Federal Register: November 6, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 215)
DOCID: FR Doc 01-27852
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
National Science Foundation
NOTICE: NOTICES
ACTION: Agency information collection activities:
DOCUMENT ACTION: Emergency Clearance: Public Information Collection Requirements Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Emergency Clearance; Public Information Collection Requirements Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget; Notice
DATES: Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding the burden or any other aspect of these collections of information requirements. However, as noted below, comments on these information collection and record keeping requirements must be received by the designees referenced below by November 13, 2001.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to request approval of this collection. In accordance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 10413), we are providing an opportunity for public comment on this action. After obtaining and considering public comment, NSF will prepare the submission requesting that OMB approve clearance of this collection for no longer than 3 years.
SUMMARY:
Submission for OMB review; comment request,
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Request For Emergency Clearance for Data Collection in Support of a CrossSite Evaluation of National Science Foundation's Directorate For Education and Human Resources The Urban Systemic Program
OMB Approval Number: OMB 3145(new).
Expiration Date: Not applicable.
Abstract: The National Science Foundation (NSF) requests a six month (180 days) emergency clearance for the Evaluation of the Urban Systemic Program (USP), a study that has been ongoing since October 1999 under OMB 31450136. Due to a change in OMB terms of clearance for OMB 31450136, NSF is seeking to establish an independent clearance for the USP study. A fourmonth delay (for standard OMB clearance) would negatively impact the baseline data collection by placing the resumption of scheduling of data collection at the end of the 20012002 school year. Participating school districts (respondents) work on a ninemonth schedule. Scheduling evaluator's visits at the height of endofyear events and on the eve of summer vacation is inconvenient for the respondents. Furthermore, when the school year ends key interviewees including teachers are unavailable.
As part of the study, four site visits have been scheduled for fall of 2001. The inconvenience to these districts
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represented by a delay or suspension of data collection activities
would harm the overall evaluation effort. Finally, given the turnover
in leadership in urban school districts, a time lapse in data
collection will result in an increased risk of the departure of key USP
staff, further delaying timely and reliable data collection. As part of
multiple data collection activities over time, opportunities to
supplement baseline data through observations of normal USP operations
will be compromised, possibly leading to inconsistent data across sites.
USP began in 1999 when NSF made competitive awards of up to $3 million, for each of 5 years, to five urban school districts. The USP represents NSF's major current investment in improving science and mathematics education in urban school systems across the country, and having a thirdparty evaluative documentation will be important in interpreting the worthiness of the investment.
NSF uses the data to: (1) Determine whether to modify or extend the USP concepts and (2) share best practices and lessons learned about systemic reform with school, district, and state educators.
Specifically, during the first two years of the USP CrossSite Evaluation First, the thirdparty has produced reports for others at NSF (e.g., the National Science Board). Though there are other sources of such documentation, the information provided by the CrossSite team is valued because the team is conducting an evaluation and is not associated in any other way with the program sites. Second, the Division of Educational System Reform uses the information to supplement its annual program monitoring. Third, NSF will use the information as a program evaluation, both assessing its investment in the USP program and potentially helping to guide the design of future programs.
Respondents: State, local or tribal governments.
Number of Respondents: 378.
Burden on the Public: 270 hours.
Dated: November 1, 2001.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
NSF Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 0127852 Filed 11601; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 755501M
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 295, Arlington, Virginia 22230; telephone (703) 2927556; 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 18008778339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday.