FYI Number 52: April 17, 2001

NSF FY02 Request: EHR; Dept. of Education's Eisenhower Program

NSF's "FY 2002 Budget Request to Congress" states that "The FY 2002 Budget Request for the Education and Human Resources (EHR) Activity is $872.41 million, an increase of $86.79 million, or 11.0 percent, over the FY 2001 Current Plan of $785.62 million. In addition, $144.0 million in funds are projected from H-1B Nonimmigrant Petitioner Receipts in FY 2002." This brings the total EHR FY 2002 budget request to $1,016.41 million. According to the request, NSF's EHR Activity " encompasses every educational level and type of learning (formal and informal) in all parts of the country. Its programs develop models and strategies for providing all students access to high quality, standards-based educational opportunities."

There are eight Subactivities within Education and Human Resources:

The Math and Science Partnerships (MSPI) is a new initiative to improve math and science education, proposed by President Bush in his "No Child Left Behind" education reform plan. The Partnership initiative would receive $200.00 million in first- year funding. The budget document states, " The Partnership initiative will provide funds for states and local school districts to join with institutions of higher education, particularly with their departments of mathematics, science, and engineering, in strengthening math and science education. It is designed to mobilize the mathematicians, scientists, and engineers of higher education to be part of the solution to K-12 education - to help raise math and science standards, provide math and science training for teachers, and create innovative ways to reach underserved schools and students. It emphasizes ensuring that all students have the opportunity to perform to high standards, using effective, research-based approaches, improving teacher quality, and insisting on accountability for student performance. One of its key objectives is to eliminate performance gaps between majority and minority and disadvantaged students." Of the $200.00 million requested for this initiative, $120.00 million would be redirected from existing NSF education programs.

The Educational System Reform (ESR) budget would decrease 59.0 percent, or $65.19 million, from $110.44 million to $45.25 million. According to the budget document, " ESR programs implement large-scale reform of science, mathematics, and technology (SMT) education, particularly at the preK-12 level, across the nation.... A total of $65 million is redirected in support of MSPI in order to expand the reach of the models for action brought about through ESR programs.... Remaining funds will support extant awards, with the possibility of supplements, as warranted."

The Office of Innovation Partnerships budget would decrease 11.8 percent, or $10.00 million, from $84.81 million to $74.81 million. This Subactivity supports the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). No funds are requested for Innovation Partnership Activities in FY 2002. A total of $10.00 million is redirected to the Math and Science Partnership initiative.

The Elementary, Secondary and Informal Education budget would decrease 18.3 percent, or $37.00 million, from $202.61 million to $165.61 million. The budget document states that " Approximately $37 million is redirected in support of MSPI. FY 2002 funds will sustain continuing projects and focus on high priority areas that create synergy for projects supported within MSPI " in areas of Instructional and Assessment Materials Development, and Teacher and Student Development.

The Undergraduate Education budget would decrease 5.9 percent, or $8.35 million, from $140.95 million to $132.60 million. This Subactivity includes support for Curriculum, Laboratory, and Instructional Development, and Workforce Development. The budget document says, " The FY 2002 decrease of $8.35 million largely reflects the redirection of funds in support of the President's Math and Science Partnerships Initiative."

The Graduate Education budget would increase 8.8 percent, or $7.75 million, from $87.75 million to $95.50 million. This Subactivity includes support for Graduate Research Fellowships, Graduate Teaching Fellowships in K-12 Education, and Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeships.

The Human Resource Development budget would decrease 0.3 percent, or $0.25 million, from $90.69 million to $90.44 million. This Subactivity, the budget document says, " seeks to increase the participation and advancement of underrepresented groups and institutions at every level of science, mathematics, engineering, and technology education."

The Research, Evaluation and Communication (REC) budget would decrease 0.2 percent, or $0.17 million, from $68.37 million to $68.20 million. The budget document states, " REC's portfolio of nearly 200 projects spans early childhood through adult learning, including preK-16 education. It is characterized by its multidisciplinary expertise in cognition, learning theory, technology, pedagogy, instructional workforce development, policy, and education system reform."

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION EISENHOWER PROGRAM:

Within the Department of Education, professional development for science and math teachers has been funded explicitly within the Eisenhower Professional Development state grants program. Total FY 2001 funding for the Eisenhower program was $485.0 million, with $250.0 million of that amount specifically set aside for science and math. This year, the Administration's request would consolidate the Eisenhower program into a broader Teacher Quality initiative. The budget request calls for "$2.6 billion for State grants for improving teacher quality, a new formula grant program that would combine funding from several existing education programs, including the Class Size Reduction and Eisenhower Professional Development State Grants programs, into performance- based grants. The proposal would provide a $375 million or 17 percent increase over the antecedent programs to help States and local educational agencies (LEAs) fund their own needs and priorities in developing and supporting a high-quality teaching force."

 

Back to FYI Home