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Title 20, EducationRelease 119-110

§3444 Transfer of Programs From National Science Foundation

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

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

All National Science Foundation science education programs created before May 4, 1980 are moved to the Secretary, except for programs that the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Director of the National Science Foundation review and decide fit into five areas: scientific career development, continuing education for scientists, increasing participation of women, minorities, and the disabled in science careers, research on how people learn science and sharing those results, and public information about science and policy. Other mission-focused research programs are not moved by this law. The Secretary may run the moved programs, must consult with the NSF Director, and must set up advisory groups so scientists and engineers help design and review the programs. The yearly report under section 3486 must describe joint planning with the NSF Director and how successful ideas will be put into practice. This law does not take away the NSF’s power to start or run programs under the National Science Foundation Act of 1950.

Full Legal Text

Title 20, §3444

Education, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Science education; exceptions
(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)Authority of Secretary; consultation and advice
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)Report by Secretary
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)Reservation of certain Foundation authority
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 20, Education

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110