Title II, Part A, the Improving
Teacher State Formula Grants program is the primary federal funding
under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to support a high
quality teacher in every classroom. The American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act (ARRA) supports reform in four key areas including
increasing teacher effectiveness and promoting the equitable
distribution of effective teachers. Therefore, this study describes
the distribution of teacher quality within districts over time and
any changes in that distribution associated with district
strategies to promote an equitable distribution of high quality
teachers. This study will provide information over time about the
distribution of teacher quality and will document district efforts
to promote teacher equity within a select number of districts. The
research questions are: What is the distribution of teacher
quality across schools within districts? What strategies and
policies are districts promoting to address inequitable
distribution of teacher quality? How are these strategies/policies
enacted (e.g. strategy determination, goals and objectives, theory
of action, features, administration, necessary resources,
challenges to administration, intended duration)? What is the
relationship between the district policies/strategies and the
distribution of teacher quality? The study will be conducted in up
to 30 geographically-dispersed school districts. The study will
document the distribution of teacher quality, within participating
districts, using teacher value-added analyses. The study will also
describe changes in the distribution of teacher quality across the
outcomes years 2010-2011 through 2012-2013. Data collection will
include student achievement obtained from administrative records,
annual semi-structured district leadership interviews about
district strategies and policies to address inequitable
distribution of teacher quality, and district administrative
records/personnel data.
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.