Title 20EducationRelease 119-73

§3444 Transfer of programs from National Science Foundation

Title 20 › Chapter CHAPTER 48— - DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - TRANSFERS OF AGENCIES AND FUNCTIONS › § 3444

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

All National Science Foundation programs about science education that were created before May 4, 1980 are moved to the Secretary, except programs that deal with scientific career training, continuing education for scientists, efforts to increase participation of women, minorities, and the disabled, research on science learning and sharing those results, and programs that inform the public about science, technology, values, and policy. Other mission‑oriented research programs of the NSF or any federal agency are not moved. The Secretary may run the transferred programs. The Secretary must talk with the NSF Director and set up advisory groups so scientists and engineers help plan, run, and review the programs. The Secretary’s annual report under section 3486 must describe the coordinated planning and steps agreed with the NSF Director, including ways to help put successful ideas into practice. Nothing here limits the NSF or its Director from starting or running programs under the National Science Foundation Act of 1950.

Full Legal Text

Title 20, §3444

Education — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)There are transferred to the Secretary all programs relating to science education of the National Science Foundation or the Director of the National Science Foundation established prior to May 4, 1980, pursuant to the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 [42 U.S.C. 1861 et seq.], except the programs or parts of programs, as determined after review by the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Director of the National Science Foundation, which relate to—
(A)scientific career development;
(B)the continuing education of scientific personnel;
(C)increasing the participation of women, minorities, and the handicapped in careers in science;
(D)the conduct of basic and applied research and development applied to science learning at all educational levels and the dissemination of results concerning such research and development; and
(E)informing the general public of the nature of science and technology and of attendant values and public policy issues.
(2)Except as provided in paragraph (1), no mission oriented research functions or programs of the National Science Foundation or any other Federal agency shall be transferred by this chapter.
(b)The Secretary is authorized to conduct the programs transferred by subsection (a). In conducting such programs the Secretary shall consult, as appropriate, with the Director of the National Science Foundation, and shall establish advisory mechanisms designed to assure that scientists and engineers are fully involved in the development, implementation, and review of science education programs.
(c)The annual report to be transmitted by the Secretary pursuant to section 3486 of this title shall include a description of arrangements, developed by the Secretary in consultation with the Director of the National Science Foundation, for coordinated planning and operation of science education programs, including measures to facilitate the implementations of successful innovations.
(d)Nothing in this section is intended to repeal or limit the authority of the National Science Foundation or the Director of the National Science Foundation to initiate and conduct programs under the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 [42 U.S.C. 1861 et seq.].

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The National Science Foundation Act of 1950, referred to in subsecs. (a)(1) and (d), is act May 10, 1950, ch. 171, 64 Stat. 149, which is classified generally to chapter 16 (§ 1861 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1861 of Title 42 and Tables. Codification In subsec. (a)(1), “May 4, 1980” substituted for “the

Effective Date

of this chapter” pursuant to section 601 of Pub. L. 96–88, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 3401 of this title.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 303 of Pub. L. 96–88 was renumbered section 302 and is classified to section 3443 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

20 U.S.C. § 3444

Title 20Education

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73