Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request, 8618-8619 [06-1516]

Agencies

• NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 33 (Friday, February 17, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8618-8619]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-1516]


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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, Pub. L. 104-13. 
This is the second notice for public comment; the first was published 
in the Federal Register at 70 FR 49684, and one comment was 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 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.
    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: 
    Comment: On August 24, 2005, we published in the Federal Register 
(70 FR 49684) a 60-day notice of our intent to request renewal of this 
information collection authority from OMB. In that notice, we solicited 
public comments for 60 days ending October 24, 2005. One comment was 
received in response to the public notice. The comment came from B. 
Sachau of Florham Park, NJ, via e-mail on August 24, 2005. Ms. Sachau 
objected to the information collection but had not specific suggestions 
for altering the data collection plans other than to discontinue them 
entirely.
    Response: NSF believes that because the comment does not pertain to 
the collection of information on the required forms for which NSF is 
seeking OMB approval, NSF is proceeding with the clearance request.
    Title of Collection: Evaluation of the National Science 
Foundation's Math and Science Partnership (MSP) Program.
    OMB Control No.: 3145--New.
    Expiration Date of Approval: Not applicable.
    Abstract: The National Science Foundation (NSF) requests a three-
year clearance for an evaluation of the Math and Science Partnership 
(MSP) program. After three years in existence, MSP as a program in its 
entirety has not been evaluated regarding whether it is achieving its 
goals or purposes. 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).
    The 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, teacher institute 
partnerships, and Research, Evaluation, and Technical Assistance 
(RETAs), or universe of approximately 65 discrete projects.
    The evaluation's data collection and analysis activities will be 
conducted by COSMOS Corporation, Bethesda in partnership with Brown 
University, George Mason University, and The McKenzie Group 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 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

[[Page 8619]]

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, 2007, and 2008. The 
evaluation plan selects a random sample of sites to be the subject of 
the 2006 and 2007 site visits. In this manner, data and lessons derived 
from the earlier site visits can be the basis for generalizing to the 
entire MSP Program portfolio during 2006 and 2007. By 2008, with the 
entire census of study projects covered, such a sampling logic will no 
longer be relevant. The initial random sample will be stratified so 
that every grant site visit occurs before the grant expires.
    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 a 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; and 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 Annual Respondents: 450.
    Burden on the Public: 950 hours.

    Dated: February 14, 2006.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 06-1516 Filed 2-16-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M