This information collection requests
clearance approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
for the collection of data under the Evaluation of the
Effectiveness of the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results
(SOAR) Act Program. In particular, they are requesting approval
for: (1) parent, student, and principal surveys, and (2) records
abstraction from DC Public School (DCPS), from the District of
Columbia Public Charter School Board, and private school
administrative files. The study design, data collection plan,
instruments, and levels of burden are consistent with forms
clearance packages approved by OMB for the previous evaluation of
this program (#1850-0800). The Scholarships and Opportunities for
Results (SOAR) Act H.R. 1473 (P.L.112-10), signed into law on April
15, 2011, reauthorized the DC School Choice Incentive Act and
provided for a five-year continuation of a school choice program
for low-income residents of Washington, DC. The program, still
titled the Opportunity Scholarship Program or OSP, now provides
scholarships to enable low-income elementary and secondary students
to attend private schools in the District of Columbia in lieu of
the public schools already available to them. The OSP is operated
under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to the DC
Children and Youth Investment Corporation (the Trust). The
reauthorization once again stipulated that an evaluation of the
program be conducted using the strongest possible research design
for determining the effectiveness of the program. ED awarded a
contract to Westat, and its research partners, Pemberton Research
and the University of California at San Diego to: (1) provide
technical assistance to the program operator, particularly with
respect to the design and conduct of the lotteries of applicants,
and (2) conduct an evaluation of the impacts of the program. The
foundation of the evaluation will be a randomized control trial
(RCT) comparing outcomes of eligible applicants (students and their
parents) assigned by lottery to receive or not receive a
scholarship. This design is consistent with the requirement for a
rigorous evaluation as well as the need to fairly allocate the
scholarships if the program is oversubscribed. Because the law also
specified other kinds of comparisons and analyses, the planned
evaluation study includes both quantitative and qualitative
components.
This is a reinstatement (with
change) of a previously discontinued information collection
request. This results in an increase in burden and responses of
1,009 hours and 3,057 responses. The collection was initially
submitted as an 1850-NEW (ICR No. 1953.02) but ED realized during
review that it is associated with the discontinued collection
#1850-0800. A decision was made to submit it as a reinstatement
with change of #1850-0800. (The 60 day FR notice was published as
1850-NEW on 11/21/12.)
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.
Att_ 1850-0800 Change Sheet (OSP).doc
MSOMB Part B 10 22 12 FINAL.docx
FRN_30D_1850-0800.pdf
Parent Survey and Letter