Memo - NonSub change based on MSHS eligibility standards

Date	March 20, 2017
To:	Steph Tatham Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
From:	Naomi Goldstein Deputy Assistant Secretary of Research and Evaluation Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation
Subject:	NonSubstantive Change Request - Revisions to the Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Study Surveys (0970-0493)

OMB approval for the current Migrant and Seasonal Head Start (MSHS) Study information collection was received on February 17, 2017 (OMB Control Number: 0970-0493).

In fall of 2016, MSHS changed eligibility standards for MSHS families (families are now eligible from a broader category of farmwork). The MSHS study team was only informed of these adjustments in February 2017. In order to accurately survey programs and families and to understand the immediate impact of these eligibility changes, the MSHS study team requests a nonsubtantive change for selected revisions to the MSHS study measures.

Proposed revisions include:

• The Program Director Survey: one question has additional response categories and a question added

• The Center Director Survey: one question added

• To the Parent Interview: Additional response categories added to two questions.

The specific revised and additional questions are on the following pages. Revised instruments are included in this submission.

Updates to the Program Director Survey

NEW RESPONSE CATEGORIES ADDED:

Why did your program change in these ways over the past three years? Check all that apply.

• Change in migrancy patterns

• Change in MSHS eligibility definition in the Head Start Performance Standards

• More families applying now

• Fewer families applying now

• Longer waiting list now

• Shorter waiting list now

• Increased funding now

• Decreased funding now

• Increased operational cost now

• Decreased operational cost now

• More availability of other local child care options (e.g., pre-k, other Head Start centers) now

• Less availability of other local child care options (e.g., pre-k, other Head Start centers) now

• More physical space now

• Less physical space now

• More qualified staff now

• Fewer qualified staff now

• Other (specify): _____________________

NEW QUESTION ADDED:

How have the families in your program changed this year as a result of the recent broadening of the federal eligibility requirement for MSHS (for example, inclusion of families beyond those involved in the production and harvesting of tree and field crops, such as livestock, poultry, fishery, etc.)?

• We plan to continue serving the same type of agricultural workers as in the past

• We are now serving a wider variety of agricultural workers.

• In the coming year, we plan to serve a wider variety of agricultural workers.

• Within 2-5 years, we plan to serve a wider variety of agricultural workers.

Updates to the Center Director Survey

NEW QUESTION ADDED:

How have the families in your center changed as a result of the recent broadening of the federal eligibility requirement for MSHS (for example, inclusion of families beyond those involved in the production and harvesting of tree and field crops, such as livestock, poultry, fishery, etc.)?

• We are now serving a broader range of agricultural workers.

• In the coming year, we plan to serve a broader range of agricultural workers.

• Within 2-5 years, we plan to serve a broader range of agricultural workers.

• We plan to continue serving the same type of agricultural workers as in the past.

Revisions to the Parent Interview

NEW RESPONSE CATEGORIES ADDED:

What type of agricultural work do you [caregiver] do? (SELECT ALL THAT APPLY AND SPECIFY.)

• Fruits and nuts (Specify: __________________)

• Nuts (Specify: __________________)

• Vegetables (Specify: __________________)

• Trees and Shrubs (Specify: __________________)

• Horticulture (Specify: __________________)

• Flowers and Grasses (Specify: __________________)

• Field crop (Specify: __________________)

• Livestock (Specify: __________________)

• Poultry (Specify: __________________)

• Fishery (Specify: __________________)

• Other Agricultural Work (Specify: _____________________________)

• Don’t Know/Refused

What is your [caregiver’s] agricultural job? (SELECT ALL THAT APPLY.)

• Planting

• Picking or harvesting

• Packing

• Pesticide and/or herbicide aApplication

• Fertilization and Pollination

• Collection of meat, fur, skins, feathers, eggs, milk, or honey (etc.)

• Animal care (feed, herd, brand, weigh, clean, breed, shear, etc.)

• Farm maintenance (working with machinery, fixing fences, irrigation)

• Transportation

• Supervising

• Other (Specify: ________________________)

• Don’t Know/Refused