[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 114 (Thursday, June 12, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33459-33460]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-13186]


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

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, Public Law 104-13. 
This is the second notice for public comment; the first was published 
in the Federal Register at 73 FR 14276, 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. The full submission may be found at: 
http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. 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 via 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 of Collection: Monitoring for the National Science 
Foundation's Math and Science Partnership (MSP) Program.
    OMB Control No.: 3145-0199.
    Expiration Date of Approval: September 30, 2008.

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 prior to MSP competitions: (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 large-scale 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 monitoring information system, comprised of eight Web-based 
surveys and one paper survey, collects a common core of data about each 
component of MSP. The Web application for MSP has been 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 the external contractor.
    Use of the information: This information is required for effective 
program planning, administration, communication, program and project 
monitoring and evaluation, and for measuring attainment of NSF's 
program, project and strategic goals, as required by the President's 
Management agenda as represented by the Office of Management and 
Budget's (OMB's) Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART); the Deficit 
Reduction Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-171) which established the Academic 
Competitiveness (ACC) and the NSF's Strategic Plan. The Foundation's FY 
2006-2011 Strategic Plan describes four strategic outcome goals of 
Discovery, Learning, Research Infrastructure, and Stewardship. NSF's 
complete strategic plan may be found at: http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf0648.

2. Expected Respondents

    Individuals or households, not-for-profit institutions, business or 
other for profit, and Federal, State, local or tribal government. The 
expected respondents

[[Page 33460]]

are principal investigators of all partnership and RETA projects; STEM 
and education faculty members and administrators who participated in 
MSP; school districts and IHEs that are partners in an MSP project; and 
teachers participating in Institute Partnerships.

3. Burden on the Public

    Number of Respondents: 3,149.
    Burden on the Public: The total estimate for this collection is 
50,322 annual burden hours.
    This figure is based upon the previous 3 years of collecting 
information under this clearance and anticipated collections. The 
average annual reporting burden is estimated to be between 2 and 22 
hours per respondent depending on whether a respondent is a direct 
participant who is self-reporting or representing a project and 
reporting on behalf of many project participants. The majority of 
respondents (60%) are estimated to require fewer than two hours to 
complete the survey. The burden on the public is negligible because the 
study is limited to project participants that have received funding 
from the MSP Program.

    Dated: June 9, 2008.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. E8-13186 Filed 6-11-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P