[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 211 (Wednesday, October 31, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65908-65909]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-26716]
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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 77 FR 38336. 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: 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; or (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
[[Page 65909]]
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 email to splimpto@nsf.gov. 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton at (703) 292-7556
or send email to splimpto@nsf.gov. 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).
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.
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 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) 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 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: 2,348
Burden of the Public: The total estimate for this collection is
52,082 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: October 25, 2012.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2012-26716 Filed 10-30-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P