11-26-07 memo

Re: Revised Responses to OMB question -- Reviewed and Finalized

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Matsuoka, Karen Y.
From:

Feldman, Amy [Amy.Feldman@ed.gov]

Sent:

Monday, November 26, 2007 2:30 PM

To:

Carey, Sheila; Matsuoka, Karen Y.

Cc:

Garcia, Gil; Stair, Morgan

Subject:

200709-1850-001, Random Assignment Evaluation of ... English Language Learners

Attachments: Revised Exhibit 2.doc; IC Data Part 1_11-21-07.doc

Dear Karen and Sheila,
Below is the final response to OMB questions (question #3) on collection 200709-1850-001, Random
Assignment Evaluation of ... English Language Learners. The package did not include the burden to
school data staff and has been revised to reflect this burden. Attached are a revised Exhibit 2 and a
revised IC collection form.
I hope this resolves all remaining issues.
Thanks,
Amy
Amy F. Feldman, Ph.D.
Research Scientist
Institute of Education Sciences
US Department of Education
555 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Suite 500F
Washington, DC 20208
202-219-1674

-----Original Message----From: Chesswas Roger [mailto:chesswasr@prel.org]
Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2007 4:17 PM
To: Feldman, Amy
Subject: Re: Revised Responses to OMB question -- Reviewed and Finalized

(3) To minimize the burden on state employees, we will request entities transfer school-level
administrative data in two or three batches, timed according to the administration's schedule within the
broader timeframe of the study. According to our experience, the actual data transfer process should
require a relatively short time for each data extract (1-2 hours of an experienced data person to write a
simple code for extracting the data fields from the system, run the program and save it in a secure data
transport format, and mail the data). The burden generally comes from competing time constraints. Even
though processing our request may not be technically difficult, the administration's data staff may not be
able to set aside time easily because of their regular obligations. Our being flexible about the timing
(i.e., asking the data staff to process our request when they have time) should alleviate much of the
burden. For example, rather than providing a specific, tight deadline date, we plan to give at least a 4-8
week window for processing our data requests. The study team will also pay for all postage and/or
conference call charges that are associated with accessing the data. (See Revised Exhibit 2: Yearly
Burden Estimates for state level employees).

12/12/2007

Re: Revised Responses to OMB question -- Reviewed and Finalized

12/12/2007

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