[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 134 (Wednesday, July 14, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42217-42218]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-15883]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Submission for OMB review; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has submitted the 
following information collection requirement to OMB for review and 
clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13. 
This is the second notice for public comment; the first was published 
in the Federal Register at 69 FR 19240, with a correction notice for 
the title of the program at 69 FR 25145, and no comments were received. 
NSF is forwarding the proposed renewal submission to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance simultaneously with the 
publication of this second notice. Comments regarding (a) whether the 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the agency, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of 
burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information 
to be collected; (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on those who are to respond, including through the use of 
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology should 
be addressed to: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of OMB, 
Attention: Desk Officer for National Science Foundation, 725--17th 
Street, NW,

[[Page 42218]]

Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, and to Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports 
Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, 
Suite 295, Arlington, Virginia 22230 or send e-mail to 
[email protected]. Comments regarding these information collections are 
best assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days of 
this notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by 
calling (703) 292-7556.
    NSF may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless 
the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control 
number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to 
the collection of information that such persons are not required to 
respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently 
valid OMB control number.

supplementary information:
    Title: The Evaluation of NDF's Math and Science Partnerships (MSP) 
Program.
    OMB Control Number: 3145-NEW.

1. Abstract

    This document has been prepared to support the clearance of data 
collection instruments to be used in the evaluation of the Math and 
Science Partnership (MSP) Program. The goals for the program are to (1) 
ensure that all K-12 students have access to, are prepared for, and are 
encouraged to participate and succeed in challenging curricula and 
advanced mathematics and science courses; (2) enhance the quality, 
quantity, and diversity of the K-12 mathematics and science teacher 
workforce; and (3) develop evidence-based outcomes that contribute to 
our understanding of how students effectively learn mathematics and 
science. The motivational force for realizing these goals is the 
formation of partnerships between institutions of higher education 
(IHEs) and K-12 school districts. The role of IHE content faculty is 
the cornerstone of this intervention. In fact, it is the rigorous 
involvement of science, mathematics, and engineering faculty--and the 
expectation that both IHEs and K-12 school systems will be 
transformed--that distinguishes MSP from other education reform 
efforts.
    The components of the overall MSP portfolio include active projects 
whose initial awards were made in prior MSP competitions, as well as 
those to be awarded in the current MSP competition: (1) Comprehensive 
Partnerships that implement change in mathematics and/or science 
educational practices in both higher education institutions and in 
schools and school districts, resulting in improved student achievement 
across the K-12 continuum; (2) Targeted Partnerships that focus on 
improved K-12 student achievement in a narrower grade range or 
disciplinary focus within mathematics or science; (3) Institute 
Partnerships: Teacher Institutes for the 21st Century that focus on the 
development of mathematics and science teachers as school- and 
district-based intellectual leaders and master teachers; and (4) 
Research, Evaluation and Technical Assistance (RETA) projects that 
build and enhance largescale research and evaluation capacity for all 
MSP awardees and provide them with tools and assistance in the 
implementation and evaluation of their work.
    The MSP online monitoring system, comprised of four web-based 
surveys, will collect a common core of data about each component of 
MSP. The web application for MSP will be developed with a modular 
design that incorporates templates and self-contained code modules for 
rapid development and ease of modification. A downloadable version will 
also be available for respondents who prefer a paper version that they 
can mail or fax to Westat. Information from the system will be used to 
document the Partnerships' annual progress toward meeting the Key 
features of MSP projects, such as developing partnerships between IHEs 
and local school districts, increasing teacher quality, quantity, and 
diversity, providing challenging courses and curricula, utilizing 
evidence-based design and outcome measures, and implementing 
institutional change and sustainability.

2. Expected Respondents

    The expected respondents are principal investigators of all 
projects; STEM and education faculty members and administrators who 
participated in MSP; school districts and IHEs that are partners in an 
MSP project.

3. Burden on the Public

    During the first year of data collection, Cohort 1 projects will be 
asked to report baseline data (i.e., for 2001-02) as well as two years 
of activity data (2002-2004). Cohort 2 will be asked to report for its 
baseline (2002-03) and one year of activity data (2003-04). The total 
elements for this first year collection are 45,344 burden hours for a 
maximum of 2,552 participants, assuming a 100% response rate. The 
average annual reporting burden is approximately 17.75 hours per 
respondent. The burden on the public is negligible because the study is 
limited to project participants that have received funding from the MSP 
Program.

Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 04-15883 Filed 7-13-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M