[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 154 (Wednesday, August 12, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40628-40629]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-19343]


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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 74 FR 12153, and no substantial comments 
were 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. The full submission may be found 
at: http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. 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 Foundation, 725 17th Street, NW., Room 10235, Washington, DC 
20503, and to Suzanne Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National 
Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 295, Arlington, 
Virginia 22230 or send e-mail to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#641714080d0914100b240a17024a030b12"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e49794888d8994908ba48a9782ca838b92">[email protected]</span></a>. 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: 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 e-mail to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#384b48545155484c5778564b5e165f574e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e59695898c8895918aa58b9683cb828a93">[email protected]</span></a>.
    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: Research in 
Disabilities Education Program On-Line Project Data Management System.
    OMB Control No.: 3145-0164.

Abstract

    The National Science Foundation (NSF) requests a reinstatement of 
the information collection for the Program for Persons with 
Disabilities, now called the Research in Disabilities Education (RDE) 
program. This on-line, annual data collection will describe and track 
the impact of RDE program funding on Nation's science, technology, 
engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and STEM workforce.
    NSF funds grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements to 
colleges, universities, and other eligible institutions, and provides 
graduate research fellowships to individuals in all parts of the United 
States and internationally. The Directorate for Education and Human 
Resources (EHR), a unit within NSF, promotes rigor and vitality within 
the Nation's STEM education enterprise to further the development of 
the 21st century's STEM workforce and public scientific literacy. EHR 
does this through diverse projects and programs that support research, 
extension, outreach, and hands-on activities serving STEM learning and 
research at all institutional (e.g. pre-school through postdoctoral) 
levels in formal and informal settings; and individuals of all ages 
(birth and beyond). The RDE program focuses specifically on broadening 
the participation and achievement of people with disabilities in all 
fields of STEM education and associated professional careers. The RDE 
program has been funding this objective since 1994 under the prior name 
Program for Persons with Disabilities. Particular emphasis is placed on 
contributing to the knowledge base by addressing disability related 
differences in secondary and post-secondary STEM learning and in the 
educational, social and pre-professional experiences that influence 
student interest, academic performance, retention in STEM degree 
programs,

[[Page 40629]]

STEM degree completion, and career choices. Research and demonstration 
projects also investigate effective practices for transitioning 
students with disabilities across critical academic junctures, 
retaining students in undergraduate and graduate STEM degree programs, 
and graduating students with STEM associate, baccalaureate and graduate 
degrees. Research, demonstration, and enrichment project results inform 
the delivery of innovative, transformative and successful practices 
employed by the Alliances for Students with Disabilities in STEM to 
increase the number of students with disabilities completing associate, 
undergraduate and graduate degrees in STEM and to increase the number 
of students with disabilities entering our nation's science and 
engineering workforce. RDE projects contribute to closing the gaps 
occurring for people with disabilities in STEM fields by successfully 
disseminating findings, project evaluation results, and proven good 
practices and products to the public.
    The original information collection, approved by OMB in 1996, 
surveyed three groups of students: students with disabilities in STEM 
fields, student with disabilities in other fields, and students without 
disabilities in STEM fields. These data allowed NSFD to understand more 
fully the population of students with disabilities in STEM fields and 
the issues they faced. The collection that will be submitted for 
reinstatement focuses more specifically on the outcomes of the RDE 
program, and how alliances and researchers receiving NSF RDE funding 
have improved the academic environment for students with disabilities. 
This information collection will consist of an on-line data instrument 
that RDE awardees will use to submit annual data on their project 
activities and participants, as well as future evaluation activities.

Use of the Information

    This information is required for effective 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) 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/pubsumm.jsp?ods_key=nsf0648.
    Data collected will be used for accountability purposes, including 
responding from queries from Committees of Visitors and other 
scientific experts, and for separate research and evaluation studies.

Estimate of Burden

    Respondents: Principal Investigators and/or project staff receiving 
NSF RDE awards.
    Number of Respondents: 45.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1220 hours.
    Frequency of Responses: Data will be collected from awardees 
annually, and on an as-needed basis for future evaluation work.

    Dated: August 7, 2009.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. E9-19343 Filed 8-11-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P


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