Additional Senate Appropriations Report Language on NSF - Education

In addition to the recommendations contained in the Senate committee report (Senate Report 103-137) reported on in FYIs #116 and #117, the following selected recommendations and instructions on Education and Human Resources were included:

“The Committee recommends $569,600,000 for the education and human resources appropriation in fiscal year 1994. This amount is $82,100,000 above the 1993 level, $13,500,000 above the budget request, and the same as the House allowance.

“The Committee recommends the following changes from the budget request:

+$7,500,000 for the EPSCoR program. Additional States should be added before expanding the individual awards made to existing EPSCoR recipients. ...

+$10,000,000 for grants for science and advanced technology at community colleges, for a total program level of $15,000,000 in fiscal year 1994. Funding should be allocated in a manner consistent with Public Law 102-476. The Foundation should outline plans for these awards in the operating plan.

+$3,000,000 to systemic reform for several rural areas as part of a rural systemic initiative to complement the urban systemic initiative.

-$4,500,000 from human resources development, taken at the Agency’s discretion, subject to the normal reprogramming guidelines. Even with this slight reduction, these programs will grow by 26 percent above the 1993 enacted level.

-$2,500,000 as a general reduction, taken at the Agency’s discretion, subject to the normal reprogramming guidelines.

“The Committee continues to encourage the Foundation to aggressively pursue evaluation of all Federal science and math education programs. It is pleased by the increase in the budget proposed for evaluation activities. Nevertheless, the pace of evaluation of these Federal initiatives, outlined earlier this year to the Committee in a report by the NSF, remains too sluggish and still permits agencies to do essentially self-evaluations of their own programs. The Committee reiterates its directive that the Foundation should conduct this evaluation itself, under its own auspices or that of an NSF supported contractor. It expects this situation to be remedied by the time of the operating plan.

“The Committee also directs the Foundation to prepare an assessment of the proper pace at which the Federal Government should increase teacher retraining activities so as to reach the 20 percent per annum figure suggested to the Committee in 1990 by FCCSET representatives...

“The Committee also expects a report from the Foundation on the steps it is taking with the Department of Education to more effectively link the State systemic initiative and Eisenhower grant programs....

“The Committee believes that NSF, because of its experience with Internet, its advanced technologies program, and its ability to relate technology to curriculum requirements, is in a unique position to develop a comprehensive electronic library program that contains the elements for hardware, software, training, and assessment. Within available funds, the Committee expects the NSF to develop a plan for this activity, and initiate pilot efforts where appropriate to form the basis for an expanded electronic library program.”