(c) Study on Ensuring Accountability for Students Who Are Held to Alternative Achievement Standards.--The Secretary shall carry out a national study or studies to examine--

(1) the criteria that States use to determine--

(A) eligibility for alternate assessments; and

(B) the number and type of children who take those assessments and are held accountable to alternative achievement standards;

(2) the validity and reliability of alternate assessment instruments and procedures;

(3) the alignment of alternate assessments and alternative achievement standards to State academic content standards in reading, mathematics, and science; and

(4) the use and effectiveness of alternate assessments in appropriately measuring student progress and outcomes specific to individualized instructional need.