August 28, 2024
MEMORANDUM
To: Bev Pratt, OMB
From: Erin Tanenbaum, Ryan Iaconelli, and Andrew Zukerberg, NCES
Through: Carrie Clarady, NCES
Re: School Pulse Panel 2024-25 Second Quarter Revision (OMB# 1850-0969 v.16)
The School Pulse Panel is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), part of the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), within the United States Department of Education. Initially, the purpose of the study was to collect extensive real-time data on issues brought to light by the COVID-19 pandemic on students and staff, as well as other important education-related issues that could inform data-driven policy decisions, in U.S. public primary, middle, high, and combined-grade schools and districts. Specifically, this was accomplished by collecting data on, among other things, the percentage of the student body starting the school year behind grade level, the types of learning recovery strategies being implemented and the perceived effectiveness of those strategies, classroom behavioral concerns, mental health services provided, and staffing issues. NCES was able to capture each of these pieces in an expedited fashion and report out findings in a matter of weeks, providing rich information to help tell the full story of what students, staff, and administrators were battling on a daily basis. The success of the quick-turnaround nature of the SPP was a clear indication of the immense value of having a real-time data collection vehicle readily available to capture content on prominent events occurring in the school environment. Therefore, stakeholders and ED leadership have asked NCES to continue this type of data collection methodology for the 2023-24 school year and beyond with content extending beyond COVID-19 pandemic impacts on the education environment.
The preliminary activities for the 2024-25 data collection was formally cleared in January 2024 (OMB# 1850-0969 v.12) and the SPP monthly data collection package was formally cleared in June 2024 (OMB# 1850-0969 v.13). A change request (v.14) was cleared in June 2024 to make changes to the 2024-25 preliminary activities package in order to modify the July 2024 communication materials and screener survey. A change request (v.15) was cleared in August 2024 to make changes to the August 2024, September 2024, and October 2024 instruments, informed by cognitive testing results with school staff. The purpose of this memo is to accompany a revision (v.16) and to describe the changes to the research materials contained in that revision. The new revision is focused on a 30-day public comment period on new items (within the scope of the research domains previously established) to be collected on the November 2024, December 2024, and January 2025 instruments, as well as planned items for the rest of the study year, through June 2025. (Appendix C2). These items are considered very close to final and will go through minimal testing with school personnel to examine any comprehension concerns with item wording. This testing will occur simultaneously with when the package is out for the 30-day public comment period. Feedback from this testing, as well as additional input from SPP stakeholders, will result in modifications and additions that will be reflected in future change requests.
A.1.1 Purpose of This Submission
The second-to-last paragraph in section A.1.1 was updated to describe the purpose of this 30-day revision.
B5. Individuals Responsible for Study Design and Performance
Project staff was updated.
No changes to Appendix A; not included in the package.
Recall that all items are kept in the complete Item Bank for continuity across collections and increased flexibility in rapid response to stakeholder needs, but the C Appendices contain collections of items for each month of the SPP data collection.
Final versions of the August 2024, November 2024, and December 2024 instruments that were cleared via a change request (OMB# 1850-0969 v.15) have been included in revised Appendix B1.
Copies of the November 2024, December 2024, January 2025, February 2025, March 2025, April 2025, May 2025, and June 2025 instruments (which are also contained in Appendix C2) have been added to Appendix B1.
The “2024-25 School Pulse Panel Modules by Month” table has been updated to reflect changes in the content planed for the December 2024 and beyond collections.
Recall that all items are kept in the complete Item Bank for continuity across collections and increased flexibility in rapid response to stakeholder needs, but the C Appendices contain collections of items for each month of the SPP data collection.
No changes to Appendix B2; it is included for reference only.
This submission includes the August 2024-October 2024 instruments (Appendix C1) that were cleared as part of our change request (OMB# 1850-0969 v.15) in August 2024. There have been no changes to this document since v.15; it is included for reference only.
This submission also includes the November 2024-June 2025 instruments (Appendix C2). The December 2024, January 2025, February 2025, March 2025, April 2025, May 2025, and June 2025 questionnaires will be updated at a later time through one or more change requests once the SPP team receives cognitive interview results from the Census Bureau.
| File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
| Author | Bielamowicz, Rebecca |
| File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 2024-09-06 |