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Education and Human Resources 



The FY 1997 Budget Request for Education and Human Resources (EHR) is $619 million, an 

 increase of $20 million, or 3 3 percent, over the FY 1996 Estimate of $599 million EHR 

 supports a cohesive and comprehensive set of activities which encompass every level of 

 education and every region of the country EHR also plays a major role in the Foundation's long- 

 standing commitment to developing all our nation's human resources for the science and 

 engineering workforce of the future 



• Support at the Pre K-12 level totals $375 39 million, an increase of $6 75 This support is 

 focused primarily in the Systemic Reform activities ($101 85 million) in states, urban, and rural 

 areas, and Elementary, Secondary and Informal Science activities that enable all students to 

 achieve in science, mathematics, engineering and technology education. 



• Support at the Undergraduate level increases $8 75 million to total $114 11 million. This 

 support is focused primarily on institution-wide undergraduate education reform, improving 

 undergraduate preparation of Pre K-12 teachers, and addressing advanced technician 

 training Efforts of reforming curriculum and laboratory instruction, and upgrading equipment 

 continue to be major emphases 



• Support at the Graduate level is $79 20 million, an increase of $8 million This support 

 allows an increase in the institution cost-of-education allowance provided for the Graduate 

 Research Fellowships program The number of fellows will remain at approximately 2,400 

 The Graduate Research Traineeships program will be enhanced, permitting new traineeship 

 awards for about 150 students FY 1997 funding will also support a new Science Education 

 Postdoctoral Fellowships program 



• Advanced Technological Education (ATE) established in FY 1994, is $30 85 million, an 

 increase of $7 50 million Support will continue to focus on improving curriculum development 

 and program improvement at the secondary and undergraduate levels to help transition 

 students to the increasingly technology-based workforce 



Major Research Equipment 



The FY 1997 Request for Major Research Equipment (MRE) of $95 million represents a $25.0 

 million increase, or 35 7 percent, above the FY 1996 Estimate Two projects currently comprise 

 the Major Research Equipment Account: the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave 

 Observatory (LIGO) and the South Pole Safety Project A third project, the funding for the 

 construction of the Gemini 8-meter telescopes, was completed in FY 1995 The $70 million 

 request in FY 1997 will permit the LIGO project to progress toward completion of construction in 

 FY 1998 and a transition to operations during FY 1999. In FY 1997, the Research and Related 

 Account will provide support for the initial activities needed for the operational phase of the facility 

 Also included in the request is $25 million for the South Pole Safety Project to address critical 

 health, safety and environmental concerns at the South Pole research station Improvements are 

 proposed for the heavy equipment maintenance facility, the power plant, and fuel storage facilities 



