FYI Number 3: January 5, 2006

Labor-HHS-Ed Appropriations: Math-Science Partnerships, NIBIB

In one of its last acts before leaving town for the holidays, Congress completed work on the FY 2006 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations conference report (H. Rept. 109-337). This report, which includes appropriations for the Department of Education and the National Institutes of Health, among other programs, was signed by President Bush on December 30. Without taking into account any across-the-board cuts, this bill will increase funding for the Department of Education's Math and Science Partnerships by 3.0 percent over FY 2005, and will increase funding for the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) by 0.5 percent.

Math and Science Partnerships:

FY 2005 funding for the Education Department's Math and Science Partnerships was $178.6 million. The Administration requested $269.0 million for FY 2006, with the provision that $120.0 million of the funds would be set aside for improvement in secondary mathematics. The conference report provides $184.0 million, with no specific set-aside for secondary math. This is an increase of $5.4 million, or 3.0 percent, over FY 2005 funding.

The conference report includes the following language on this program:

"The conference agreement includes $184,000,000 for the Mathematics and Science Partnerships (MSP) program instead of $190,000,000 as proposed by the House and $178,560,000 as proposed by the Senate. The conferees urge the Secretary to encourage MSP grantees to incorporate advanced placement (AP) or pre-advanced placement (PRE-AP) staff development training into their math and science partnership projects to help teachers meet the highly qualified criteria under the No Child Left Behind Act. The AP and PRE-AP professional development initiatives support teachers' content and pedagogical knowledge development so that all students, regardless of whether or not they take AP, will receive rigorous, challenging math and science instruction. The AP math and science initiative has the primary objective of increasing the number of AP opportunities, AP participation rates, and postsecondary acceptance and success rates for disadvantaged students."

National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering:

FY 2005 funding for NIBIB was $298.2 million. The Administration requested $299.8 million for FY 2006. The conference report provides the full Administration request, which is an increase of $1.6 million, or 0.5 percent, over FY 2005 funding.

The conference report does not include any additional language regarding NIBIB.

Audrey T. Leath
Media and Government Relations Division
American Institute of Physics
fyi@aip.org
301-209-3094

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