The Mathematics and Science
Partnerships program is a formula grant program to the States in
which states make competitive awards to projects. The authorizing
legislation, Title II, Part B, Section 2202 (f) of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 as amended by the No Child Left
Behind Act of 2001, requires all locally funded projects to report
annually to the Secretary documenting progress towards goals and
objectives. The Annual Performance Report (APR)is an online
reporting tool. Annual reporting requirements include impact on
increasing teacher learning and student achievement; standard
descriptive information on the MSP projects; the professional
development participants; the professional development models,
content, and processes; the evaluation plans; and lessons learned.
By structuring the reporting so that all MSPs are required to
provide standardized data, the program office is better able to
examine outcomes across funded partnerships. The primary objective
of the proposed revision is to reduce burden on reporting entities
while ensuring that needed data continue to be collected. Proposed
revisions include removing items that duplicate information,
condensing sections of the APR that require substantial project
burden to complete, and clarifying reporting instructions to
improve quality of responses.
ED worked to streamline the APR
instrument by eliminating items that collect information not used
in regular reporting, combining repetitive items, and providing
clarification to the reporting instructions in some areas. It is
estimated that these program changes have reduced the total burden
per project by one hour, for a total of -600 annual burden
hours.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.