NSF – Math and Science Partnership (NSF-MSP)

NSF 09-507
http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2009/nsf09507/nsf09507.htm

Research Office Letter of Intent submission deadline:  Friday, January 9, 2009

NSF Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer’s local time):
            February 17, 2009
Institute Partnerships, MSP-Start Partnerships, Phase II Partnerships, RETA Projects
            February 24, 2009
                        Innovation through Institutional Integration
August 20, 2009
                        Targeted Partnerships
August 25, 2009
                        Innovation through Institutional Integration

The Incentive Funds Program in the Research Office is requesting Letters of Intent for the National Science Foundation – Math and Science Partnership (NSF-MSP) program.

Information:  Debbie Delmore at debbie.delmore@oregonstate.edu or 737-8390

The NSF-MSP program limits to one (1) the number of proposals that may be submitted as LEAD partner by Oregon State University per Partnership category – Targeted, Institute, MSP-Start or Phase II.
Given the focus on institutional integration, only one (1) proposal may be submitted to the I³ competition for each deadline.
There are no limits on the number of RETA proposals submitted by an organization.

In an effort to provide the highest level of excellence and viability for funding, the Faculty Senate Research Council will review all Letters of Intent and rank order them for the Vice President of Research. The finalist will be asked to represent Oregon State University and to submit their proposals to the NSF-MSP program.

The Math and Science Partnership (MSP) program is a major research and development effort that supports innovative partnerships to improve K-12 student achievement in mathematics and science. MSP projects are expected to both raise the achievement levels of all students and significantly reduce achievement gaps in the mathematics and science performance of diverse student populations. In order to improve the mathematics and science achievement of the Nation’s students, MSP projects contribute to what is known in mathematics and science education and serve as models that have a sufficiently strong evidence/research base to improve the mathematics and science education outcomes for all students. NSF’s MSP program coordinates its effort with the Mathematics and Science Partnerships program of the U.S. Department of Education in the expectation that effective innovations in mathematics and science education will be disseminated into wider practice.

In this solicitation, NSF seeks to support five types of MSP awards plus EHR-wide projects:

1. Targeted Partnerships focus on studying and solving teaching and learning issues within a specific grade range or at a critical juncture in education, and/or within a specific disciplinary focus in mathematics or the sciences;

2. Institute Partnerships – Teacher Institutes for the 21st Century focus on meeting national needs for teacher leaders/master teachers who have deep knowledge of disciplinary content for teaching and are fully prepared to be school- or district-based intellectual leaders in mathematics or the sciences;
3. MSP-Start Partnerships are for awardees new to the MSP program, especially from minority-serving institutions, community colleges and primarily undergraduate institutions, to support the necessary data analysis, project design, evaluation and team building activities needed to develop a full MSP Targeted or Institute Partnership;
4. Phase II Partnerships for prior MSP Partnership awardees focus on specific innovative areas of their work where evidence of the potential for significant positive impact is clearly documented. The intent is that focused efforts carry out the necessary research to advance knowledge and understanding in the specific area(s);
5. Research, Evaluation and Technical Assistance (RETA) projects directly support the work of the Partnerships by conducting methodologically rigorous studies of the impacts of MSP activities on student or teacher learning. Longitudinal and cross-site studies are particularly encouraged as are those that test innovative methodologies; and
6. Innovation through Institutional Integration (I³) projects enable faculty, administrators, and others in institutions to think and act strategically about the creative integration of NSF-funded awards, with particular emphasis on awards managed through programs in the Directorate for Education and Human Resource (EHR), but not limited to those awards. For Fiscal Year 2009, proposals are being solicited in nine EHR programs that advance I³ goals: CREST, GSE, HBCU-UP, ITEST, LSAMP, MSP, Noyce, RDE, and TCUP.

Guidance for preparation of Letter of Intent to the Research Office:

• Title of Project
• Type of Project (Targeted, Institute, MSP-Start, Phase II or RETA)
• PI/Co-PI
• Lead organization (presumably OSU)
• Names of core and supporting organizational partners
• Disciplinary focus of proposal
• Grade range focus (if appropriate)
• Describe the proposed project in sufficient detail to demonstrative the concept both meets the criteria of the MSP program, but also is likely to be funded by NSF.
• Letters of Intent are limited to three (3) pages.
• Be submitted electronically as a MS Word or PDF document to:  debbie.delmore@oregonstate.edu

NOTE: If you have an interest in the I³ program, the proposal must be submitted by Provost Sabah Randhawa. If you believe you have a solid integrative concept, please forward this to the Research Office and we will engage the Provost in discussions.