Federal support for science education programs is spread across many
departments and agencies, including the Department of Education, the
National Science Foundation, NASA and the Department of Energy. This
FYI addresses the FY 2004 budget request for the science and math education
programs of NSF and the Education Department.
Because funding levels for FY 2003 have not yet been enacted, it is
difficult to place the FY 2004 request in context. One way to look at
the FY 2004 request is to compare it to the FY 2002 appropriations level,
which is based on a final appropriation, to see how funding would change
over the two-year period. Below, the FY 2004 request has been compared
with both the FY 2003 request and the FY 2002 appropriation.
Under the Administration's FY 2004 request, NSF's total Education and
Human Resources Activity would see an increase from both the FY 2003
request and the FY 2002 appropriation. Within this Activity, NSF's Elementary,
Secondary, and Information Education programs would be cut substantially
compared to both the FY 2002 funding level and the FY 2003 request,
while the Graduate Education programs would receive a significant increase
by both measures. Results are mixed for some of NSF's other education
programs. Funding for NSF's Math and Science Partnerships program would
remain equal to the FY 2003 request, and greater than the FY 2002 appropriation.
The request for the complementary Math and Science Partnerships within
the Department of Education would remain unchanged from the FY 2003
request and the FY 2002 appropriation.
Administration budget documents describe the Math and Science Partnership
programs as follows: "The President's goal of improving the quality
of math and science education in Grades K-12 continues to be pursued
through the Math and Science Partnerships (MSP) Initiative, which supports
school districts to form partnerships with institutions of higher education,
allowing scientists and engineers to be part of the solution in improving
student math and science achievement. The budget provides $200 million
for this initiative at the National Science Foundation and $12.5 million
at the Department of Education."
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Education within NSF is supported by the Education and Human Resources
(EHR) Activity. This activity "supports education, research, and
infrastructure development in all science, technology, engineering and
mathematics (STEM) disciplines," according to NSF budget documents.
"NSF is the principal federal agency charged with promoting science
and engineering (S&E) education at all levels and in all settings....
EHR's education and research programs are aligned with Administration
priorities as outlined in the "No Child Left Behind Act" and
the Administration's interagency priorities for R&D."
The FY 2004 request for the EHR activity is $938.0 million, an increase
of 8.3% from the FY 2002 appropriation and of 3.3% from the FY 2003
request. For fiscal year 2004, the EHR activities will be targeted toward
four broad goals: attracting U.S. citizens to STEM careers and preparing
the next generation of STEM professionals; improving public scientific
and technological literacy; developing "the capacity to promote
participation (diversity) and achievement in STEM consistently and effectively;"
and supporting the recruitment, retention and retraining of the STEM
workforce. Within the FY 2004 EHR request are the following programs:
- Math and Science Partnership: $200.0 million; up 33.3% from
the FY 2002 appropriation; equal to the FY 2003 request. Within this
program will be funded a new MSP Teacher Institutes for the 21st Century
initiative.
- EPSCoR: $75.0 million; down 17.3% from the FY 2002 appropriation;
equal to the FY 2003 request. The request supports research infrastructure
improvement, co-funding of research and education proposals, and outreach
efforts.
- Elementary, Secondary and Informal Education: $194.5 million;
down 7.7% from the FY 2002 appropriation; down 8.1% from the FY 2003
request. Activities supported by the FY 2004 request include instructional
and assessment materials development, teacher development, Centers for
Learning and Teaching, a continuum of professional experiences for pre-
and in-service teachers, Presidential Awards in science and math teaching,
and informal science education.
- Undergraduate Education: $142.1 million; down 0.4% from the
FY 2002 appropriation; up 4.8% from the FY 2003 request. Activities
supported under Curriculum, Laboratory and Instructional Development
include the STEM Talent Expansion Program, the Robert Noyce Scholarship
Program, the National STEM Education Digital Library, the NSF Director's
Awards for Distinguished Teaching Scholars, and course, curriculum and
laboratory improvements. Activities supported under Workforce Development
include Scholarships for Service to protect the nation's critical cyber
and information infrastructure, improvements in technician education,
Teacher Professional Continuum initiative, and Higher Education Centers
for Learning and Teaching.
- Graduate Education: $156.9 million; up 48.0% from the FY
2002 appropriation; up 22.2% from the FY 2003 request. The requested
increase for FY 2004 would help achieve greater diversity and increased
support levels for the Graduate Research Fellowships.
- Human Resources Development: $103.4 million; up 6.6% from
the FY 2002 appropriation; up 14.6% from the FY 2003 request. This request
supports programs for historically black and tribal colleges and universities,
Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering
Mentoring, gender equity and disabilities programs, Centers of Research
Excellence in Science and Technology, and other programs.
- Research, Evaluation and Communication: $66.2 million; down
4.1% from the FY 2002 appropriation; down 1.5% from the FY 2003 request.
The request supports research into learning and education, and the Interagency
Education Research Initiative.
The FY 2004 budget request for NSF and supporting materials are available
at http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/bud/fy2004/toc.htm.
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Within the Department of Education, the Math and Science Partnership
is the only program dedicated specifically to the improvement of science
and math education. Additionally, funding for recruitment, support and
professional development of teachers in all fields is available through
the Improving Teacher Quality State Grants.
- Mathematics and Science Partnerships: $12.5 million; equal
to FY 2002 appropriation and to FY 2003 request.
By law, the Education Department's Math and Science Partnership program
must be funded at $100 million or more for the funds to be distributed
to all states by formula grant, as intended in the authorizing legislation.
However, this program only received $12.5 million in its first year
and, in fact, administration of the Education Department's partnerships
was combined with that of the similar NSF partnership program in FY
2002. The FY 2004 request would maintain the program at its current
funding level. According to Education Department budget documents, "For
2004, grants will focus on intensive summer institutes for teachers
at elementary and middle-school levels."
- Improving Teacher Quality State Grants: $2,850.0 million,
equal to FY 2002 appropriation and the FY 2003 request.
The FY 2004 budget request for the Education Department and supporting
materials are available at http://www.ed.gov/offices/OUS/Budget04/index.html.
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