[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 77 (Friday, April 22, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20937-20938]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-8060]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: National Science Foundation

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to 
request reinstatement and clearance of this collection. In accordance 
with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995, we are providing opportunity for public comment 
on this action. After obtaining and considering public comment, NSF 
will prepare the submission requesting OMB clearance of this collection 
for no longer than 3 years.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the Agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of

[[Page 20938]]

the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information on respondents, including through the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and (d) 
ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
respondents, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms off information technology.

DATES: Written comments should be received by June 21, 2005, to be 
assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will be 
considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding the information collection and 
requests for copies of the proposed information collection request 
should be addressed to Suzanne Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, 
National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Rm. 295, Arlington, VA 
22230, or by e-mail to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne Plimpton on (703) 292-7556 or 
send e-mail to [email protected]. Individuals who use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 
p.m., eastern time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Request for Clearance for a Cross-Project Evaluation of the 
National Science Foundation's Directorate for Education and Human 
Resources' Local Systemic Change through Teacher Enhancement Program 
(LSC).

Title of Collection

    OMB Control No.: 3145-0161.
    Expiration Date of Approval: Not applicable.
    Abstract: The National Science Foundation (NSF) requests a three-
year extension for evaluation and data collection (e.g., surveys and 
interviews) from participants in projects funded by the Local Systemic 
Change (LSC) through Teacher Enhancement (TE) program. This recurring 
study or ``cross-Project Evaluation'' was most recently approved 
through July 2005 (OMB 345-0161). The LSC program is a large-scale 
effort to modify the nature of teacher in-service training (also called 
professional development) provided to science and mathematics teachers 
in a large number of school districts across the United States. NSF 
provided each individual project with a grant(s) of up to $6 million.
    Data collection from the NSF-funded LSC projects has been going on 
for a long number of years. The surveys and interview protocols are 
part of a longitudinal data collection used for program-wide monitoring 
and evaluation of the remaining LSC projects. The universe of LSC 
projects the last time this collection was renewed was 72. The current 
universe for this study of LSC projects is 15. NSF does not 
anticipating making new project awards under the LSC program. As in the 
past each of the projects will administer teacher and principal 
questionnaires (surveys) at appropriate times during the school year 
based on each the evaluation's design.
    Horizon Research, Inc. maintains survey responses in a database 
designed to provide information and reports on LSC projects for 
individual project accountability and for overall assessment to help 
NSF judge program effectiveness. Horizon's data analysis and reports 
are useful both to the projects themselves for self-assessments and to 
the NSF in order to help to measure the LSC program's performance. In 
particular, NSF uses these data to respond to requests from Committees 
of Visitors, Congress and the Office of Management and Budget, 
particularly as related to the Government Performance and Results Act 
(GPRA) and the Program Effectiveness Rating Tool (PART).
    Horizon's reports to NSF deal with the characteristics and 
performance of the LSC program and include tables and charts generated 
from the database. The LSC study's broad questions addressed by data 
analysis include (but are not limited to):
    What is the impact of the LSC projects on science and mathematics 
curriculum, instruction, and assessment? How do participant reports of 
instructional practice change over the course of the LSC projects? How 
do participant reports of assessment practice change over the course of 
the projects? How do teacher and principal beliefs about effective 
science and mathematics instruction change over the course of the NSF-
funding for the projects? What is the overall quality of the 
professional development activities? How do participants rate various 
aspects of professional development experiences provided by the 
projects? What is the extent of teacher involvement in these projects?
    Respondents: Individuals or households, and not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 5,650.
    Burden on the Public: 1,870 hours.

    Dated: April 18, 2005.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 05-8060 Filed 4-21-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M