[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 104 (Wednesday, May 29, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46425-46426]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-11759]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Establish an Information 
Collection

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, and as part of its 
continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, the 
National Science Foundation (NSF) is inviting the general public or 
other Federal agencies to comment on this proposed continuing 
information collection.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by July 29, 
2024, to be assured consideration. Comments received after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable. Send comments to address 
below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance 
Officer, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, 
Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone (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).
    Comments: Comments are invited on: (a) whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the Foundation, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Foundation's estimate 
of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on those who are to respond, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title of Collection: NSF's Evaluation of the Robert Noyce Teacher 
Scholarship Program.
    OMB Number: 3145-NEW.
    Expiration Date of Approval: Not applicable.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to establish an 
information collection.
    Abstract: The National Science Foundation (NSF) Robert Noyce 
Teacher Scholarship Program (Noyce) aims to address the critical need 
for highly effective elementary and secondary mathematics and science 
teachers in high-need school districts. The program supports the 
recruitment, preparation, and retention of STEM (science, technology, 
engineering, and mathematics) undergraduate majors and professionals to 
become K-12 STEM teachers, as well as experienced teachers to become 
teacher leaders. Noyce offers four program tracks:
    1. Scholarships and Stipends: Supports undergraduate STEM majors 
and professionals with financial assistance and stipends to become K-12 
STEM teachers in high-need school districts. Requires a teaching 
commitment of 2 years for each year of scholarship support.
    2. Teaching Fellowships: Provides support to STEM professionals to 
become K-12 STEM teachers in high-need districts. Requires a 4-year 
teaching commitment.
    3. Master Teaching Fellowships: Supports experienced K-12 STEM 
teachers to become teacher leaders in high-need districts. Requires a 
5-year teaching commitment.
    4. Noyce Research: Funds research projects focused on the 
effectiveness and retention of K-12 STEM teachers in high-need 
districts.
    Additionally, the program accepts Capacity Building proposals from 
those preparing to submit proposals in any of the program's tracks and 
supports conference proposals aimed at improving STEM teacher 
preparation. The program also invites proposals for authentic Research 
Experiences in STEM Settings (RESS) for both Noyce and non-Noyce pre-
service and in-service STEM teachers.
    The NSF Directorate for STEM Education (EDU) Division of 
Undergraduate Education (DUE) requires evaluation and technical 
services for the Noyce program. Noyce has a 20-year history of 
responding to the critical need for highly effective K-

[[Page 46426]]

12 STEM teachers in high-need school districts by recruiting and 
preparing talented undergraduate STEM majors and STEM professionals to 
pursue teaching careers in elementary and secondary schools. Since its 
inception, the program has commissioned three program evaluations, the 
most recent in 2017. In 2023 Noyce sought contractor support to 
evaluate Noyce outcomes and processes to determine the effectiveness of 
program components in meeting established goals within the last 10 
years. SRI was selected to complete this work.
    The evaluation of Noyce focuses on three evaluation questions:
    1. What are the goals of Noyce awards and what activities do 
teacher preparation programs use to diversify, recruit, select, 
prepare, empower, and support Noyce recipients?
    2. What are the relationships between the types of support, 
activities, and training that Noyce recipients receive; the types of 
Noyce recipients; and the recipients' plans to go into and stay in 
teaching and leadership roles?
    3. What is the impact of Noyce on teacher certification in STEM 
fields and employment in high-need schools?
    The NSF EDU Directorate requests the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) approval of this clearance to initiate new data 
collections to be conducted as part of an external evaluation of the 
Noyce program. These collections, to be conducted by the evaluation 
contractor, include:
    Qualitative data collection. The qualitative data collection 
includes interviews and focus groups that will support the development 
of case studies, network analysis. We plan to conduct case studies with 
up to 12 Noyce hub grantees. The case studies will include the awardee 
institution, its partner organizations, Noyce project staff, project 
participants, and partner schools. Our primary method of data 
collection will be through interviews with key stakeholders. These 
stakeholders will include the Noyce project Principal Investigator 
(PI), co-PI(s), program staff, and teachers. This data will also be 
used to support Noyce network analysis to understand how Noyce-funded 
individuals and organizations are connected and the quality of their 
interactions. In addition, we plan to conduct an additional 20 
interviews with Noyce principal investigators, scholars, and teachers, 
along with 10 focus groups.
    Use of the Information: Noyce anticipates using the results of this 
evaluation to:
    1. Identify ``Noyce best, emerging, or promising practices'' that 
can make the program more effective and efficient to sustain and grow 
impacts of Noyce on diversifying, recruiting, selecting, preparing, 
empowering, and supporting K-12 STEM teachers.
    2. Inform Noyce on sustainability mechanisms and goals appropriate 
for Noyce Principal Investigators (PIs) to maintain their successful 
outcomes.
    3. To understand and disseminate how Noyce is impacting the field.
    4. Provide insights into potential barriers PIs face that inhibit 
success.
    5. Identify strategies Noyce projects can implement to optimize 
goal attainment, effectiveness, and efficiencies.
    Expected Respondents: Data collection will primarily involve 
interviews with key stakeholders including the Noyce project Principal 
Investigator (PI), co-PI(s), program staff, and teachers.

Estimate of Burden

    Estimates of Annualized Cost to Respondents for the Hour Burdens: 
The overall annualized cost to the respondents is estimated to be 
$8,435. The following table shows the estimated burden and costs to 
respondents. The estimated hourly rates are based on a report from the 
Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wages, May 
2023).\1\
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    \1\ https://www.bls.gov/oes/.

 
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                                                                  Total number of    Burden hours per   Total hour    Average hourly    Estimated annual
                        Collection title                            respondents         respondent        burden           rate               cost
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Noyce PIs, program staff for case studies......................                 60                  1           60             $48.87          $2,932.20
Noyce-funded teachers for case studies.........................                 60                  1           60              35.48           2,128.80
Noyce PIs, program staff.......................................                 10                  1           10              48.87             488.70
Noyce teacher interviews.......................................                 10                  1           10              35.48             354.80
Noyce PIs, program staff focus groups..........................                 30                  1           30              48.87           1,466.10
Noyce teacher focus groups.....................................                 30                  1           30              35.48           1,064.40
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    Total......................................................                200  .................          200  .................           8,435.00
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    Estimated Number of Responses per Report: Data collection is 
estimated to involve a total number of 200 respondents.

    Dated: May 23, 2024.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2024-11759 Filed 5-28-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P