NCES is requesting system clearance
for the NAEP assessments to be administered in the 20112013
timeframe, similar to the system clearance approval that was
granted for the 20052007 and 20082010 NAEP administrations (OMB
1850-0790). The primary reason for the system clearance request is
that it enables NAEP to meet its large and complex assessment
reporting schedules and deliverables through a more efficient
clearance process. NAEP is a federally authorized survey of student
achievement at grades 4, 8, and 12 in various subject areas, such
as mathematics, reading, writing, science, U.S. history, civics,
geography, economics, and the arts. The No Child Left Behind Act of
2001 (NCLB) requires the assessment to collect data on specified
student groups, including race/ethnicity, gender, socio-economic
status, disability, and limited English proficiency. It requires
fair and accurate presentation of achievement data and permits the
collection of background or descriptive information that is related
to academic achievement and aids in reporting of results. The
intent of the law is to provide representative sample data on
student achievement for the nation, the states, and subpopulations
of students and to monitor progress over time. There is an increase
in the number of respondents and burden hours from the last system
clearance, primarily due to the fact that the last clearance
covered two assessment administrations at a national-level only and
one state-level administration, while this clearance covers one
national- and two state-level administrations. The nature of NAEP
is that burden alternates from a relatively low burden in
national-level years to a substantial burden in state-level years
when the sample has to allow for estimates for states and some
large urban districts. In addition, the 2011-2013 NAEP cycle
includes increased participation of students with disabilities and
English Language Learners.
At the time NCES requested a 3
year generic system clearance for the NAEP assessments to be
administered in the 20112013 timeframe (OMB# 1850-0790 v.26), the
full details of the sampling plan for the 2011 NAEP administration
was not yet fully finalized. The Wave I and Wave II approval
requests to OMB (OMB#: 1850-0790 v.27 and v.29) reflect the
finalized sampling plans. In the system clearance request, NCES
projected 325,583 burden hours for all of the NAEP 2011 data
collections subject to OMB approval, but the finalized sampling
calls for a 358,801 burden hour total. This is primarily due to the
fact that NAEP will collect data on more students with disabilities
(SD) and English language learners (ELL), but instead of using one
worksheet per students, school staff will now fill out a single
worksheet for a number of SD and ELL students. This leads to a
decrease in the total number of respondents/responses, but an
increase in total burden hours. We thus are requesting OMB approval
of the decrease in the number of respondents/responses and an
increase in the total burden hours.
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.
NAEP 2011 System Clearance Burden Change Passback Response.doc
Att_Signed Change Request NAEP 2011 System Clearance 4313 6.10.10.pdf
Part B (Sys Cl) Supporting Statement.docx
NAEP 2011 Wave II (Writing and Math Multi-Stage Computer-based, KASA Math and PR, NIES, NAEP-TIMSS Alignment, SD and ELL worksheets)