NSF Budget Request for FY 1994: Education and Human Resources

The fiscal year 1994 National Science Foundation budget request for Education and Human Resources is $556.10 million, which is an increase of $68.60 million, or 14.1%, above current funding if the supplemental funding legislation is passed.

The section of the NSF budget document on Education and Human Resources is 15 pages long. The following information presents a general overview of this area of the NSF budget, taken only from the budget section entitled “Education and Human Resources” (EHR).

SYSTEMIC REFORM funding would increase by $17.30 million, or 20.2%, to $102.98 million.

ELEMENTARY, SECONDARY AND INFORMAL EDUCATION funding would increase by $9.50 million, or 5.0%, to $197.95 million.

UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION funding would increase by $13.10 million, or 21.2%, to $74.84 million.

GRADUATE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT funding would increase by $4.00 million, or 6.4%, to $66.46 million.

HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT funding would increase by $17.00 million, or 34.8%, to $65.89 million.

RESEARCH, EVALUATION AND DISSEMINATION funding would increase by $7.70 million, or 19.1%, to $47.98 million.

Under the heading of “Education Level and Interagency Initiatives” the budget document states:

“This request provides support for EHR’s participation in several FCCSET initiatives: significantly in the Math and Science Education Initiative ($509.81 million) with lesser participation in High Performance Computing and Communications ($12.92 million), Biotechnology ($10.30 million), and Advanced Materials ($7.10 million).... Participation in the FCCSET Math and Science Education initiative includes requested increases of:

"$17.30 million (20.2%) for Systemic Reform activities, including $14.00 million for a major expansion (to about eight cities) of the Urban Systemic Initiatives begun in FY 1993, $2.00 million primarily for technical assistance in the State Systemic Initiatives Program, and $1.30 million for NSF participation in the development of national science education standards at the K-12 level.

"$9.50 million (5.0%) in Elementary, Secondary and Informal Education, including $8.00 million devoted to the implementation of exemplary curricula, materials, and practices that have been developed with NSF support.

"$13.10 million (20.2%) for Undergraduate Subactivity, including expanded support for course, curriculum and laboratory development efforts ($4.50 million) and increased support for K-12 teacher preparation activities ($5.50 million).

"$4.60 million for initiation of efforts in technical education, included within growth provided at elementary/secondary and undergraduate levels. This initiative will be the joint responsibility of the Undergraduate Education Subactivity ($3.10 million) and the Elementary, Secondary and Informal Education Subactivity ($1.50 million).

"$4.00 million (6.4%) in the Graduate Education and Research Development Subactivity, primarily to support an increase in the Graduate Research Traineeships effort that Congress directed NSF to initiate.

"$17.00 million (34.8%) for Human Resource Development, including $7.50 million for a major expansion of targeted model and experimental projects for women and persons with disabilities, and $7.00 million for growth in project support for Alliances for Minority Participation. In addition, $2.50 million is provided for participation in the new cross-Foundation program, Model Institutions for Excellence (MIE). Approximately six awards will be supported, by EHR and Research and Related Activities, for selected minority institutions to serve as models for recruitment and retention of underrepresented students in science and engineering undergraduate programs.

$7.70 million (19.1%) for Research, Evaluation and Dissemination. This includes $3.00 million for continued growth of evaluation activities within NSF and in support of evaluation efforts of the FCCSET Committee on Education and Human Resources, and $4.70 million for high performance computing and communications activities directed to establishment and/or enhancement of education networks.”

The budget document provides additional information under an “explanation of increases” for each of the six EHR subactivities.