Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests

AGENCY:

Department of Education.

SUMMARY:

The Director, Information Collection Clearance Division, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management, invites comments on the proposed information collection requests as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before September 7, 2010.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Section 3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35) requires that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) provide interested Federal agencies and the public an early opportunity to comment on information collection requests. OMB may amend or waive the requirement for public consultation to the extent that public participation in the approval process would defeat the purpose of the information collection, violate State or Federal law, or substantially interfere with any agency's ability to perform its statutory obligations. The Director, Information Collection Clearance Division, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management, publishes that notice containing proposed information collection requests prior to submission of these requests to OMB. Each proposed information collection, grouped by office, contains the following: (1) Type of review requested, e.g. new, revision, extension, existing or reinstatement; (2) Title; (3) Summary of the collection; (4) Description of the need for, and proposed use of, the information; (5) Respondents and frequency of collection; and (6) Reporting and/or Recordkeeping burden. OMB invites public comment.

The Department of Education is especially interested in public comment addressing the following issues: (1) Is this collection necessary to the proper functions of the Department; (2) will this information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might the Department enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) how might the Department minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use of information technology.

Institute of Education Sciences

Type of Review: Reinstatement.

Title: National Household Education Survey (NHES 2011/2012) Field Test.

OMB#: 1850-0768.

Agency Form Number(s): N/A.

Frequency: Once.

Affected Public: Individuals or households.

Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden:

Responses: 40,905.

Burden Hours: 5,535.

Abstract: The National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES) collects data directly from households on early childhood care and education, children's readiness for school, parent perceptions of school safety and discipline, before- and after-school activities of school-age children, participation in adult and continuing education, parent involvement in education, school choice, homeschooling, and civic involvement. NHES surveys have been conducted approximately every other year from 1991 through 2007 using random digit dial (RDD) sampling and telephone data collection from landline telephones only. Each survey collection included the administration of household screening questions (screener) and two or three topical surveys. Like virtually all RDD surveys, NHES Screener response rates have declined (from above 80% in early 1990s to 53% in 2007) and the decline in the percentage of households without landline telephones (from 93% in early 2004 to about 75% in 2009 mostly due to conversion to cellular-only coverage) raises issues about population coverage. To address these issues, the NHES is transitioning from a Random Digit Dial (RDD) interviewer administered study to an Address Based Sample, self- administered study. A feasibility test of the methodology was conducted successfully in 2009. In 2011, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) will conduct a large scale pilot test to further refine the methodology. A number of interventions to improve response rates and data quality will be tested in 2011. In 2012, NCES will conduct the first full-scale production data collection utilizing the new design. The 2011 test and 2012 data collections will utilize the Parent and Family Involvement in Education (PFI) and Early Childhood Program Participation (ECPP) modules.

Requests for copies of the proposed information collection request may be accessed from http://edicsweb.ed.gov,, by selecting the “Browse Pending Collections” link and by clicking on link number 4351. When you access the information collection, click on “Download Attachments” to view. Written requests for information should be addressed to U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., LBJ, Washington, DC 20202-4537. Requests may also be electronically mailed to ICDocketMgr@ed.gov or faxed to 202-401-0920. Please specify the complete title of the information collection when making your request.

Comments regarding burden and/or the collection activity requirements should be electronically mailed to ICDocketMgr@ed.gov. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.