OMB appreciates
the range of experiments that NCES has accommodated in this pilot
study and looks forward to a full report of the results prior to or
in conjunction with a request for approval for further work on the
National Household Education Survey program. OMB remains concerned
about the appropriateness of NCES asking the first three questions
in the engaging screener questionnaire, and looks forward to
proposed revisions should NCES propose to use a similar approach to
a screener questionnaire in future NHES tests of full scale
programs.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
08/31/2010
36 Months From Approved
9,994
0
0
1,360
0
0
0
0
0
The National Household Education
Surveys Program (NHES) collects data directly from households on
early childhood care and education, childrens 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 80% in the first half of 2008;
mostly due to conversion to cellular-only coverage) raises issues
about population coverage. While studies examining possible biases
in the NHES survey estimates have not identified nonresponse bias,
some indications of possible coverage bias were detected in a
special bias study conducted in 2007. As a result, NCES is
redesigning the NHES program to develop and assess approaches to
collecting data with improved response and population coverage. The
Pilot Test will be conducted in the fall of 2009 to examine
proposed methods on a smaller and more economical scale prior to a
large-scale Field Test planned for 2011. The NHES:2009 Pilot Test
will use a reduced sample (approximately 10% of the anticipated
2011 Field Test sample size) and involve screening of approximately
11,800 households to identify those with eligible children and
youth. Parents or guardians of sampled children will be asked to
respond to one of two topical surveys: The Early Childhood Program
Participation Survey (ECPP), and the Parent and Family Involvement
in Education Survey (PFI). The PFI Survey has been divided into two
questionnaire forms for ease of self-administration: one focuses on
children enrolled in school for kindergarten through 12th grade and
one focuses on children who are homeschooled.
US Code:
20
USC 9001 Name of Law: National Education Statistics Act of
1994
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.