[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 124 (Wednesday, June 27, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38336-38338]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-15695]


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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

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to request reinstatement 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 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 of information 
technology.

DATES: Written comments should be received by August 27, 2012, to be 
assured of consideration. Comments received after that date would 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 email to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne Plimpton on (703) 292-7556 or 
send email 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, which is accessible 
24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year (including federal 
holidays).

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: Not applicable.

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 the knowledge, 
skills and ways of thinking inherent in mathematics, computer science, 
engineering, and/or the natural sciences. 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 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; (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; (5) MSP-Start Partnerships 
are for awardees new to the MSP program, especially from minority-
serving institutions, community colleges and primarily undergraduate 
institutions, to support the necessary data analysis, project design, 
evaluation and team building activities needed to develop a full MSP 
Targeted or Institute Partnership; and (6) Phase II Partnerships for 
prior MSP Partnership awardees focus on specific innovation areas of 
their work where evidence of significant positive impact is clearly 
documented and where an investment of additional resources and time 
would produce more robust findings and results.
    The MSP monitoring information system, comprised of seven 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; the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 
(Pub. L. 109-171) which established the Academic Competitiveness (ACC). 
The MSP program is also directly aligned with two of NSF's long-term 
investment categories: (1) Transform the Frontiers and (2) Innovate for 
Society.

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 are principle 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: 1,687.
    Burden of the Public: The total estimate for this collection is 
16,245 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.


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    Dated: June 22, 2012.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2012-15695 Filed 6-26-12; 8:45 am]
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