, and training reviewers and review panels; making recommendations to the Secretary of Education for designating programs as promising and exemplary; and assuring that the broad and effective dissemination of information about designated promising and exemplary programs occurs.

The Knowledge Application Division of the Office of Reform Assistance and Dissemination has the overall responsibility for the administration of the System of Expert Panels. For a listing of the program's representatives, please go to the contact information page on this web site.

• A Paper on the Historical Roots of the Expert Panel System
• Expert Panel System-Phase II Standards

To order printed copies of publications contact: ED PUBS, Phone: 877-576-7734, TTY/TDD: 877-576-7734, Email: edpubs@inet.ed.gov. When ordering publications, please indicate the publication number for each publication you wish to receive.

• Disseminating Promising and Exemplary Programs: Planning a System of Expert Panels: Working Papers: Meeting Report and Follow-Up Papers
  Publication Number: ORAD97-1216
• Learning from Consumer-Oriented Review Efforts to Guide the Development of a System of Expert Panels to Identify and Share Promising and Exemplary Products and Programs: Working Papers, Vol. One
  Publication Number: ORAD99-1203-I
• Learning from Consumer-Oriented Review Efforts to Guide the Development of a System of Expert Panels to Identify and Share Promising and Exemplary Products and Programs: Working Papers, Vol. Two
  Publication Number: ORAD99-1203-II
• Background Paper for the Expert Panel on Educational Technology
  Not available through ED Pubs.