The data collection for the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) State and Local
Implementation Study 2019 will examine how states, districts, and
schools are identifying and supporting children and youth with
disabilities. The study is one component of a
Congressionally-mandated National Assessment of IDEA. The purpose
of this data collection is to develop an up-to-date national
picture of how states, districts, and schools are implementing IDEA
in order to provide ED, Congress, and other stakeholders with
knowledge that can inform the next reauthorization of IDEA and,
ultimately, how services are provided to children. This study of
IDEA is necessary because a decade has passed since the previous
IDEA national implementation study, and subsequent developments may
have influenced the context and implementation of special education
and early intervention. The surveys will be administered in Fall
2019. All respondents will have the opportunity to complete an
electronic survey (or paper survey, if preferred). The survey
respondents are described briefly below: State Surveys: The study
team will administer three separate electronic surveys that focus
on the Part C program for infants and toddlers (administered to the
Part C infants and toddlers program coordinator), the Part B
program for preschool-age children (administered to the Part B
program for preschool-age children coordinator), and the Part B
program for school-age children and youth (administered to the
special education director). Three surveys are necessary because
different state administrators are likely to oversee IDEA programs
for children at those different age levels. The state surveys will
be administered to the respondents in each of the 61 state-level
entities that receive IDEA funding: all 50 states, the District of
Columbia, 8 U.S. territories, the Bureau of Indian Education, and
the Department of Defense Education Activity. School District
Surveys: The study team will administer two separate electronic
surveys that focus on the Part B program for preschool-age children
(administered to the Part B program for pre-school age children
coordinator) and the IDEA Part B program for school-age children
and youth (administered to the special education director). If a
district does not have a Part B program for preschool-age children
coordinator, the study team will work with the district to identify
the survey’s most appropriate respondent, likely someone in the
pre-school special education leadership. Two surveys are necessary
because different district staff members are likely to oversee IDEA
programs for students at those different age levels. The study team
will administer the Part B program for preschool-age children
survey to a nationally representative sample of 602 school
districts and the Part B program for school-age children survey to
a nationally representative sample of 665 school districts. (Of the
665 districts selected overall, 63 do not offer pre-kindergarten
instruction and are not eligible for the preschool-age district
survey.) School Surveys: A single school survey covers the Part B
program for school-age children, the Part B program for
preschool-age children, the transition from the Part C infants and
toddlers program, and transition planning for secondary school
students. The school survey will be administered to the school
principal or lead special education staff. The study team will
administer an electronic survey to a nationally representative
sample of 2,750 schools from the 665 selected districts.
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.