FY 1997 NSF Request: Education and Human Resources

Below is a summary of the FY 1997 NSF budget request for the Education and Human Resources Activity. According to the request: “The FY 1997 Budget Request for Education and Human Resources (EHR) is $619.0 million, an increase of $20.0 million, or 3.3 percent, over the FY 1996 Estimate of $599.0 million.”

EHR contains seven components. Details of the request for each subactivity are highlighted below, with quotes taken from the budget request document:

EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM REFORM: The request is "$101.85 million, an increase of $6.50 million, or 6.8 percent, over the FY 1996 estimate of $95.35 million.” The goal is “systemic reform of science, mathematics, engineering, and technology education, particularly at the Pre K-12 level, across the nation.” Programs include Statewide, Urban, and Rural Systemic Initiatives.

EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM TO STIMULATE COMPETITIVE RESEARCH (EPSCoR): The request is "$35.91 million, unchanged from the FY 1996 Estimate.” The EPSCoR request “will enable NSF to continue supporting improvements in the academic research competitiveness of the 19 participating jurisdictions. This includes: multi-year EPSCoR awards at up to $1.50 million per year; 12- to 24-month EPSCoR grants in support of leading edge research, knowledge transfer, and human resource development; and co-funding of proposals with the Foundation’s research activities as a means of transitioning EPSCoR researchers and institutions into the NSF’s ongoing research programs.”

ELEMENTARY, SECONDARY, AND INFORMAL EDUCATION: The request is "$190.15 million, a decrease of $4.0 million, or 2.1 percent, from the FY 1996 Estimate of $194.15 million.” This amount “continues strengthening the infrastructure needed to support systemic reform and promotes adoption and implementation of science and mathematics standards for content, teaching, and assessment. An increase of $5.50 million for Curriculum and Assessment Development is focused on developing state-of-the-art assessments of student learning that can be used to gauge the impact of systemic initiatives, as well as on improvements in secondary-level technology education to prepare students more effectively for the high-technology workplace. A newly configured Teacher and Student Development effort...receives a modest increase of $500,000.... The Informal Science Education program declines by $10.0 million with reduced NSF support for museum and media activities, the balance to be made up through ISE’s extensive leveraging of funds from corporate and other sponsors.”

UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION: The request is "$92.43 million, an increase of $9.0 million or 10.8 percent, over the FY 1996 Estimate of $83.43 million.... The FY 1997 increase of $9.0 million will allow expansion of a major NSF-wide initiative to promote comprehensive, institution-wide reform in undergraduate [science, mathematics, engineering and technology] education, a continued focus on teacher preparation, community college activities, and preparation of all students for the technology-based workplace of the future.” Curriculum and Laboratory Development would receive $65.60 million, while Teacher and Faculty Development would get $26.83 million. GRADUATE EDUCATION: The request is "$74.29 million, an increase of $7.50 million, or 11.2 percent, over the FY 1996 Estimate of $66.79 million.” The Subactivity uses both fellowships and traineeships to develop “a diverse pool of individuals...who meet the educational, scientific and technological needs of the nation.” The $7.50 million increase “will enhance all programs in Graduate Education and allow initiation of a new postdoctoral program.... The Graduate Fellowships program will increase by $2.0 million in FY 1997 to a total of $55.79 million.... Graduate Research Traineeships will increase by $4.0 million to a total of $17.0 million, permitting new traineeship awards.... $1.50 million will support a new science education postdoctoral program for the production of Pre K-12 and undergraduate level professionals. Approximately 25 fellowships will be awarded.”

HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT: The request is "$73.80 million, a decrease of $1.0 million, or 1.3 percent, from the FY 1996 Estimate of $74.80 million.” This subactivity “supports systemic and comprehensive activities to broaden the participation of groups that are educationally underserved in the fields of science, mathematics, engineering, and technology (SMET),” and programs include Precollege Education, Comprehensive Partnerships for Minority Student Achievement, Undergraduate Student Support, Alliances for Minority Participation, Minority Research Centers of Excellence, Model Institutions for Excellence, Research Improvement in Minority Institutions, Program for Women and Girls, and Program for Persons with Disabilities.

RESEARCH, EVALUATION AND COMMUNICATION: The request is "$50.57 million, an increase of $2.0 million, or 4.1 percent, over the FY 1996 Estimate of $48.57 million.” Within the request, “Research remains constant at the FY 1996 level of $13.03 million.... Evaluation will increase $3.0 million to a total of $13.27 million.” This program “will encompass evaluation and monitoring support of 18 different EHR programs.... Technology will decrease $1.0 million to a total of $24.27 million.”