[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 217 (Wednesday, November 10, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69135-69136]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-28308]


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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, Public Law 104-13. 
This is the second notice for public comment; the first was published 
in the Federal Register at 74 FR 32196, and no comments addressing the 
areas in question 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:
    Title of Collection: Evaluation of the National Science 
Foundation's Math and Science Partnership (MSP) Program.
    OMB Control No.: 3145-0200.
    Abstract: The National Science Foundation (NSF) requests a three-
year clearance for an evaluation of the Math and Science Partnership 
(MSP) program. The MSP program is a research and development (R&D) 
effort funded by the NSF to integrate the work of higher education, 
especially disciplinary faculty in math, sciences, and engineering, 
with that of K-12 communities in order to strengthen and reform math 
and science education. The program is authorized under the NSF 
Authorization Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-368), December 19, 2002 (to 
authorize appropriations for FY 2003-07 and ``for other purposes''). 
MSP is among 11 programs specifically authorized by the legislation 
(Sec. 11 authorizes a 12th program, the Centers for Research on 
Mathematics and Science Learning and Education Improvement).
    NSF's MSP program portfolio consists of about 80 awards or projects 
(e.g. design grants, standard or continuing grants or cooperative 
agreements) that initially were funded between 2002 and 2004. The type 
of awards subject to study and data collection, however, include only 
the comprehensive MSPs, targeted MSPs and teacher institute 
partnerships, or a universe of approximately 65 discrete projects.
    The evaluation's data collection and analysis activities will be 
conducted by COSMOS Corporation, Bethesda, MD, in partnership with 
Brown University via a contract administered by the NSF's Division of 
Research, Evaluation and Communication (REC). This evaluation involves 
both quantitative and qualitative data, collected from multiple sources 
using multiple methods, including secondary analyses of project-related 
materials such as existing databases (MSP Management Information 
System--OMB 3145-0199), annual reports, Web sites, and relevant

[[Page 69136]]

policy and methodological documents and original data collection 
through one-on-one interviews with key stakeholders conducted during 
site visits. For the MSP Management Information System, the contract 
team will analyze these data using quantitative statistical models. A 
second data source consists of annual project reports and other reports 
submitted by the MSP grantees to the NSF in accordance with Federal 
research project reporting requirements established at NSF under OMB 
3145-0058. A third source is U.S. Department of Education's public use 
files on student achievement and school systems' demographic 
characteristics.
    The fourth source for data is the proposed evaluation's original 
data collection activities. In particular and principally a series of 
site visits will be conducted during 2006-2011.
    The evaluation's overall framework consists of several substudies 
each focusing on a different, but essential part of the MSP grantees' 
work (e.g., partnerships, the role of disciplinary faculty, student 
achievement). The relevant evaluation design under these conditions 
might be considered a meta-analytic rather than singular design--e.g., 
providing a rationale for the selection of substudies as well as some 
guidance for conducting the substudies. Consultations have occurred 
with a team of external experts on the research design during the 
evaluation's design phase and will continue to take place throughout 
the evaluation. The team of external experts represents the nation's 
leading researchers and scholars on methodology and content in the 
field of evaluation and representatives are from top-tier university 
schools of education and departments of mathematics or science; an 
education advocacy group; and an education research council.
    The data collection instruments include face-to-face interviews, 
such as focus groups, and telephone or electronic surveys. An interview 
protocol based on the evaluation framework will be administered during 
the site visits. Expected respondents at site visits are Principal 
Investigators, co-Principal Investigators, administrators, teams of 
external experts, and other stakeholders who participated in MSP. There 
are no costs to respondents other than the time involved in the 
interview or survey process.
    Information from the evaluation's data collections and analysis 
will be used to improve the NSF's program processes and outcomes. It 
will enable NSF to prepare and publish reports, and 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).
    The primary evaluation questions include but are not limited to:
    (1) How has the MSP Program effected or influenced the expertise, 
numbers, and diversity of the mathematics and science teaching force, 
K-12 student achievement in mathematics and science, and other presumed 
program outcomes?
    (2) What factors or attributes have accelerated or constrained 
progress in the MSP Program's achievements? and
    (3) How have institutions of higher education (IHEs) disciplinary 
faculty (mathematics, science, and engineering) participated in the MSP 
Program, and what has been their role in the Program's achievements?
    Respondents: Individuals and not-for-profit institutions.
    Estimated Number of Total Respondents: 352.
    Total Burden on the Public: 960 hours.

    Dated: November 4, 2010.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2010-28308 Filed 11-9-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P