; and (B) activities related to the development of practices, wide dissemination, and evidence use are effectively carried out. (9) To advise the Director on ensuring that activities conducted or supported by the Institute are objective, secular, neutral, and nonideological and are free of partisan political influence and bias on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, or disability. (10) To solicit advice and information from those in the education field, particularly practitioners, education system leaders, policymakers, and researchers, to recommend to the Director topics that require long-term, sustained, systematic, programmatic, and integrated research efforts, consistent with the priorities and mission of the Institute. (11) To advise the Director on opportunities for the participation in, and the advancement of, women, minorities, and persons with disabilities, and institutions that have been historically underrepresented in Federal education research activities of the Institute, including community colleges, historically Black colleges and universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and other minority-serving institutions. (12) To recommend to the Director ways to enhance strategic partnerships and collaborative efforts among other Federal and State research agencies. (13) To recommend to the Director individuals to serve as Commissioners of the National Education Centers. (c) Composition (1) Voting members The Board shall have 9 voting members appointed by the Secretary. (2) Advice The Secretary shall solicit advice regarding individuals to serve on the Board from the members of the Board serving on the date of the solicitation, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, and organizations that have knowledge of individuals who are highly-qualified to appraise scientifically valid research, statistics, evaluation, development, dissemination, and evidence use. (3) Nonvoting ex officio members The Board may have the following nonvoting ex officio members: (A) The