maintain published peer-review standards and standards for the conduct and evaluation of all research and development carried out under the auspices of the Research Center in accordance with this part;

carry out specific, long-term research activities that are consistent with the priorities and mission of the Institute, and are approved by the Director;

promote the use of scientifically valid research within the Federal Government, including active participation in interagency research projects described in section 9518 of this title;

ensure that research conducted under the direction of the Research Center is relevant to education practice and policy;

synthesize and disseminate, through the National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance, the findings and results of education research conducted or supported by the Research Center;

assist the Director in the preparation of a biennial report, as described in section 9519 of this title;

carry out research on successful State and local education reform activities, including those that result in increased academic achievement and in closing the achievement gap, as approved by the Director;

carry out research that is rigorous, peer-reviewed, and large scale to determine which methods of mathematics and science teaching are most effective, cost efficient, and able to be applied, duplicated, and scaled up for use in elementary and secondary classrooms, including in low-performing schools, to improve the teaching of, and student achievement in, mathematics and science as required under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.).