[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 234 (Wednesday, December 7, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72861-72862]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-23708]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Submission for OMB review; comment request.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 70 FR 54584, and two 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., 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:
    Comment: On September 15, 2005, we published in the Federal 
Register (70 FR 54584) a 60-day notice of our intent to request renewal 
of this information collection authority from OMB. In that notice, we 
solicited public comments for 60 days ending November 14, 2005. Two 
comments were received from the same person in response to the public 
notice (the second in response to NSF's reply). The comments came from 
B. Sachau of Florham Park, NJ, via e-mail on September 20, 2005 and 
October 12, 2005. Ms. Sachau objected to the information collection but 
had no specific suggestions for altering the data collection plans 
other than suggesting that teachers could pay for their own courses.
    Response: We responded to Ms. Sachau on October 12, 2005 describing 
the program and noting that these experiences are valuable for teachers 
because they take back to their classrooms knowledge they gained and 
experiences they as a result of exposure to the research component of 
technology commercialization. On October 12, 2005 we received a follow-
up reply from Ms. Sachau restating that she dislikes the program. NSF 
believes that because the comment does not pertain to the collection of 
information on the required forms for which NSF is seeking OMB 
approval, NSF is preceding with the clearance request.
    Title: Evaluation of the Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) 
Program.
    OMB Control Number: 3145-0198.
    Abstract: The Directorate for Engineering (ENG) initiated the 
Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) Supplements activity in FY 2001 
to be add-ons to active awards funded by ENG programs. The intent was 
to build on the popular NSF-wide Research Experiences for 
Undergraduates (REU) Supplements activity by providing opportunities 
for K-12 teachers to conduct hands-on experiences in the laboratories/
facilities of ENG-funded researchers. The assumption was that, like 
undergraduates, the teachers could benefit from involvement in research 
and direct exposure to the scientific method, and they could transfer 
what they learned into classroom activities. Typically the supplements 
supported one or two teachers. Beginning in FY 2002, ENG has also 
funded RET Site awards, which are similar to REU Sites in that NSF 
awards fund groups of teachers to work with faculty members at the same 
institution and to engage in group activities related to the research. 
In 2003, community college faculty became eligible as participants in 
RET

[[Page 72862]]

awards. By design, all RET awards are made to the university in whose 
research the teachers participate.
    The initial study of the program just concluded focused on 
participants in ENG-funded RET Supplement and Site awards in 2001 
through 2003. That study resulted in modifications to the RET program 
announcement for the FY 2006 competition. The proposed follow-up study 
will be very similar to the initial study and focus on teachers who 
participated in RET during 2004 and 2005. The follow-on study will 
examine how RET experience have affected participating teachers' 
subsequent teaching techniques, attitudes about teaching, and 
professional development activities. Outcomes and impacts beyond the 
teachers' own classrooms, such as knowledge transfer activities, formal 
partnerships formed between the RET Principal Investigators (PIs)--the 
awardees--and the teachers' school system/district will also be 
examined. The first survey found that follow-up interaction between PIs 
and teachers were strongly related to reported positive effects. 
Accordingly, the follow-up study will explore this aspect of the 
experience in somewhat greater detail than was done in the first 
survey. The survey data collection will be done on the World Wide Web 
as before.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 15-30 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Individuals.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Form: 456.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 206 hours (456 
respondents at 15-30 minutes per response).
    Frequency of Response: One time.

    Dated: December 2, 2005.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 05-23708 Filed 12-6-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M