Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024) Kindergarten and First-Grade National Data Collection and Transfer School Recruitment OMB# 1850-0750 v.29 Attachment A-1 Kindergarten (Fall 2023 and Spring 2024) Respondent Materials National Center for Education Statistics U.S. Department of Education October 2022 revised January 2023 revised April 2023 revised October 2023 Table of Contents Section Page Fall 2023 Respondent Materials ....................................................................................... School Coordinator Email Announcing E–filing Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 (as needed).................................................................................................................... Instructions for School Coordinators to E–file Child List Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 (as needed) .................................................................................................... Email Providing MyECLS PIN to School Coordinators and Teachers Fall 2023 .......... School Coordinator Email: Child Information Form Availability Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 (as needed) ....................................................................................... School Coordinator Email: Request to Notify Participants Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 (as needed) ....................................................................................... School Coordinator Guide for Encouraging Participation Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 ......................................................................................................................... Teacher Notification Email Fall 2023 ..................................................................................... Parent Notification Email Fall 2023 ........................................................................................ Parent Notification Email (Spanish) Fall 2023 ...................................................................... School Coordinator Study Activities Package Cover Letter Fall 2023 .............................. Teacher Welcome Letter Fall 2023 .......................................................................................... Teacher Fact Sheet Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 ...................................................................... Parent Welcome Letter Fall 2023 ............................................................................................. Parent Welcome Letter (Spanish) Fall 2023 ........................................................................... Parent Welcome Letter (Mandarin) Fall 2023 ........................................................................ Parent Fact Sheet National ........................................................................................................ Parent Fact Sheet (Spanish) National ...................................................................................... Explicit Consent Form for Parents Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 (as needed)..................... Explicit Consent Form for Parents (Spanish) Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 (as needed).................................................................................................................... Explicit Consent Form for Parents (Mandarin) Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 (as needed).................................................................................................................... Implicit Consent Form for Parents Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 (as needed) .................... Implicit Consent Form for Parents (Spanish) Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 (as needed) ... Implicit Consent Form for Parents (Mandarin) Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 (as needed).................................................................................................................... Postcard Providing MyECLS PIN to Parents Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 ........................ Postcard Providing MyECLS PIN to Parents (Spanish) Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 ...... Parent Text Message Communications Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 ................................... Parent Text Message Communications (Spanish) Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 ................. First Consent and Survey Completion Reminder Email for School Coordinators Fall 2023 ................................................................................................................. First Consent and Survey Completion Reminder Email for Parents (attached to first SC email) Fall 2023 ............................................................................................... First Consent and Survey Completion Reminder Email for Parents (attached to first SC email) (Spanish) Fall 2023 ............................................................................. First Consent and Survey Completion Reminder Text Message for Parents (upon request) Fall 2023 and Spring 2024.................................................................... First Consent and Survey Completion Reminder Text Message for Parents (upon request) (Spanish) Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 .................................................. First Survey Completion Reminder Email for Teachers (attached to first SC email) Fall 2023 ................................................................................................................. iii A1-1 A1-1 A1-2 A1-4 A1-5 A1-6 A1-7 A1-10 A1-11 A1-12 A1-13 A1-15 A1-17 A1-19 A1-21 A1-23 A1-25 A1-27 A1-31 A1-32 A1-34 A1-36 A1-37 A1-39 A1-41 A1-42 A1-43 A1-44 A1-45 A1-46 A1-47 A1-49 A1-50 A1-51 Second Consent and Survey Completion Reminder Email for School Coordinators Fall 2023 ................................................................................................................. Second Consent and Survey Completion Reminder Email for Parents (attached to second SC email) Fall 2023 ................................................................................. Second Consent and Survey Completion Reminder Email for Parents (attached to second SC email) (Spanish) Fall 2023................................................................ Second Consent and Survey Completion Reminder Text Message for Parents (upon request) Fall 2023 and Spring 2024.................................................................... Second Consent and Survey Completion Reminder Text Message for Parents (upon request) (Spanish) Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 .................................................. Second Survey Completion Reminder Email for Teachers (attached to second SC email) Fall 2023 ..................................................................................................... Third Survey Completion Reminder Email for School Coordinators Fall 2023 ............. Third Survey Completion Reminder Email for Parents (attached to third SC email) Fall 2023 ................................................................................................................. Third Survey Completion Reminder Email for Parents (attached to third SC email) (Spanish) Fall 2023................................................................................................ Third Survey Reminder Text Message for Parents (upon request) Fall 2023................... Third Survey Reminder Text Message for Parents (upon request) (Spanish) Fall 2023 ......................................................................................................................... Third Survey Completion Reminder Email for Teachers (attached to third SC email) Fall 2023 ................................................................................................................. Fourth Survey Completion Reminder Email for School Coordinators Fall 2023 ........... Fourth Survey Completion Reminder Email for Parents (attached to fourth SC email) Fall 2023 ..................................................................................................... Fourth Survey Completion Reminder Email for Parents (attached to fourth SC email) (Spanish) Fall 2023.................................................................................... Fourth Survey Completion Reminder Text for Parents (upon request) Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 ............................................................................................................ Fourth Survey Completion Reminder Text for Parents (upon request; Spanish) Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 ........................................................................................... Fourth Survey Completion Reminder Email for Teachers (attached to fourth SC email) Fall 2023 ..................................................................................................... Final Survey Completion Reminder Email for School Coordinators Fall 2023............... Final Survey Completion Reminder Email for Parents (attached to final SC email) Fall 2023 ................................................................................................................. Final Survey Completion Reminder Email for Parents (attached to final SC email) (Spanish) Fall 2023................................................................................................ Final Survey Completion Reminder Text for Parents (upon request) Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 ............................................................................................................ Final Survey Completion Reminder Text for Parents (upon request; Spanish) Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 ........................................................................................... Final Survey Completion Reminder Email for Teachers (attached to final SC email) Fall 2023 ................................................................................................................. School Coordinator Thank You Letter Distribution Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 ............ School Administrator and Teacher Thank You Letter Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 ......... Thank You Email for School Coordinators Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 ........................... Thank You Email for Parents Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 ................................................... Thank You Email for Parents Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 (Spanish) ................................. Updated ECLS-K:2024 COVID-19 Protocols Overview Fact Sheet Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 ............................................................................................................ ECLS-K:2024 Executive Summary All rounds (as needed) ................................................ iv A1-52 A1-53 A1-54 A1-55 A1-56 A1-57 A1-58 A1-59 A1-60 A1-61 A1-62 A1-63 A1-64 A1-65 A1-66 A1-67 A1-68 A1-69 A1-70 A1-71 A1-72 A1-73 A1-74 A1-75 A1-76 A1-77 A1-78 A1-79 A1-80 A1-81 A1-82 Insert to Children’s Book Provided as Parent Incentive All rounds ................................. Insert to Children’s Book Provided as Parent Incentive All rounds (Spanish and Mandarin) ............................................................................................................... A1-85 Spring 2024 Respondent Materials................................................................................... A1-84 Birthday Card Spring 2024 ........................................................................................................ Study Reminder Email for School Coordinators Spring 2024 (returning schools) ......... Email Providing MyECLS PIN to School Coordinators Spring 2024 .............................. School Coordinator Responsibilities Checklist Spring 2024 ............................................... School Coordinator Email: Preparing for Study Activities Spring 2024 ........................... New District Recruitment Letter Spring 2024 ....................................................................... New School Recruitment Letter Spring 2024 ........................................................................ Cooperating District with New School Recruitment Email Spring 2024 ......................... Cooperating School with Transfer Student Recruitment Email Spring 2024 .................. School Administrator and Teachers Notification Email Spring 2024 (returning schools) ................................................................................................................... School Administrator and Teachers Notification Email Spring 2024 (new schools) ..... Email Providing MyECLS PIN to School Administrators and Teachers Spring 2024 ......................................................................................................................... Email Providing Secondary MyECLS PIN to School Administrators Spring 2024........ Parent Notification Email Spring 2024 (returning school) .................................................. Parent Notification Email (Spanish) Spring 2024 (returning school) ................................ Parent Notification Email Spring 2024 (new school) ........................................................... Parent Notification Email (Spanish) Spring 2024 (new school) ......................................... School Coordinator Study Activities Package Cover Letter Spring 2024 ......................... School Administrator Welcome Letter Spring 2024 ............................................................. School Administrator Survey Worksheet Spring 2024 ......................................................... Teacher Welcome Letter Spring 2024 (returning schools) .................................................. Teacher Welcome Letter Spring 2024 (new schools) ........................................................... Parent Welcome Letter Spring 2024 (returning schools) ..................................................... Parent Welcome Letter (Spanish) Spring 2024 (returning schools) ................................... Parent Welcome Letter (Mandarin) Spring 2024 (returning schools) ................................ Parent Welcome Letter Spring 2024 (new schools) .............................................................. Parent Welcome Letter (Spanish) Spring 2024 (new schools) ............................................ Parent Welcome Letter (Mandarin) Spring 2024 (new schools) ......................................... First Consent and Survey Completion Reminder Email for School Coordinators Spring 2024 ............................................................................................................ First Consent and Survey Completion Reminder Email for Parents (attached to first SC email) Spring 2024 .......................................................................................... First Consent and Survey Completion Reminder Email for Parents (attached to first SC email) (Spanish) Spring 2024 ........................................................................ First Survey Completion Reminder Email for Teachers and School Administrator (attached to first SC email) Spring 2024 ........................................................... Second Consent and Survey Completion Reminder Email for School Coordinators Spring 2024 ............................................................................................................ Second Consent and Survey Completion Reminder Email for Parents (attached to second SC email) Spring 2024 ............................................................................ Second Consent and Survey Completion Reminder Email for Parents (attached to second SC email) (Spanish) Spring 2024........................................................... Second Survey Completion Reminder Email for Teachers and School Administrators (attached to second SC email) Spring 2024 .......................... Third Survey Completion Reminder Email for School Coordinators Spring 2024 ........ A1-87 A1-88 A1-89 A1-90 A1-92 A1-94 A1-97 A1-100 A1-102 v A1-84 A1-103 A1-104 A1-105 A1-106 A1-107 A1-108 A1-109 A1-110 A1-111 A1-113 A1-115 A1-117 A1-119 A1-121 A1-123 A1-125 A1-127 A1-129 A1-131 A1-133 A1-134 A1-135 A1-137 A1-138 A1-139 A1-140 A1-141 A1-142 Third Survey Completion Reminder Email for Parents (attached to third SC email) Spring 2024 ............................................................................................................ Third Survey Completion Reminder Email for Parents (attached to third SC email) (Spanish) Spring 2024........................................................................................... Third Survey Reminder Text Message for Parents (upon request) Spring 2024.............. Third Survey Reminder Text Message for Parents (upon request) (Spanish) Spring 2024 ............................................................................................................ Third Survey Completion Reminder Email for Teachers and School Administrators (attached to third SC email) Spring 2024 .............................. Fourth Survey Completion Reminder Email for School Coordinators Spring 2024 ...... Fourth Survey Completion Reminder Email for Parents (attached to fourth SC email) Spring 2024 ................................................................................................ Fourth Survey Completion Reminder Email for Parents (attached to fourth SC email) (Spanish) Spring 2024............................................................................... Fourth Survey Completion Reminder Email for Teachers and School Administrators (attached to fourth SC email) Spring 2024 ........................... Final Survey Completion Reminder Email for School Coordinators Spring 2024.......... Final Survey Completion Reminder Email for Parents (attached to final SC email) Spring 2024 ............................................................................................................ Final Survey Completion Reminder Email for Parents (attached to final SC email) (Spanish) Spring 2024........................................................................................... Final Survey Completion Reminder Email for School Staff (attached to final SC email) Spring 2024 ................................................................................................ Abbreviated Parent Survey Letter Spring 2024...................................................................... Abbreviated Parent Survey Letter (Spanish) Spring 2024.................................................... Certification of Contribution Spring 2024.............................................................................. Certification of Webinar Completion Spring 2024 (as needed) .......................................... Updated ECLS-K:2024 Letterhead (As needed) ................................................................... vi A1-143 A1-144 A1-145 A1-146 A1-147 A1-148 A1-149 A1-150 A1-151 A1-152 A1-153 A1-154 A1-155 A1-156 A1-157 A1-158 A1-159 A1-160 Fall 2023 Respondent Materials A1-1 School Coordinator Email Announcing E–filing Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 (as needed) SUBJECT: Action Required: Time to Submit your ECLS-K:2024 Child List! Dear : Thank you again for supporting the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLSK:2024) at your school! We are excited to be working with you. In order to select children to participate in the ECLS-K:2024, we need a list of all eligible kindergarten (including transitional kindergarten and pre-first grade) students at your school. Detailed instructions about how to submit your list are included in the attached document, “ECLS-K:2024 E-Filing Instructions.” Please upload the child list on the study’s secure website, MyECLS. For security purposes, your PIN to access the website will be sent shortly in a separate email. Please submit this list as soon as possible so we can move forward with the study activities. This will allow selected children and their parents/guardians, as well as kindergarten teachers in your school, to be notified about the study well in advance of our visit to your school. As a reminder, to thank you for your help this fall, you will receive <$65 and> a Certificate of Contribution. If you have any questions about the instructions, please contact the ECLS-K:2024 team at ECLS@westat.com or call 1-855-898-2018. We will be in touch again soon to prepare for the school visit. Sincerely, The ECLS-K:2024 Team Attachment ECLS-K:2024 E-Filing Instructions The ECLS-K:2024 is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-1 Instructions for School Coordinators to E–file Child List Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 (as needed) Four Steps for Preparing an Electronic Child List (E-File) Step 1: Identify ALL children at your school who meet the eligibility criteria listed below. Currently enrolled in kindergarten (including transitional kindergarten1 and pre-first2 classrooms). Please include students from all classes that make up the kindergarten grade. Please include all kindergarten children on the list, regardless of what language they speak or any learning differences or IEPs (or equivalents) in place. Every effort will be made to include all children in the study. Step 2: Download the Excel template from the Submit Child List page on the MyECLS website (MyECLS.ed.gov). Save the Excel spreadsheet template to your computer. Step 3: In the downloaded spreadsheet template, list each of the eligible children along with their grade and demographic information (see Figure 1 below for an example). Using the Excel template provided on the MyECLS.ed.gov website, list children in your school who are eligible for the ECLS-K:2024 along with their demographic information. Required fields are marked with an asterisk. *Child first name or unique identifier Child middle name (leave blank if no middle name) *Child last name or unique identifier Month of birth (M or MM; must be submitted in numeric format, not text) Year of birth (YYYY) *Grade (K, including transitional K and pre-first) Sex (F = Female; M = Male; or leave blank) *Is the child Asian, Native Hawaiian, or Other Pacific Islander? (Y = Yes, N = No, or NA=Not available or unknown;)* Please identify any child who is Asian, Native Hawaiian, or Other Pacific Islander, even if the child is also another race/ethnicity. Note that this is the only race/ethnicity information needed for statistical sampling. Other information on race/ethnicity will be collected only for selected children at a later time. Figure 1: Example of Electronic Child List Child First Name Ted Child Middle Name Brian Jeffrey Rose José Ann Child Last Name Brooks 5 Jenkins Month of Birth Year of Birth Grade M Sex Asian, Native Hawaiian, or Other Pacific Islander? 2018 K N 3 2018 K M N Matthews 8 2017 K F Y Rodriguez 5 2017 K M N (continue onto back page) 1 Transitional Kindergarten Program: A transitional kindergarten (TK) program is an extra year of school before kindergarten starts. It is different from preschool or prekindergarten. TK may be for children who are too young to start kindergarten or need more time to be ready for kindergarten. Schools have different names for these programs (e.g., early transitional kindergarten (ETK), readiness kindergarten, or a kindergarten equivalent in a classroom without grades or one with multiple grades), but all are types of kindergarten. The program may be in a public or private school and it may be a full- or part-day program and have regular and/or special education. 2 Transitional First (or Pre-First Grade): A school program between kindergarten and the first grade. It is for children who have attended kindergarten, but need more time to be ready for the first grade. A1-2 Step 4: Upload your completed Child List spreadsheet by selecting the Upload Child List button on the Submit Child List page on the MyECLS.ed.gov website. Navigate to your saved spreadsheet and select Open. If at any point you have any difficulties with this process, please do not hesitate to contact the ECLS-K:2024 Team for assistance at 1-855-898-2018 or send an email to ECLS@westat.com. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-3 Email Providing MyECLS PIN to School Coordinators and Teachers Fall 2023 SUBJECT: Important ECLS-K:2024 Information Dear School Staff: Please use this PIN to access the secure study website. This is your personal PIN; please keep it confidential. PIN: When you first log in to the website using your PIN, you will be prompted to enter your email address and create a password to securely access the website in the future. You will no longer need this PIN once you have created a password. Your password must be at least 8 characters in length and must contain a combination of 3 of the following 4 types: • upper case letters, • lower case letters, • numbers, • special characters. If you need technical assistance at any time, please contact the ECLS-K:2024 team at 1-855-898-2018 or ECLS@westat.com. Sincerely, The ECLS-K:2024 Team The ECLS-K:2024 is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-4 School Coordinator Email: Child Information Form Availability Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 (as needed) SUBJECT: Action Required: Student Information Needed for ECLS-K:2024 Dear : Thank you very much for submitting your list of students who are eligible for the ECLS-K:2024. Your school’s sample for the study can now be found on MyECLS . Your ECLS-K:2024 representative will call you in the next few weeks. In preparation for this call, please do the following: • Download or print the Child Information Form from the Documents page of MyECLS and complete the primary teacher, home language, and accommodation information for each sampled child. Instructions for completing the form are on the website. Please keep all of the study forms and information in a secure location. • Review the School Information page on MyECLS and note any needed changes to communicate to the ECLS-K:2024 representative during your call. • Reserve space for the child assessment sessions from through . The ideal location would be one large room like the gymnasium, music room, or library or media center, where several sessions could be conducted simultaneously. The space should be well-lit, quiet, and have two chairs and a table for each member of the ECLS-K:2024 team. If you have any questions about these instructions, or if you need to change the dates for the school visit that are noted above, please contact the ECLS-K:2024 team at ECLS@westat.com or call 1-855-898-2018. Sincerely, The ECLS-K:2024 Team The ECLS-K:2024 is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-5 School Coordinator Email: Request to Notify Participants Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 (as needed) SUBJECT: Action Required: Time to Notify Participants! Dear : Thank you very much for taking the time to talk to your ECLS-K:2024 representative. As discussed, your study activities package is on the way. Please be on the lookout for it. This package includes welcome letters and study materials for you, the parents of sampled students, and your school’s kindergarten teachers. Before your package arrives, please notify participants about the study. Emails are attached for you to use. • When sending notification emails or texts, please help us to maintain confidentiality by not revealing the names of study participants. We encourage you to send individual messages. If you choose to send a group message, please be sure to blind-copy recipients so that they cannot see the names and email addresses or phone numbers of others included on the message. When the package arrives, your next steps are as follows: • Check that you have received a parent packet for each selected child and a teacher packet for all of the kindergarten teachers in the school. • Distribute the packets to the teachers and selected parents. The package cover letter will contain more detailed instructions for doing so. • If you haven’t done so already, please reserve space for the ECLS-K:2024 team to conduct the child assessment sessions with participating children. If you do not receive your package in the next week or if you have any questions, please contact the ECLS-K:2024 team at ECLS@westat.com or call 1-855-898-2018. Sincerely, The ECLS-K:2024 Team Attachments Teacher Notification Email Parent Notification Email The ECLS-K:2024 is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-6 School Coordinator Guide for Encouraging Participation Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 Guide for Encouraging Participation in the ECLS-K:2024 The following suggestions are helpful ideas for how you can encourage participation and ensure a successful study administration in your school. Remember, results from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024) will provide information about children’s skills and development over time, and how these relate to factors at home and at school. The study will be particularly meaningful, as it will provide important information about the experiences of children whose early lives were shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic. • • • • The success of the study relies on the participation of children, parents, and school staff, as well as your assistance in securing their participation. It is important that selected children participate in the ECLS-K:2024 because they represent many other children like them across the country. Teachers provide information about their teaching practices and the knowledge and skills of participating children to create a clearer picture of what our nation’s elementary-school-aged children know and can do. Parents contribute vital information about children’s home, early care, and preschool experiences, which helps us understand how those experiences are related to children’s skills as they enter school. Notify selected study participants about the study before you distribute their participation packets. Providing advanced notice increases the likelihood that they will pay attention to the printed materials. We have provided emails for you to use to complete this task. When emailing or texting school staff and parents, please help us to maintain confidentiality by not revealing the names of study participants. We encourage you to send individual messages. If you choose to send a group message, please be sure to blind-copy recipients so that they cannot see the names and email addresses or phone numbers of others included on the message. Remind the study participants on a regular basis to complete the surveys. We will provide email (and text messages upon request) for you to use. Email reminders are especially helpful because participants can immediately access MyECLS.ed.gov and the web survey from a link provided in the messages. Again, please send individual emails/texts or blind-copy recipients. Support parents and school staff by answering questions, as appropriate, about their participation in the study. Consider offering a time and space for parents to complete the web surveys at your school, especially for those who may not have convenient access to the Internet or a computer. Emphasize the importance of the study and their contribution to it when communicating with parents and school staff. Talking points are provided on the back of this document. Remember that the ECLS-K:2024 team is here to help! If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your ECLS-K:2024 representative directly, call 1-855-898-2018, or send an email to ECLS@westat.com. A1-7 <[IF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED] Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, our team has been monitoring the latest recommendations to ensure the safety and health of your school staff and students. As we make plans for the fall 2023 data collection, please know that we are implementing safety and health procedures and will work closely with you to determine how to best proceed with the study in your school.> Talking Points for Parents • It is important that every selected child participates in the ECLS-K:2024 because each child represents many other children with similar characteristics across the country. Together, the participating children will demonstrate what children in the United States know and can do in elementary school. • By completing the online parent survey, you will help the study provide results about the relationship between children’s early learning experiences and their skills in school. • It will take you only about 45 minutes to complete the online parent survey. • It is important to be honest and accurate to ensure that the ECLS-K:2024 can provide valuable results. Your responses are confidential and are not shared with your child’s teachers or school principal. • Educators and policymakers can use the results of the ECLS-K:2024 to make informed decisions about how to improve education for future generations. ECLS studies are launched infrequently about once each decade - and are used by educators, policymakers, and researchers trying to better understand child development. • Results from studies like this one help the U.S. Department of Education better support our teachers and families. For example, the website nces.ed.gov/nceskids was created as a place to learn more about recent developments in education and as a source of fun, educational games. Talking Points for Teachers • By completing the web surveys, you help ensure that the ECLS-K:2024 can provide a more complete picture of what our country’s elementary-school-aged children know and can do in the early grades. • It will take approximately 25 minutes to complete the teacher survey; for teachers of selected students, it will take approximately 15 minutes to complete each child-level survey. • Teachers will receive a Certificate of Contribution from the U.S. Department of Education in recognition of their efforts to support the study. • Your responses are confidential and are not shared with our school’s principal, other school staff, or parents. • If district or school policy allows, to thank them for their time and effort, teachers will receive $20 for the teacher background survey. Teachers of selected students will also receive an additional $7 for each child-level survey. • Educators and policymakers can use the ECLS-K:2024 results to make informed decisions about how to improve education for future generations. ECLS studies are launched infrequently - about once each decade - and are used by educators, policymakers, and researchers trying to better understand child development. A1-8 • Results from studies like this one help the U.S. Department of Education better support our teachers and families. For example, the website nces.ed.gov/nceskids was created as a place to learn more about recent developments in education and as a source of fun, educational games. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-9 Teacher Notification Email Fall 2023 SUBJECT: Participation in the U.S. Department of Education’s ECLS-K:2024 Dear Colleague: Our school is proud to be one of about 1,000 schools across the United States that has accepted an invitation from the U.S. Department of Education to participate in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024). Results from the ECLS-K:2024 will provide parents/guardians, teachers, and policymakers with valuable information that can be used to improve children’s elementary education and experiences. What you need to know: • Some or all of your students have been selected to participate in the ECLS-K:2024. Study activities will begin this school year. • For each phase of the study, each participating student will take part in an assessment that is expected to take about 1 hour. The study activities are conducted by trained ECLS-K:2024 staff, so there is nothing that you will need to do to administer the sessions. ECLS-K:2024 staff will work with our school to make sure children participate in the study activities at convenient times. • This fall and spring you will be asked to complete brief web surveys about yourself <(about 23 minutes)> and participating students <(about 12 minutes each)>. To thank you for your time and effort, you will receive a quarterly newsletter with study and other educational information<, as well as a check for $20 for each of the fall and spring surveys on your background. Teachers of selected students will also receive $7 for each child-level survey>. At the end of the school year, you will receive a Certificate of Contribution from the U.S. Department of Education in recognition of your efforts to support the study. Please complete your fall surveys by December 15. • Parents are also asked to complete a web survey for their child during every study phase to provide important contextual data on children’s home learning environments. • The study is voluntary, but I encourage you to participate. I will soon provide you with a packet of study information. In the meantime, if you have questions, you may contact me directly, or feel free to contact the ECLS-K:2024 team at ECLS@westat.com or 1-855-898-2018 or visit the ECLSK:2024 website at MyECLS. If any parents ask you about the study, please encourage them to participate and direct them to me if they have any questions or concerns. Thank you for your time and for supporting this important study. Sincerely, School Coordinator for the ECLS-K:2024 Study The ECLS-K:2024 is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-10 Parent Notification Email Fall 2023 SUBJECT: Participation in the U.S. Department of Education’s ECLS-K:2024 Dear Parent/Guardian: Our school is proud to be one of about 1,000 schools across the United States that has accepted an invitation from the U.S. Department of Education to participate in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024). Results from the study will provide parents/guardians, teachers, and policymakers with valuable information that can be used to improve children’s elementary education and experiences. What you need to know: • Your child and other students in our school have been selected to participate. • Current plans are for participating children and their families to complete brief activities multiple times over the course of the next several years—twice in kindergarten, once in first grade (spring 2025), once in third grade (spring 2027), and once in fifth grade (spring 2029). • During each study phase, children will answer age-appropriate reading-, math-, and memory-related questions during an approximately 1-hour one-on-one session with a trained ECLS-K:2024 staff member. ECLS-K:2024 staff will work with teachers to make sure children do not miss important lessons or activities. • You will be asked to complete a <30- to 45-minute> web survey at each study phase to provide a more complete picture of your child’s learning and development. Please complete your fall survey by December 15. • The study is voluntary, but I encourage you to participate. You will receive a monetary token of appreciation for participating<; our school will too>. I will be sending an ECLS-K:2024 information packet home with your child this week. Please watch for it. You can also learn more about the study here: MyECLS. Our school supports the goals of this valuable study, and we are hopeful that every selected child, parent, and teacher from our school will participate. If you have questions, you may contact me directly, or feel free to contact the ECLS-K:2024 team at ECLS@westat.com or 1-855-898-2018. Sincerely, School Coordinator for the ECLS-K:2024 Study The ECLS-K:2024 is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-11 Parent Notification Email (Spanish) Fall 2023 SUBJECT: Participación en el estudio ECLS-K:2024 del Departamento de Educación de los EE. UU. Estimado(a) padre o madre/tutor(a) o guardián(a) legal: Nuestra escuela se enorgullece de ser una de aproximadamente 1,000 escuelas en los Estados Unidos que han aceptado una invitación del Departamento de Educación de los EE. UU. para participar en el Estudio Longitudinal de la Primera Infancia, Clase de Kindergarten de 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024). Los resultados del estudio proporcionarán a los padres y madres (o tutores/guardianes legales), a los maestros y a los legisladores información valiosa que puede ser usada para mejorar la educación primaria y las experiencias de los niños. Qué necesita saber: • Su niño(a) y otros estudiantes en nuestra escuela han sido seleccionados para participar. • Los planes actuales para los niños que participen y sus familias consisten en que completen breves actividades varias veces durante el curso de los próximos años – dos veces en kindergarten, una vez en primer grado (primavera de 2025), una vez en tercer grado (primavera de 2027) y una vez en quinto grado (primavera de 2029). • Durante cada fase del estudio, los niños contestarán preguntas de lectura, matemáticas y memoria apropiadas para su edad durante una sesión individual de aproximadamente 1 hora con un miembro entrenado del equipo de ECLS-K:2024. El personal de ECLS-K:2024 trabajará con los maestros para asegurarse de que los niños no pierdan importantes lecciones o actividades. • A usted se le pedirá que complete una breve encuesta por Internet en cada fase del estudio para proporcionar una imagen más completa del aprendizaje y desarrollo de su niño(a). Por favor, complete su encuesta del otoño antes del 15 de diciembre. • El estudio es voluntario, pero nos gustaría que participe. Como muestra de agradecimiento por su participación, usted recibirá un pequeño pago<; nuestra escuela también lo recibirá(n) >. Estaré enviando un paquete de información de ECLS-K:2024 a casa con su niño(a) esta semana. Por favor, esté atento(a). También puede obtener más información sobre el estudio aquí: MyECLS. Nuestra escuela apoya los objetivos de este valioso estudio, y esperamos que todos los niños, padres y maestros seleccionados de nuestra escuela participen. Si tiene alguna pregunta, puede comunicarse conmigo directamente, o también no dude en comunicarse con el equipo de ECLS-K:2024 a la dirección electrónica ECLS@westat.com o al teléfono 1-855-898-2018. Atentamente, Coordinador Escolar para el Estudio ECLS-K:2024 ECLS-K:2024 es un estudio que lleva a cabo el Centro Nacional para Estadísticas de Educación (NCES por sus siglas en inglés), dentro del Instituto de Ciencias de la Educación (IES por sus siglas en inglés), del Departamento de Educación de los EE. UU. El Centro Nacional para Estadísticas de Educación (NCES) está autorizado a hacer el Estudio Longitudinal de la Primera Infancia (ECLS por sus siglas en inglés) por el Acta de Reforma de las Ciencias de la Educación de 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). La firma Westat, una organización que realiza estudios y está basada en los Estados Unidos, está recopilando los datos para NCES. Toda la información que usted proporcione podrá usarse solamente para propósitos estadísticos y no podrá divulgarse ni usarse de manera que permita identificar a los participantes para ningún otro propósito, salvo que lo requiera la ley (20 U.S.C. §9573 y 6 U.S.C. §151). Se combinará la información recopilada de todos los participantes para producir reportes estadísticos. A1-12 School Coordinator Study Activities Package Cover Letter Fall 2023 Fall 2023 [SCHOOL COORDINATOR NAME] [SCHOOL NAME] [ADDRESS] [CITY], [STATE] [ZIP CODE] Dear : Thank you again for agreeing to serve as the school coordinator for the U.S. Department of Education’s Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024). Enclosed is the Study Activities Package, which includes materials for you, as well as packets for you to distribute to all of the kindergarten teachers in your school, as well as the parents/guardians of the selected children, for the first (fall 2023) phase of the study. Contents of this Package: • For you, the school coordinator, there is a guide for encouraging the participation of teachers and parents. • Teacher Packets, each containing a welcome letter<, a check for $20 for the teacher’s background survey, and for teachers of selected students an additional $7 for each child-level survey,> and the ECLS-K:2024 teacher fact sheet. Teachers will also receive their PIN numbers via email from the ECLS-K:2024 team. • Parent Packets for parents of sampled children, each containing a welcome letter, a $15 prepaid Mastercard®, a children’s book,> a sealed postcard with a PIN to access the secure section of the MyECLS website, and the ECLS-K:2024 parent fact sheet. Instructions: Ensure that you have received a parent packet for each selected child and a teacher packet for all of the kindergarten teachers in the school. Notify selected teachers and parents that you will be distributing study packets to them, if you have not already done so. Use the emails that were attached to the recent email welcoming you to the study. When emailing or texting teachers and parents, please help us to maintain confidentiality by not revealing the names of study participants. We encourage you to send individual messages. If you choose to send a group message, please be sure to blind-copy recipients so that they cannot see the names and email addresses or phone numbers of others included on the message. Distribute the packets to the selected teachers and parents. Encourage the teachers and parents to participate by using the strategies outlined in the enclosed guide. We will provide you with reminder emails (and text messages if you prefer) for this purpose. Reserve space for the ECLS-K:2024 child assessment sessions, if you have not already done so. The success of the study relies on the participation of children, teachers, and parents. Please notify your ECLSK:2024 representative as soon as possible about any issues affecting participation in your school. The ECLS-K:2024 team will be happy to assist you in following-up with teachers and parents about the completion of the surveys. If you have any questions about these instructions, please do not hesitate to contact the ECLS-K:2024 team at ECLS@westat.com or call 1-855-898-2018. Sincerely, The ECLS-K:2024 Team Enclosures Guide for Encouraging Participation A1-13 Teacher Packets Parent Packets The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. Learn more and watch a video to see the study experience for students. A1-14 Teacher Welcome Letter Fall 2023 Fall 2023 Dear Teacher: I am proud to tell you that the U.S. Department of Education has chosen our school and students to participate in an exciting study called the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024). For more than 20 years, the ECLS has helped improve education for children from birth through elementary school. We can use results from the ECLS-K:2024 to better understand children’s development and experiences related to learning, such as their: • Reading, math, and memory skills • Social skills such as self-control, communication, problem-solving, and peer relationships • Health and development • Educational opportunities at school and at home The ECLS-K:2024 will be particularly meaningful, as it will provide important information about the experiences of children whose early lives were shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic. What do I need to know? • Study activities are planned to occur this fall and next spring for kindergarten students, their families, and their teachers. Current plans are for study activities to occur three more times—when children are in first grade, third grade, and fifth grade. • Participating students will be asked to do engaging, age-appropriate activities during a one-on-one session with a study team member. o Study staff will visit our school from to to conduct the fall study activities. o Each child’s session will last about 1 hour. The study team will work with you to make sure children participate at convenient times. o The activities will focus on students’ reading-, math-, and memory-related skills. In the spring in some schools, children’s height and weight will also be measured. Accommodations are available to ensure that sampled students can participate as appropriate. o You will not need to conduct the student assessment sessions, but you can observe them. Parents/guardians are also welcome to observe the study sessions with their child. o Children who participated in previous ECLS sessions report enjoying the activities and the individual attention. • You will be asked to complete a web survey about you and your teaching practices and experiences <(about 23 minutes)>. Teachers of participating students will also be asked to complete web surveys about their participating students’ skills and abilities <(about 12 minutes each)>. • Parents/guardians of participating children will also be asked to complete a web survey, and will receive a monetary token of appreciation for doing so. The study aims to include all sampled families and offers different ways for families to participate, such as phone surveys for those without internet access and translated materials or interpreters for those who speak a language other than English. • The information that you provide will be kept secure and combined with information from school staff, students, and parents/guardians to provide nationally representative results. • The ECLS-K:2024 is endorsed by more than 25 education organizations. • Participation is voluntary, but I encourage you to take part in this important study. See the back or next page for details about what you need to do. A1-15 What do I need to do? Please log on to MyECLS.ed.gov and complete your fall surveys by December 15. • In a few days, you will receive your PIN in an email from the ECLS-K:2024 team at Westat, the research organization conducting the study for the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences. • Surveys may be completed at your convenience and do not have to be done all at once. To thank you for participating in the study: • You will receive a quarterly newsletter with study and other educational information<, as well as monetary token of appreciation to recognize the time spent participating in the study. Please find your check enclosed>. At the end of the school year, you will receive a Certificate of Contribution from the U.S. Department of Education. Our school will also receive the newsletter . You can find more information in the fact sheet I have enclosed. If you have any questions, please contact the ECLSK:2024 team at ECLS@westat.com or call 1-855-898-2018. You can also learn more at MyECLS.ed.gov. Thank you in advance for participating! Sincerely, School Coordinator for the ECLS-K:2024 Study Learn more and watch a video to see the study experience for students. Enclosure ECLS teacher fact sheet The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-16 Teacher Fact Sheet Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 A1-17 A1-18 Parent Welcome Letter Fall 2023 Fall 2023 Dear Parent/Guardian: I am proud to tell you that the U.S. Department of Education has chosen our school to participate in an exciting study called the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024). Approximately 21,000 students and families, from about 1,000 schools across the country, have been asked to participate. Schools and students were chosen to ensure the study reflects the diversity of our country. We can use results from the ECLS-K:2024 to better understand and improve children’s experiences related to learning. The study will provide information about children’s: • Reading, math, and memory skills • Social skills such as communication and problem-solving • Health and development • Educational opportunities at school and at home The ECLS-K:2024 will be especially meaningful, as it will provide important information about the experiences of children whose early lives were shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic. What do I need to know? You and your child have been selected to participate in the ECLS-K:2024. The study is voluntary, but I encourage you to participate as your input is valuable. < There is no penalty for not participating.> • Study activities are currently planned to occur twice when children are in kindergarten, once in first grade, once in third grade, and once in fifth grade. • During each phase of the study, your child will have the opportunity to do engaging, age-appropriate reading-, math-, and memory-related activities during a 1-hour one-on-one session at our school with a study team member. Children in some schools will also have their height and weight measured. o Accommodations are available to ensure that children can participate as appropriate. o You and/or school staff are welcome to be in the room during your child’s session. o Your child’s fall session will be conducted between and . The study team will work with teachers to make sure your child does not miss important lessons or activities. Children who participated in previous ECLS sessions report enjoying the activities and the individual attention. • You will be asked to complete a <30- to 45-minute> web survey at your convenience during each study phase. o Phone surveys and interpreters are available if you prefer, do not have internet access, or speak a language other than English. • Some of our school’s staff will also participate, completing surveys about their background, the school, our classrooms, and selected students. • The information that you provide will be kept secure and combined with information from other parents/guardians, students, and school staff to provide results for the nation as a whole. • The ECLS-K:2024 is endorsed by more than 25 education organizations. See the back or next page for details about what you need to do. A1-19 What do I need to do? Please log on to MyECLS.ed.gov to <1) provide permission for your child to participate in the study as soon as possible and 2)> complete your survey by December 15. • Your PIN to log on to the website is in the sealed postcard provided in this packet. • To thank you for participating: • Enclosed is a $15 prepaid Mastercard® and a children’s book. Your $15 prepaid card will be activated after you enter your unique PIN on MyECLS.ed.gov, regardless of whether you complete the survey. You will also receive a yearly newsletter with study and other educational information. • .> The ECLS-K:2024 is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). NCES is working with Westat, a research organization, to conduct this voluntary study. If you have any questions, please contact the ECLS-K:2024 team at ECLS@westat.com or call 1-855-898-2018. Learn more and watch Thank you for participating in this important study! a video to see the study experience for Sincerely, children. School Coordinator for the ECLS-K:2024 Study Enclosure ECLS parent fact sheet The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-20 Parent Welcome Letter (Spanish) Fall 2023 Estimado(a) padre o madre/tutor(a) o guardián(a) legal: Me enorgullece comunicarle que el Departamento de Educación de los EE. UU. ha elegido a nuestra escuela para participar en un estudio muy interesante. El estudio se llama el Estudio Longitudinal de la Primera Infancia, Clase de Kindergarten de 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024). Se ha pedido a aproximadamente 21,000 estudiantes y familias de unas 1,000 escuelas de todo el país que participen en el estudio. Las escuelas y los alumnos fueron elegidos para garantizar que el estudio refleje la diversidad de nuestro país. Podemos utilizar los resultados de ECLS-K:2024 para comprender mejor y mejorar las experiencias de los niños relacionadas con el aprendizaje. El estudio proporcionará información de los niños en cuanto a sus: • Habilidades de lectura, matemáticas y memoria • Habilidades sociales como la comunicación y la resolución de problemas • Salud y desarrollo • Oportunidades educativas en la escuela y en casa El estudio ECLS-K:2024 será especialmente significativo, ya que proporcionará información importante sobre las experiencias de los niños cuya infancia se vio afectada por la pandemia de COVID-19. ¿Qué necesito saber? Usted y su niño(a) han sido seleccionados para participar en el ECLS-K:2024. El estudio es voluntario, pero nos gustaría que tome parte en el mismo porque su participación es muy importante. • Los planes actuales son que las actividades del estudio se realicen dos veces cuando los niños estén en kindergarten, una vez en primer grado, una vez en tercer grado y una vez en quinto grado. • Durante cada fase del estudio su niño(a) tendrá la oportunidad de hacer actividades relacionadas con lectura, matemáticas y memoria. Se tratará de actividades interesantes y apropiadas para su edad que se realizarán durante una sesión individual de una hora en la escuela con un miembro del equipo del estudio. En algunas escuelas, se medirá la estatura y el peso de los niños. o Habrá acomodaciones disponibles para asegurar que los niños puedan participar de la manera apropiada. o Usted y/o el personal escolar serán bienvenidos en el salón durante la sesión de su niño(a). o La sesión de otoño de su niño(a) se llevará a cabo entre y . • El personal del estudio trabajará con los maestros para asegurarse de que su niño(a) no pierda importantes lecciones o actividades. Los niños que participaron en sesiones anteriores de ECLS dijeron que disfrutaron de las actividades y de la atención individual. • A usted se le pedirá que complete una encuesta por Internet en el momento que le resulte conveniente, durante cada fase del estudio. o La encuesta puede hacerse por teléfono y hay intérpretes disponibles si usted lo prefiere, si no tiene acceso a Internet, o si habla un idioma que no es inglés. • Algunos miembros del personal de nuestra escuela también participarán completando encuestas sobre ellos mismos, la escuela, nuestros salones de clase y los estudiantes seleccionados. • La información que usted proporcione se mantendrá segura y se combinará con información de otros padres/madres/tutores o guardianes legales, estudiantes y personal escolar para proporcionar resultados para toda la nación. • El estudio ECLS-K:2024 está respaldado por más de 25 organizaciones educativas. Vea al otro lado de la página o en la página siguiente más detalles de lo que tiene que hacer. A1-21 ¿Qué necesito hacer? Por favor, ingrese a MyECLS.ed.gov para <1) dar permiso para que su niño(a) participe en el estudio lo más pronto posible y 2)> complete su encuesta antes del 15 de diciembre. • Su PIN para ingresar al sitio web se encuentra en la tarjeta postal sellada proporcionada en este paquete. • Para agradecerle por participar: • Le estamos enviando junto con esta carta una tarjeta prepagada Mastercard® de $15 y un libro para niños. Después que usted ponga el PIN único en MyECLS.ed.gov, su tarjeta prepagada de $15 se activará, ya sea que usted complete o no la encuesta. También recibirá un boletín informativo anual con información del estudio y otra información educativa. • .> ECLS-K:2024 es un estudio que está llevando a cabo el Centro Nacional para Estadísticas de Educación (NCES por sus siglas en inglés), dentro del Instituto de Ciencias de la Educación (IES por sus siglas en inglés), del Departamento de Educación de los EE. UU. NCES está trabajando con Westat, una firma que realiza estudios de investigación, para realizar este estudio voluntario. Si tiene alguna pregunta, por favor, comuníquese con el equipo de ECLS-K:2024 a ECLS@westat.com o al teléfono 1-855-898-2018. Infórmese más y vea un video sobre la ¡Gracias por participar en este importante estudio! experiencia del estudio para los niños. Atentamente, Coordinador(a) escolar para el estudio ECLS-K:2024 Anexo Hoja de información de ECLS para padres y madres/tutores o guardianes legales El Centro Nacional para Estadísticas de Educación (NCES) está autorizado a hacer el Estudio Longitudinal de la Primera Infancia (ECLS por sus siglas en inglés) por el Acta de Reforma de las Ciencias de la Educación de 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). La firma Westat, una organización que realiza estudios y está basada en los Estados Unidos, está recopilando los datos para NCES. Toda la información que usted proporcione podrá usarse solamente para propósitos estadísticos y no podrá divulgarse ni usarse de manera que permita identificar a los participantes para ningún otro propósito, salvo que lo requiera la ley (20 U.S.C. §9573 y 6 U.S.C. §151). Se combinará la información recopilada de todos los participantes para producir reportes estadísticos. A1-22 Parent Welcome Letter (Mandarin) Fall 2023 2023 年秋季 亲爱的家长/监护人： 我在此告诉您，我们学校很荣幸地被美国教育部选中参加一项令人兴奋的研究，称为幼儿纵向研究，幼儿园 2023-24 班 （ECLS-K：2024）。 全国有来自约 1,000 所学校，约 21,000 名学生和家庭应邀参加，学校和学生的选择是为了确保此研究反映我 们国家的多样性。 我们可以利用 ECLS-K：2024 的结果来更深入地了解和改善与儿童学习相关的体验。 该研究将提供与儿童有 关的信息： • 阅读、数学和记忆能力 • 社交技能，如沟通和解决问题的能力 • 健康与发展 • 学校和家庭的教育机会 ECLS-K：2024 会是特别有意义的研究，因为它将提供重要信息，了解童年生活受到新冠疫情影响的儿童的 经历。 我需要知道什么？ 您和您的孩子被选中参加 ECLS-K：2024。 这项研究是自愿性质，但我鼓励您参与，因为您的意见非常宝贵 <，不参加不会受到处分>。 • 目前的计划是在孩子上幼儿园时进行两次研究活动，在大多数同年级学生上一年级、三年级、和五年 级时分别进行一次研究活动。 • 在研究的每个阶段，您的孩子将有机会在我们学校与项目团队成员进行 1 小时的一对一的研究，进行 融入式、适龄的阅读、数学和记忆的相关活动。部分学校也会测量学童的身高和体重。 o 活动中会提供变通措施，以确保儿童可以适度参与。 o 您孩子的秋季研究活动将在 到 期间举行。 研究小组将与老师合作，确保您的孩子不会错过重要的课程或活动。 参加过以前的 ECLS 研究的儿童表示他们喜欢这些活动和所受到的个人关注。 在每个研究阶段中，您将被邀请在方便时完成 <30 到 45 分钟的>网络调查。 o 如果您偏好、无法使用互联网或说英语以外的语言，我们可提供电话调查方式和口译员。 我们学校的一些职员也会参与，完成有关他们的背景、学校、我们的教室和选定学生的调查。 请参阅背面或下一页，了解您需要做些什么。 A1-23 • 您提供的信息将得到保护，并与其他家长/监护人、学生和学校职员的信息相结合，提供全国性的综合 结果。 • ECLS-K：2024 得到了超过 25 个教育机构的认可。 我需要做什么？ 请登录 MyECLS.ed.gov，<1）尽快同意您的孩子参与研究，2）> 在 12 月 15 日前完成您的调查问卷。 • 这包袋子里的密封明信片中有您的个人身份识别码。 • <即使家长不同意学生参与研究，ECLS 会赞助交回 100% 全数家长同意书的学校（遵循学区准则）为 学童举办一个食品活动（如比萨饼派对或电影晚会）。> 为了感谢您的参与： • 随函附上的是一张价值 15 美元的预付万事达卡®和一本儿童书。 无论您是否完成调查，您的 15 美元 预付卡将于您在 MyECLS.ed.gov 上输入个人身份识别码后激活。您也会得到一份包括研究和其他教 育信息的年刊。 • <我们的老师和学校也将收到感谢酬金。> ECLS-K：2024 由美国教育部教育科学研究所 （IES） 下属的国家教育统计中心 （NCES） 进行，NCES 正在 与研究机构 Westat 合作进行这项自愿研究。 如果您有任何疑问，请发电邮至 ECLS@westat.com 联系 ECLS-K：2024 团队，或致电 1-855-898-2018。 感谢您参与这项重要的研究！ 观看儿童参与研究体 验的短片。 ECLS-K：2024 研究的学校协调员 敬上 附上 ECLS 家长说明书 (Parent Fact Sheet) 国家教育统计中心（NCES）根据 2002 年教育科学改革法案（ESRA 2002，20 U.S.C. §9543）授权进行幼儿 纵向研究（ECLS），这些数据是由美国研究机构 Westat 为 NCES 收集。 您提供的所有信息只能用于统计目 的，除非法律要求（20 U.S.C. §9573 和 6 U.S.C. §151），否则不得以可识别的形式披露或使用于任何其他目 的。 所收集的信息将与其他答复者合并，以编制统计报告。 A1-24 Parent Fact Sheet National A1-25 A1-26 Parent Fact Sheet (Spanish) National Estudio Longitudinal de la Primera Infancia, Clase de Kindergarten de 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024) Información para padres, madres y tutores o guardianes legales ¿Cómo puede el estudio ECLS ayudar a mi niño(a) y a su escuela? ¿Qué es el estudio ECLS-K:2024? ¿Cómo puede ayudar a mi niño(a) y a nuestra escuela? ECLS-K:2024 es un estudio que brinda a las familias, a los educadores y a los legisladores información importante sobre los conocimientos y habilidades de los niños desde su nacimiento y durante la escuela primaria. Forma parte de un programa de estudios que ayuda a mejorar la educación de los niños. Durante más de 20 años, el programa ECLS ha explorado cómo los diferentes factores -en el hogar y en la escuela- se relacionan con el crecimiento académico, habilidades sociales y salud física de los niños. Resultados del programa ECLS pueden usarse para contestar preguntas tales como: Familias y maestros usan resultados del programa ECLS para conocer más acerca de temas como: • • • 9% ¿Qué tan bien prepara el kindergarten a los estudiantes para los grados siguientes? ¿Cuál fue el impacto de la pandemia de COVID-19 en las experiencias educativas de los niños pequeños? ¿Qué apoyo necesitan los padres/madres/tutores y las familias para participar más en la educación de sus niños? En el 2010-2011 hubo un porcentaje más alto de escuelas que ofrecieron programas de alfabetización familiar que en los años 1998-1999 FUENTE: Departamento de Educación de los Estados Unidos, Centro Nacional para Estadísticas de Educación (2020), Estudio Longitudinal de la Primera Infancia, Clase de Kindergarten de 1998-99 (ECLS-K), Archivo de datos de uso público de Kindergarten a Octavo Grado, y Estudio Longitudinal de la Primera Infancia, Clase de Kindergarten de 2010-11 (ECLS-K:2011), Archivo de datos de uso público de Kindergarten a Quinto Grado. Datos extraídos el 31 de mayo de 2022, de la tabla A3a, MyECLS. C-A-T 29% de los niños de kindergarten sabía los primeros sonidos de las palabras en los primeros meses de kindergarten (en el otoño). FUENTE: West, J., Denton, K., and Germino-Hausken, E. (2000). America’s Kindergartners (NCES 2000-070). Datos extraídos el 31 de julio de 2020, A1-27 de https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2000/2000070.pdf. NOTA: Los datos se recopilaron antes de la pandemia de COVID-19. ¿Quién lleva a cabo el ECLS-K:2024? El estudio ECLS es llevado a cabo por el Centro Nacional para Estadísticas de Educación (NCES por sus siglas en inglés) del Departamento de Educación de los Estados Unidos, el cual está dentro del Instituto de Ciencias de la Educación (IES por sus siglas en inglés). NCES trabaja con Westat, una firma que realiza estudios de investigación para llevar a cabo el estudio en todo el país. ¿Cuándo se realizará el estudio? Las actividades del estudio se realizarán en varias fases. Durante cada fase, el equipo de ECLS-K:2024 hará la sesión del estudio con cada niño(a) durante el horario escolar. El equipo se comunicará con el maestro de su niño(a) para asegurarse de que las actividades del estudio se lleven a cabo en momentos convenientes. Las actividades que se planean actualmente para los participantes serán en: • Otoño de 2023, cuando los niños estén en Kindergarten • Primavera de 2024, cuando los niños estén en Kindergarten • Primavera de 2025, cuando la mayoría de los niños haya pasado a primer grado • Primavera de 2027, cuando la mayoría de los niños haya pasado a tercer grado • Primavera de 2029, cuando la mayoría de los niños haya pasado a quinto grado ¿Por qué deberíamos mi niño(a) y yo participar en el estudio? • Aunque la participación es voluntaria, es importante para que el estudio proporcione información que pueda usarse a nivel local, estatal y nacional. Esa información podrá usarse para guiar la práctica y las políticas que pueden hacer más posible que cada niño(a) se desempeñe bien en la escuela. • Al participar, usted ayudará a asegurar que los resultados sean precisos y que representen a los niños de toda la nación. • Los estudios ECLS solamente se enfocan en un grupo de estudiantes en cada década. Esta es su oportunidad de hacerse escuchar. ¿Qué hará mi niño(a)? Durante cada fase del estudio, su niño(a) responderá preguntas relacionadas con lectura, matemáticas y memoria, interesantes y apropiadas para su edad, durante una sesión individual con un miembro entrenado del equipo ECLSK:2024. Puede ver ejemplos de sesiones del estudio con estudiantes en MyECLS.ed.gov. • • • El miembro del equipo le mostrará ilustraciones y le leerá preguntas a su niño(a), y él/ella podrá responder verbalmente o señalando la respuesta. Para saber más sobre el desarrollo físico de los niños, en algunas escuelas también se medirá la estatura y el peso de los niños. La sesión de cada niño(a) no tiene límite de tiempo, pero se espera que dure aproximadamente 1 hora. La sesión se llevará a cabo en la escuela, durante el horario escolar. Usted es bienvenido(a) en el salón durante la sesión de su niño(a) y el personal escolar también tiene permitido observar. • Habrá acomodaciones disponibles para que los estudiantes seleccionados puedan participar, incluyendo a aquellos que tienen planes 504 y Programas de Educación Individualizada (IEPs). • El equipo de ECLS trabajará con su escuela para asegurar de que su niño(a) no se pierda actividades importantes para participar en el estudio. A todos los miembros del equipo de ECLS-K:2024 se les requiere pasar una investigación federal de antecedentes penales que llevan a cabo conjuntamente el Departamento de Educación y el Departamento de Defensa de los EE. UU., antes de permitirles trabajar con niños. A1-28 ¿Qué sucede si mi niño(a) no quiere participar? Toda la participación es voluntaria. Los estudiantes pueden no contestar cualquier pregunta que no quieran responder y pueden tomar un descanso en cualquier momento. Cualquier niño(a) que no quiera trabajar con un miembro del equipo de ECLS-K:2024 no tendrá que hacerlo. ¿Qué haré como padre/madre o tutor(a)/guardián(a) legal? El equipo de ECLS le pedirá que complete una encuesta en Internet durante cada fase del estudio. Eso le llevará de 30 a 45 minutos y usted puede completarla en el momento y el lugar que le resulte conveniente. La encuesta tendrá preguntas sobre su familia, las experiencias de su niño(a) y sus actividades de aprendizaje fuera de la escuela. La encuesta puede hacerse por teléfono si usted lo prefiere o si no tiene acceso a Internet. Los materiales del estudio también están disponibles en español y hay intérpretes disponibles para ayudarle a completar la encuesta en otros idiomas. ¿Qué harán el director y el maestro de mi niño(a)? Al director y al maestro (o a los maestros) de su niño(a) también se les pedirá que completen encuestas. • • El director responderá preguntas sobre la escuela de su niño(a) y sobre su personal. Los maestros responderán preguntas sobre sí mismos y las lecciones o actividades en sus salones de clases. También responderán preguntas sobre las habilidades y destrezas de cada niño(a) que participe. ¿Cómo se protegerá mi privacidad y la de mi niño(a)? Los estudiantes, las familias, los maestros y las escuelas no se identificarán individualmente en ninguno de los reportes de ECLS-K:2024. La información que proporcionen todos los participantes se combinará para producir reportes de toda la nación en conjunto. Toda la información que proporcionen los niños, las familias, los maestros y los directores podrá usarse solamente para propósitos estadísticos y no podrá divulgarse ni usarse de manera que permita identificar a los participantes para ningún otro propósito, salvo que lo requiera la ley (20 U.S.C. §9573 y 6 U.S.C. §151). Todo el personal que trabaja en el estudio ha firmado una declaración de no divulgación, donde juran cumplir con esta ley. ¿Dónde puedo encontrar más información? • • • Puede obtener más información sobre el estudio ECLS-K:2024 y ver resultados de estudios anteriores de ECLS en MyECLS.ed.gov. Puede ver ejemplos de preguntas de ECLS que responden los padres o madres/tutores o guardianes legales, los maestros y las escuelas, encontrar reportes del estudio e informarse más sobre el programa ECLS en nces.ed.gov/ecls/. Puede llamar por teléfono al número de información de ECLS, 1-855-898-2018, o puede enviar un correo electrónico a ECLS@westat.com. Visite MyECLS.ed.gov QUAD CODE HERE A1-29 ___________________________________________________________________________ El Centro Nacional para Estadísticas de Educación (NCES) está autorizado a hacer el Estudio Longitudinal de la Primera Infancia (ECLS por sus siglas en inglés) por el Acta de Reforma de las Ciencias de la Educación de 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). La firma Westat, una organización que realiza estudios y está basada en los Estados Unidos, está recopilando los datos para NCES. Toda la información que usted proporcione podrá usarse solamente para propósitos estadísticos y no podrá divulgarse ni usarse de manera que permita identificar a los participantes para ningún otro propósito, salvo que lo requiera la ley (20 U.S.C. §9573 y 6 U.S.C. §151). Se combinará la información recopilada de todos los participantes para producir reportes estadísticos. A1-30 Explicit Consent Form for Parents Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 (as needed) Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024) Parent/Guardian Consent Form Your child’s school has agreed to participate in the U.S. Department of Education's Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024), a nationwide study of elementary-aged children and their parents/guardians, teachers, and schools. We would like to invite you and your child to join others from your school in participating in this important study. The study’s child activities will take place in your child’s school. Current plans are that participating children will complete activities twice in kindergarten (fall 2023 and spring 2024), once when most students are in first grade (spring 2025), once when most students are in third grade (spring 2027), and once when most students are in fifth grade (spring 2029). It is expected that during each phase most children will take about 1 hour to complete the activities, which consist of engaging age- and grade-appropriate reading, math, and memory skills items. Students in some schools will also have their height and weight measured. Your child will complete the study activities with an ECLS-K:2024 team member who has undergone a Federal background investigation. Children may decline to answer any of the questions they do not wish to answer, and their responses will not be associated with their names or provided to school staff. School staff, including teachers, and parents/guardians are welcome to observe the sessions. We may collect other enrollment-related data from your school and sources such as state databases and testing agencies. All of the information provided by children, families, teachers, and principals, as well as any student record information, may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). All staff working on the study have signed an affidavit of non-disclosure where they swear to abide by this law. If you have any questions, please refer to the enclosed materials and do not hesitate to email the ECLS-K:2024 team at ECLS@westat.com or call 1-855-898-2018. PLEASE CHECK ONE: Yes, I give permission for my child to participate in the ECLS-K:2024. I have read this permission form and understand what my child is being asked to do. No, I do not give permission for my child to participate in the ECLS-K:2024. PLEASE SIGN YOUR NAME BELOW: (Signature of parent or guardian) Date of signature: / / PLEASE PRINT: Child name: School name: Parent name: Parent telephone: Parent email: C FOR OFFICE/TL USE ONLY: Child ID: A1-31 Explicit Consent Form for Parents (Spanish) Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 (as needed) Estudio Longitudinal de la Primera Infancia, Clase de Kindergarten de 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024) Formulario de Consentimiento para padres/madres/tutores o guardianes legales La escuela de su niño(a) ha aceptado participar en el Estudio Longitudinal de la Primera Infancia, Clase de Kindergarten de 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024) del Departamento de Educación de los EE. UU., un estudio nacional de los niños en edad de educación primaria y sus padres/madres/tutores o guardianes legales, sus maestros y escuelas. Nos gustaría invitarlos a usted y a su niño(a) a unirse a otras personas de su escuela para participar en este importante estudio. Las actividades del estudio tendrán lugar en la escuela de su niño(a). De acuerdo con los planes actuales, los niños que participen completarán actividades dos veces durante el Kindergarten (en otoño de 2023 y primavera de 2024), una vez cuando la mayor parte de los estudiantes estén en primer grado (primavera de 2025), una vez cuando la mayor parte de los estudiantes estén en tercer grado (primavera de 2027) y una vez cuando la mayor parte de los estudiantes estén en quinto grado (primavera de 2029). Se espera que en cada fase la mayoría de los niños pasará más o menos 1 hora completando las actividades, las cuales consisten en preguntas interesantes de lectura, matemáticas y memoria, apropiadas para su edad y grado escolar. A los estudiantes en algunas escuelas también se les medirá la estatura y el peso. Su niño(a) completará las actividades del estudio con un miembro del equipo de ECLS-K:2024, que ha pasado por una investigación de antecedentes penales a nivel federal. Los niños pueden negarse a responder a cualquiera de las preguntas que no deseen contestar, y sus respuestas no se asociarán con sus nombres ni se proporcionarán al personal de la escuela. El personal de la escuela, incluyendo a los maestros, serán bienvenidos a observar las sesiones. Es posible que obtengamos otros datos sobre matriculación de estudiantes de su escuela y de fuentes tales como las bases de datos del estado y las agencias que realizan tests. Toda la información que proporcionen los niños, las familias, los maestros y los directores, así como también cualquier información de los récords de los estudiantes, podrá usarse solamente para propósitos estadísticos y no podrá divulgarse ni usarse de manera que permita identificar a los participantes para ningún otro propósito, salvo que lo requiera la ley (20 U.S.C. §9573 y 6 U.S.C. §151). Todo el personal que trabaja en el estudio ha firmado una declaración de no divulgación, donde juran cumplir con esta ley. Si tiene alguna pregunta, por favor, consulte los materiales incluidos y no dude en enviar un correo electrónico al equipo de ECLS-K:2024 a la dirección electrónica ECLS@westat.com o al teléfono 1-855-898-2018. POR FAVOR, MARQUE UNA OPCIÓN: Sí, doy permiso para que mi niño(a) participe en el estudio ECLS-K:2024. He leído este formulario de consentimiento y entiendo lo que se le pide a mi niño(a) que haga. No, no doy mi permiso para que mi niño(a) participe en ECLS-K:2024. POR FAVOR, FIRME A CONTINUACIÓN: ____________________________________________ (Firma del padre o madre/tutor(a) o guardián(a) legal) Fecha en que firma: ______/_______/_________ A1-32 POR FAVOR, ESCRIBA CON LETRA DE IMPRENTA: Nombre del niño(a): Nombre de la escuela: Nombre del padre o madre/tutor(a) o guardián(a) legal: Teléfono del padre o madre/tutor(a) o guardián(a) legal: Correo electrónico del padre o madre/tutor(a) o guardián(a)legal: C FOR OFFICE/TL USE ONLY: Child ID: A1-33 Explicit Consent Form for Parents (Mandarin) Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 (as needed) 幼儿纵向研究，幼儿园2023-24班 （ECLS-K：2024） 家长/监护人同意书 您孩子的学校已同意参加美国教育部的幼儿纵向研究，幼儿园 2023-24 班 （ECLS-K：2024），这是一项 针对小学生及其父母/监护人、教师和学校的全国性研究，我们想邀请您和您的孩子与您学校的其他人一起参 加这项重要的研究。 这项研究的儿童活动将在您孩子的学校进行。 目前的计划是参与儿童将在幼儿园完成两次研究活动（2023年 秋季和2024年春季），一次在大多数学生上一年级时（2025年春季），一次在大多数学生上三年级时 （2027年春季），一次在大多数学生在五年级时（2029年春季）。预计在每个阶段，大多数孩子大约需要 1 小时来完成活动，其中包括参与融入性、适合年龄和年级的阅读、数学和记忆技能项目，部分学校也会测量 学生的身高和体重。您的孩子将与经过联邦背景调查的 ECLS-K：2024 团队成员一起完成研究活动，孩子们 可以拒绝回答他们不想回答的任何问题，他们的回答不会注上姓名或提供给学校职员。 学校职员（ 包括 教 师） 和家长/监护人可在活动中旁听。我们可能会从您的学校和其他信息来源，如州立资料库和考试部门，收 集其他有关就学的数据。 学童、家庭、教师和校长提供的所有信息， 以及任何学生记录，只能用于统计目的，除非法律要求（20 U.S.C. §9573 和 6 U.S.C. §151），否则不得以可识别的形式披露或使用于任何其他目的。 所有从事这项研究 的工作人员都签署了一份保密宣誓书，宣誓遵守这项法律。 如果您有任何疑问，请参阅随附的材料，并随时发送电子邮件至 ECLS-K：2024 团队 ECLS@westat.com 或 致电 1-855-898-2018。 请勾选一项： 我同意我的孩子参加 ECLS-K：2024 研究。 我已经阅读了这份同意书，并了解我的孩子需要做些什 么。 我不同意我的孩子参加 ECLS-K：2024研究。 请在下面签名： 签名日期： （家长或监护人签名） -请用正体书写 学童姓名： A1-34 / / 学校名称： 家长姓名： 家长电话： 家长电子邮件： FOR OFFICE/TL USE ONLY: C Child ID: A1-35 Implicit Consent Form for Parents Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 (as needed) Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024) Parent/Guardian Consent Form Your child’s school has agreed to participate in the U.S. Department of Education's Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024), a nationwide study of elementary-aged children and their parents/guardians, teachers, and schools. We would like to invite you and your child to join others from your school in participating in this important study. The study’s child activities will take place in your child’s school. Current plans are that participating children will complete activities twice in kindergarten (fall 2023 and spring 2024), once when most students are in first grade (spring 2025), once when most students are in third grade (spring 2027), and once when most students are in fifth grade (spring 2029). It is expected that during each phase most children will take about 1 hour to complete the activities, which consist of engaging age- and grade-appropriate reading, math, and memory skills items. Students in some schools will also have their height and weight measured. Your child will complete the study activities with an ECLS-K:2024 team member who has undergone a Federal background investigation. Children may decline to answer any of the questions they do not wish to answer, and their responses will not be associated with their names or provided to school staff. School staff, including teachers, and parents/guardians are welcome to observe the sessions. We may collect other enrollment-related data from your school and sources such as state databases and testing agencies. All of the information provided by children, families, teachers, and principals, as well as any student record information, may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). All staff working on the study have signed an affidavit of non-disclosure where they swear to abide by this law. If you have any questions, please refer to the enclosed materials and do not hesitate to email the ECLS-K:2024 team at ECLS@westat.com or call 1-855-898-2018. If you give permission for your child to participate in the ECLS-K:2024, you do not need to return this form. If you do not give permission for your child to participate in the ECLS-K:2024, please check the box below, and sign and return this form to your child’s school as soon as possible. No, I do not give permission for my child to participate in the ECLS-K:2024. (Signature of parent or guardian) Date of signature: / / PLEASE PRINT: Child name: School name: Parent name: Parent telephone: Parent email: C FOR OFFICE/TL USE ONLY: Child ID: A1-36 Implicit Consent Form for Parents (Spanish) Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 (as needed) Estudio Longitudinal de la Primera Infancia, Clase de Kindergarten de 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024) Formulario de Consentimiento para padres/madres/tutores o guardianes legales La escuela de su niño(a) ha aceptado participar en el Estudio Longitudinal de la Primera Infancia, Clase de Kindergarten de 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024) del Departamento de Educación de los EE. UU., un estudio nacional de los niños en edad de educación primaria y sus padres/madres/tutores o guardianes legales, sus maestros y escuelas. Nos gustaría invitarlos a usted y a su niño(a) a unirse a otras personas de su escuela para participar en este importante estudio. Las actividades del estudio se realizarán en la escuela de su niño(a). De acuerdo con los planes actuales, los niños que participen completarán actividades dos veces durante el Kindergarten (en otoño de 2023 y primavera de 2024), una vez cuando la mayor parte de los estudiantes estén en primer grado (primavera de 2025), una vez cuando la mayor parte de los estudiantes estén en tercer grado (primavera de 2027) y una vez cuando la mayor parte de los estudiantes estén en quinto grado (primavera de 2029). Se espera que en cada fase asla mayoría de los niños tarden más o menos una hora en completar las actividades, las cuales consisten en preguntas interesantes de lectura, matemáticas y memoria, apropiadas para su edad y grado escolar. En algunas escuelas también se medirá la altura y el peso de los alumnos. Su niño(a) completará las actividades del estudio con un miembro del equipo de ECLS-K:2024, que ha pasado por una investigación federal de antecedentes. Los niños pueden dejar sin responder cualquiera de las preguntas que no deseen contestar, y sus respuestas no se asociarán con sus nombres ni se proporcionarán al personal de la escuela. El personal de la escuela, incluyendo a los maestros, y los padres, madres o tutores serán bienvenidos a observar las sesiones. Es posible que obtengamos otros datos sobre matriculación de estudiantes de su escuela y de fuentes tales como las bases de datos del estado y las agencias que realizan tests. Toda la información que proporcionen los niños, las familias, los maestros y los directores, así como también cualquier información de los récords de los estudiantes, podrá usarse solamente para propósitos estadísticos y no podrá divulgarse ni usarse de manera que permita identificar a los participantes para ningún otro propósito, salvo que lo requiera la ley (20 U.S.C. §9573 y 6 U.S.C. §151). Todo el personal que trabaja en el estudio ha firmado una declaración de no divulgación, donde juran cumplir con esta ley. Si tiene alguna pregunta, por favor, consulte los materiales incluidos y no dude en enviar un correo electrónico al equipo de ECLS-K:2024 a la dirección electrónica ECLS@westat.com o al teléfono 1-855-898-2018. Si usted da permiso para que su niño(a) participe en ECLS-K:2024, no es necesario que devuelva este formulario. Si usted no da su permiso para que su niño(a) participe en ECLS, por favor, marque el cuadrito de abajo, firme y devuelva este formulario a la escuela de su niño(a) lo más pronto posible. No, no doy mi permiso para que mi niño(a) participe en el estudio ECLS-K:2024. ____________________________________________ (Firma del padre o madre/tutor(a) o guardián(a) legal) Fecha en que firma: ______/_______/_________ A1-37 POR FAVOR, ESCRIBA CON LETRA DE IMPRENTA: Nombre del niño(a): Nombre de la escuela: Nombre del padre o madre/tutor(a) o guardián(a) legal: Teléfono del padre o madre/tutor(a) o guardián(a) legal: Correo electrónico del padre o madre/tutor(a) o guardián(a) legal: C FOR OFFICE/TL USE ONLY: Child ID: A1-38 Implicit Consent Form for Parents (Mandarin) Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 (as needed) 幼儿纵向研究，幼儿园2023-24班 （ECLS-K：2024） 家长/监护人同意书 您孩子的学校已同意参加美国教育部的幼儿纵向研究，幼儿园 2023-24 班 （ECLS-K：2024），这是一项 针对小学生及其父母/监护人、教师和学校的全国性研究，我们想邀请您和您的孩子与您学校的其他人一起参 加这项重要的研究。 这项研究的儿童活动将在您孩子的学校进行。 目前的计划是参与儿童将在幼儿园完成两次研究活动（2023年 秋季和2024年春季），一次在大多数学生上一年级时（2025年春季），一次在大多数学生上三年级时 （2027年春季），一次在大多数学生在五年级时（2029年春季）。预计在每个阶段，大多数孩子大约需要 1 小时来完成活动，其中包括参与融入性、适合年龄和年级的阅读、数学和记忆技能项目，部分学校也会测量 学生的身高和体重。您的孩子将与经过联邦背景调查的 ECLS-K：2024 团队成员一起完成研究活动，孩子们 可以拒绝回答他们不想回答的任何问题，他们的回答不会注上姓名或提供给学校职员。 学校职员（ 包括 教 师） 和家长/监护人可在活动中旁听。我们可能会从您的学校和其他信息来源，如州立资料库和考试部门，收 集其他有关就学的数据。 学童、家庭、教师和校长提供的所有信息， 以及任何学生记录，只能用于统计目的，除非法律要求（20 U.S.C. §9573 和 6 U.S.C. §151），否则不得以可识别的形式披露或使用于任何其他目的。 所有从事这项研究 的工作人员都签署了一份保密宣誓书，宣誓遵守这项法律。 如果您有任何疑问，请参阅随附的材料，并随时发送电子邮件至 ECLS-K：2024 团队 ECLS@westat.com 或 致电 1-855-898-2018。 如果您同意您的孩子参加 ECLS-K：2024研究，则无需交回此表格。 如果您不同意您的孩子参加 ECLS-K：2024 研究，请勾选下面的方框，尽快签署此表格，并将它交回您孩子 的学校。 我不同意我的孩子参加 ECLS-K：2024研究。 签名日期： （家长或监护人签名） 请用正体书写： 学童姓名： A1-39 / / 学校名称： 家长姓名： 家长电话： 家长电子邮件： FOR OFFICE/TL USE ONLY: C Child ID: A1-40 Postcard Providing MyECLS PIN to Parents Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 FRONT COVER LABELED WITH PARENT ID AND “PARENT OF ” INSIDE: Please use this PIN to log on to the secure study website and activate your $15 prepaid Mastercard®. This is your personal PIN; please keep it confidential. PIN: When you first log in to the website using your PIN, you will be asked to enter your email address and create a password. Your password must be at least 8 characters in length and include 3 of the following 4 types of characters: • upper case letters, • lower case letters, • numbers, • special characters. If you need help, please call 1-855-898-2018 or send an email to ECLS@westat.com. Sincerely, The ECLS-K:2024 Team The ECLS-K:2024 is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-41 Postcard Providing MyECLS PIN to Parents (Spanish) Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 FRONT COVER LABELED WITH PARENT ID AND “PARENT OF ” INSIDE: Por favor, use este PIN para ingresar a la página de Internet segura del estudio y activar su tarjeta prepagada Mastercard® de $15. PIN: La primera vez que ingrese a la página de Internet usando su PIN, se le pedirá que ponga su correo electrónico y deberá crear una contraseña. Su contraseña deberá tener al menos 8 caracteres de longitud y deberá incluir 3 de los siguientes 4 tipos de caracteres: • letras mayúsculas • letras minúsculas • números • caracteres especiales. Si necesita ayuda, por favor, llame al 1-855-898-2018 o envíe un correo electrónico a ECLS@westat.com. Atentamente, El equipo de ECLS-K:2024 ECLS-K:2024 es un estudio que lleva a cabo el Centro Nacional para Estadísticas de Educación (NCES por sus siglas en inglés), dentro del Instituto de Ciencias de la Educación (IES por sus siglas en inglés), del Departamento de Educación de los EE. UU. El Centro Nacional para Estadísticas de Educación (NCES) está autorizado a hacer el Estudio Longitudinal de la Primera Infancia (ECLS por sus siglas en inglés) por el Acta de Reforma de las Ciencias de la Educación de 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). La firma Westat, una organización que realiza estudios y está basada en los Estados Unidos, está recopilando los datos para NCES. Toda la información que usted proporcione podrá usarse solamente para propósitos estadísticos y no podrá divulgarse ni usarse de manera que permita identificar a los participantes para ningún otro propósito, salvo que lo requiera la ley (20 U.S.C. §9573 y 6 U.S.C. §151). Se combinará la información recopilada de todos los participantes para producir reportes estadísticos. A1-42 Parent Text Message Communications Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 SET APPOINTMENT: Thank you . I am looking forward to completing the ECLS-K:2024 survey with you. Would < DATE/TIME> work for you to ? I, or a colleague, can be available at any date or time that is convenient for you. If you have any questions, please just let me know either by email () or text. CONFIRM APPOINTMENT: Thank you . I am looking forward to completing the ECLS-K:2024 survey with you on . If you have any questions or need to reschedule our , please just let me know either by email () or text. REMINDER OF APPOINTMENT: Just a reminder that I will be you to complete the ECLS-K:2024 survey on . If you have any questions or need to reschedule our , please just let me know either by email () or text. A1-43 Parent Text Message Communications (Spanish) Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 SET APPOINTMENT: Gracias . Con gusto completaré con usted la encuesta ECLS-K:2024. ¿Le resultaría conveniente el < DATE/TIME> para que ? Ya sea yo o uno de mis colegas podemos estar disponibles en cualquier fecha u hora que a usted le convenga. Si tiene alguna pregunta, por favor, avíseme por email a () o por mensaje de texto. CONFIRM APPOINTMENT: Gracias . Con gusto completaré con usted la encuesta ECLS-K:2024 el . Si tiene alguna pregunta o necesita cambiar la fecha o la hora de nuestra , por favor, avíseme ya sea por email () o por mensaje de texto. REMINDER OF APPOINTMENT: Este mensaje es solo para recordarle que le el para completar la encuesta ECLS-K:2024. Si tiene alguna pregunta o necesita cambiar la fecha o la hora de nuestra , por favor, avíseme ya sea por email () o por mensaje de texto. A1-44 First Consent and Survey Completion Reminder Email for School Coordinators Fall 2023 Subject: Reminder: ECLS-K:2024 Consent and Survey Completion Check-In Dear : Thank you for your work to ensure the ECLS-K:2024 study’s success in your school! It is time to check on the surveys that are being completed by parents and teachers, as well as the return of consent forms. Where to monitor the status of consent forms and surveys: • Log on to MyECLS to review the completion status of surveys and monitor the return of any parental consent forms. If you have received paper consent forms, please update the consent information on the website. How to follow up with parents and school staff: • • • Review the completion status of the parent and teacher surveys. Note those parents and teachers who have not yet completed their surveys. Use the email reminder template attached to this email to contact parents and teachers and remind them to complete the consent forms and/or surveys. (A text message reminder template is also available upon request.) When emailing or texting teachers and parents, please help us to maintain confidentiality by not revealing the names of study participants. We encourage you to send individual messages. If you choose to send a group message, please be sure to blind-copy recipients so that they cannot see the names and email addresses or phone numbers of others included on the message. We are here to help! • Please email or call your ECLS-K:2024 representative to discuss how we can help make the study a success in your school. • You can also contact the ECLS-K:2024 team at ECLS@westat.com or call 1-855-898-2018. Thank you again for all you are doing to support the ECLS-K:2024. Sincerely, The ECLS-K:2024 Team Attachments: Survey Reminder Email for Parents Reminder Email for Teachers The ECLS-K:2024 is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-45 First Consent and Survey Completion Reminder Email for Parents (attached to first SC email) Fall 2023 Subject: Reminder to complete your ECLS-K:2024 web survey! Dear Parent/Guardian: Thank you for reviewing the materials I sent home about the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024), conducted by the U.S. Department of Education. Our school supports this study, and while all participation is voluntary, we hope that every selected child, parent, and teacher from our school will participate. What are parents being asked do? • • Complete a survey about your child and your family. If you have already completed the survey, thank you! If you have not, the survey can be completed whenever is convenient for you and does not need to be completed all at once. By law, individual students, families, and schools will not be identified, nor will study data be shared with our school. A prepaid Mastercard® card worth $15 upon activation and a children’s book were also included in the package to thank you for your time completing the survey. You will also receive a yearly newsletter with study and other educational information. Our school and teachers also receive tokens of appreciation. How to complete the survey: • Log on to the MyECLS (MyECLS.ed.gov) website. • For your first visit, you will be asked to enter a PIN. Your PIN was enclosed in the study materials I recently sent home. If you cannot find the PIN, please contact the ECLS-K:2024 helpdesk at ECLS@westat.com or call 1-855-898-2018. • The website contains a link to the survey you are being asked to complete. Questions or need help? • The U.S. Department of Education is working with Westat, a U.S.-based research organization, to conduct the study. Please contact the ECLS-K:2024 team at ECLS@westat.com or call 1-855-898-2018. • You can also contact me if you have any questions about the study activities for you or your child. Sincerely, School Coordinator for the ECLS-K:2024 Study Why is the ECLS-K:2024 program so important? It helps us better understand how children learn. The ECLS-K:2024 is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-46 First Consent and Survey Completion Reminder Email for Parents (attached to first SC email) (Spanish) Fall 2023 Subject: ¡Recuerde completar su encuesta de ECLS-K:2024! Estimado(a) padre o madre/tutor(a) o guardián(a) legal: Gracias por revisar los materiales que le envié a casa acerca del Estudio Longitudinal de la Primera Infancia, Clase de Kindergarten de 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024), que está llevando a cabo el Departamento de Educación de los EE. UU. Nuestra escuela apoya este estudio y, aunque la participación es voluntaria, esperamos que todos los niños, padres/madres y maestros seleccionados de nuestra escuela participen. ¿Qué se les pide a los padres o madres que hagan? • • Completar una encuesta sobre su niño(a) y su familia. Si usted ya la completó, ¡se lo agradecemos! Si no lo ha hecho, sepa que se puede completar cuando a usted le resulte conveniente. No es necesario que la complete toda de una vez. Por ley, los estudiantes, las escuelas y las familias no serán identificados individualmente y los datos del estudio no se compartirán con nuestra escuela. Un(a) tarjeta prepagada Mastercard® con un valor de $15 una vez activada y un libro de niños se incluyeron también en el paquete para agradecerle a usted por el tiempo dedicado a contestar la encuesta. También recibirá un boletín informativo anual con información del estudio y otra información educativa. Nuestra escuela y los maestros también recibirán un pago como muestra de agradecimiento. Cómo completar la encuesta: • Visite la página de Internet MyECLS (MyECLS.ed.gov). • Para su primera visita, se le pedirá que ponga un PIN. Su PIN se incluyó con los materiales del estudio que le envié recientemente a casa. Si no encuentra el PIN, por favor, comuníquese con la línea de ayuda de ECLS-K:2024 escribiendo a la dirección electrónica ECLS@westat.com o llamando por teléfono al 1-855-898-2018. • La página de Internet contiene un enlace para la encuesta que se le pide que complete. ¿Tiene preguntas o necesita ayuda? • El Departamento de Educación de los EE. UU. está trabajando con Westat, una firma que realiza estudios de investigación y está basada en los EE. UU., para realizar el estudio. Por favor, comuníquese con el equipo de ECLS-K:2024 escribiendo a la dirección electrónica ECLS@westat.com o llamando al teléfono al 1-855-8982018. • También puede contactarme si tiene alguna pregunta sobre las actividades del estudio para usted o para su niño(a). Atentamente, Coordinador(a) escolar para el estudio ECLS-K:2024 ¿Por qué es tan importante el programa ECLS? Nos ayuda a entender mejor cómo los niños aprenden. A1-47 ECLS-K:2024 es un estudio que está llevando a cabo el Centro Nacional para Estadísticas de Educación (NCES por sus siglas en inglés), dentro del Instituto de Ciencias de la Educación (IES por sus siglas en inglés), del Departamento de Educación de los EE. UU. El Centro Nacional para Estadísticas de Educación (NCES) está autorizado a hacer el Estudio Longitudinal de la Primera Infancia (ECLS por sus siglas en inglés) por el Acta de Reforma de las Ciencias de la Educación de 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). La firma Westat, una organización que realiza estudios y está basada en los Estados Unidos, está recopilando los datos para NCES. Toda la información que usted proporcione podrá usarse solamente para propósitos estadísticos y no podrá divulgarse ni usarse de manera que permita identificar a los participantes para ningún otro propósito, salvo que lo requiera la ley (20 U.S.C. §9573 y 6 U.S.C. §151). Se combinará la información recopilada de todos los participantes para producir reportes estadísticos. A1-48 First Consent and Survey Completion Reminder Text Message for Parents (upon request) Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 Message for Parents in Explicit Consent Schools Hello! We are excited that the U.S. Department of Education’s Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024) is coming to our school soon! If you have not already, please provide consent for your child to participate, complete the parent survey, and activate your $15 prepaid Mastercard® on the MyECLS website. An information packet and email from our school have directions. For questions, please call the ECLSK:2024 team at 1-855-898-2018. Thank you! Message for Parents in Implicit Consent Schools Hello! We are excited that the U.S. Department of Education’s Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024) is coming to our school soon! If you have not already, please complete the parent survey and activate your $15 prepaid Mastercard® on the MyECLS website. An information packet and email from our school have directions. For questions, please call the ECLS-K:2024 team at 1-855-898-2018 with questions. Thank you! A1-49 First Consent and Survey Completion Reminder Text Message for Parents (upon request) (Spanish) Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 Message for Parents in Explicit Consent Schools Estimado(a) padre/madre/tutor: ¡Nos alegra que el Estudio Longitudinal de la Primera Infancia (ECLS), Clase de Kindergarten de 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024) del Departamento de Educación de los EE. UU. pronto llegará a nuestra escuela! Si todavía no lo ha hecho, por favor, dé su consentimiento para que su niño(a) participe, complete la encuesta de padres y madres, y active su tarjeta Mastercard® prepagada de $15 en la página de MyECLS en Internet. Las instrucciones están en un paquete de información y un correo electrónico enviado por nuestra escuela. Si tiene preguntas, por favor, comuníquese con el equipo de ECLS-K:2024 llamando al teléfono 1-855-898-2018. ¡Gracias! Message for Parents in Implicit Consent Schools Estimado(a) padre/madre/tutor: ¡Nos alegra que el Estudio Longitudinal de la Primera Infancia (ECLS), Clase de Kindergarten de 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024) del Departamento de Educación de los EE. UU. pronto llegará a nuestra escuela! Si todavía no lo ha hecho, por favor, complete la encuesta de padres y madres, y active su tarjeta Mastercard® prepagada de $15 en la página de MyECLS en Internet. Las instrucciones están en un paquete de información y un correo electrónico enviado por nuestra escuela. Si tiene preguntas, por favor, comuníquese con el equipo de ECLSK:2024 llamando al teléfono 1-855-898-2018. ¡Gracias! A1-50 First Survey Completion Reminder Email for Teachers (attached to first SC email) Fall 2023 Subject: Reminder to complete your ECLS-K:2024 web survey! Dear Colleague: I am reaching out to ask that you please complete your activities for the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024), conducted by the U.S. Department of Education. While all ECLSK:2024 participation is voluntary, I encourage you to participate. What are teachers being asked to do at this time? • Complete a survey about your background and classroom practices. • If your classroom contains selected students, you will also be asked to complete surveys about each of the selected children in your classroom. • You will not be asked to conduct any of the child sessions; all child assessments will be conducted by the ECLS-K:2024 team. How to complete the survey(s): • Log onto the MyECLS (MyECLS.ed.gov) website. • For your first visit, you will be prompted to enter the PIN you were provided in an email a few weeks ago. If you cannot find the PIN, please contact the ECLS-K:2024 team at ECLS@westat.com or call 1855-898-2018. • The website contains links to each of the surveys you are being asked to complete. Surveys can be completed at your convenience and do not have to be done all at once. • Questions or need help? • The U.S. Department of Education is working with Westat, a U.S.-based research organization, to conduct the study. Please contact the ECLS-K:2024 team at ECLS@westat.com or call 1-855-898-2018. • You can also reach out to me if you have any questions. Sincerely, School Coordinator for the ECLS-K:2024 Study Why is the ECLS-K:2024 program so important? It helps us better understand how children learn. The ECLS-K:2024 is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-51 Second Consent and Survey Completion Reminder Email for School Coordinators Fall 2023 Subject: Reminder: ECLS-K:2024 Survey Completion Check-In Dear : Thank you for all you are doing to make the ECLS-K:2024 a success! Now that a couple of weeks have gone by, it is time to check again on the status of the study surveys. What do I need to do? • Review the MyECLS website to see which parents still need to complete their surveys or who have declined their child’s participation. Without parental consent to participate, we will not be able to include these children in the study. • Check to see whether the teachers have completed their surveys. • Email the attached reminders to those parents and teachers who have not yet completed the survey . Text reminders for parents are also available upon request if you prefer to send texts. The last day for completing the surveys is Friday, December 15. When emailing or texting teachers and parents, please help us to maintain confidentiality by not revealing the names of study participants. We encourage you to send individual messages. If you choose to send a group message, please be sure to blind-copy recipients so that they cannot see the names and email addresses or phone numbers of others included on the message. • Please continue to update MyECLS as appropriate (for example, with child-specific information). Our ECLS-K:2024 team members want to assist you in these efforts. Please email or call your ECLS-K:2024 representative to discuss how we can help follow up with parents and school staff. Do your parents or teachers need help completing the survey? • Anyone who needs help can contact the ECLS-K:2024 team at ECLS@westat.com or 1-855-898-2018. We want to hear from as many of your teachers and parents as possible! Thank you for helping us meet that goal. Sincerely, The ECLS-K:2024 Team Attachments: Reminder Email for Parents Reminder Email for Teachers The ECLS-K:2024 is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-52 Second Consent and Survey Completion Reminder Email for Parents (attached to second SC email) Fall 2023 Subject: Reminder to complete your ECLS-K:2024 web survey! Dear Parent/Guardian: I appreciate your family’s participation in the U.S. Department of Education’s Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024)! With your help, the nation can learn more about what our country’s young students know and can do to better meet their needs in school. Don’t forget: • Log on to the MyECLS website to complete the parent survey if you have not done so already. • Detailed information about the study was provided in the materials I sent home a couple of weeks ago along with the $15 prepaid Mastercard® and a children’s book to thank you for your time and effort. You can activate your prepaid card on MyECLS. You will also receive a yearly newsletter with study and other educational information. • The last day to complete your parent survey is December 15. Questions, need help, or forgot your log-in information? • Please email the ECLS-K:2024 team at ECLS@westat.com or call 1-855-898-2018. • You can also reach out to me if you have any questions. Why is the ECLS-K:2024 program so important? It helps us better understand how children learn. More findings from previous ECLS studies and other U.S. Department of Education surveys are available on the MyECLS homepage. Sincerely, School Coordinator for the ECLS-K:2024 Study The ECLS-K:2024 is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-53 Second Consent and Survey Completion Reminder Email for Parents (attached to second SC email) (Spanish) Fall 2023 Subject: ¡Recuerde completar su encuesta en Internet de ECLS-K:2024! Estimado(a) padre o madre/tutor(a) o guardián(a) legal: ¡Agradezco la participación de su familia en el Estudio Longitudinal de la Primera Infancia, Clase de Kindergarten de 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024), del Departamento de Educación de los Estados Unidos! Con su ayuda, la nación podrá conocer más sobre qué saben y qué pueden hacer los estudiantes jóvenes de nuestro país para satisfacer mejor sus necesidades en la escuela. No olvide: • Ingrese a la página de Internet MyECLS para completar la encuesta de padres y madres/tutores o guardianes legales, si aún no lo ha hecho. • Hay información detallada sobre el estudio en los materiales que envié a su casa hace un par de semanas junto con la tarjeta prepagada Mastercard® de $15 y un libro de niños, para agradecerle por su tiempo y esfuerzo. Usted puede activar su tarjeta prepagada en MyECLS. También recibirá un boletín informativo anual con • información del estudio y otra información educativa. Le recuerdo que el último día para completar su encuesta es el 15 de diciembre. ¿Tiene preguntas, necesita ayuda u olvidó su información para ingresar a la página? • Por favor, envíe un correo electrónico al equipo de ECLS-K:2024 a la dirección electrónica ECLS@westat.com o llame al teléfono 1-855-898-2018. • También puede comunicarse conmigo si tiene alguna pregunta. ¿Por qué es tan importante el programa ECLS? Nos ayuda a entender más cómo los niños aprenden. Puede encontrar más resultados de los estudios anteriores de ECLS y de otras encuestas del Departamento de Educación de los EE. UU. en la página principal de MyECLS. Atentamente, Coordinador(a) escolar para el estudio ECLS-K:2024 ECLS-K:2024 es un estudio queestá llevando a cabo el Centro Nacional para Estadísticas de Educación (NCES por sus siglas en inglés), dentro del Instituto de Ciencias de la Educación (IES por sus siglas en inglés), del Departamento de Educación de los EE. UU. El Centro Nacional para Estadísticas de Educación (NCES) está autorizado a hacer el Estudio Longitudinal de la Primera Infancia (ECLS por sus siglas en inglés) por el Acta de Reforma de las Ciencias de la Educación de 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). La firma Westat, una organización que realiza estudios y está basada en los Estados Unidos, está recopilando los datos para NCES. Toda la información que usted proporcione podrá usarse solamente para propósitos estadísticos y no podrá divulgarse ni usarse de manera que permita identificar a los participantes para ningún otro propósito, salvo que lo requiera la ley (20 U.S.C. §9573 y 6 U.S.C. §151). Se combinará la información recopilada de todos los participantes para producir reportes estadísticos. A1-54 Second Consent and Survey Completion Reminder Text Message for Parents (upon request) Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 Message for Parents in Schools with Explicit Consent Hello! Please don’t miss out on participating in the U.S. Department of Education’s Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024). The last day to complete your survey is approaching quickly. Your information packet and email from our school have directions on how to log on to the MyECLS website to activate your $15 prepaid Mastercard®, provide consent for your child, and complete the survey. Please let us know if you have any questions or call the ECLS-K:2024 team at 1-855-898-2018. Message for Parents in Schools with Implicit Consent Hello! Please don’t miss out on participating in the U.S. Department of Education’s Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024). The last day to complete your survey is approaching quickly. Your information packet and email from our school have directions on how to log on to the MyECLS website to activate your $15 prepaid Mastercard® and complete the survey. Please let us know if you have any questions or call the ECLS-K:2024 team at 1-855-898-2018. A1-55 Second Consent and Survey Completion Reminder Text Message for Parents (upon request) (Spanish) Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 Message for Parents in Schools with Explicit Consent Estimado(a) padre/madre/tutor: Por favor, no se pierda la oportunidad de participar en el Estudio Longitudinal de la Primera Infancia, Clase de Kindergarten de 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024) del Departamento de Educación de los EE. UU. El último día para completar se está acercando rápidamente. Su paquete de información y un correo electrónico de nuestra escuela tienen instrucciones sobre cómo visitar la página de Internet MyECLS para activar su tarjeta prepagada Mastercard® de $15 y dar su consentimiento para que su niño(a) participe, y completar la encuesta. Por favor, díganos si tiene alguna pregunta o llame al equipo de ECLS-K:2024 al 1-855-898-2018. Message for Parents in Schools with Implicit Consent Estimado(a) padre/madre/tutor: Por favor, no se pierda la oportunidad de participar en el Estudio Longitudinal de la Primera Infancia, Clase de Kindergarten de 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024) del Departamento de Educación de los EE. UU. El último día para completar se está acercando rápidamente. Su paquete de información y un correo electrónico de nuestra escuela tienen instrucciones sobre cómo visitar la página de Internet MyECLS para activar su tarjeta prepagada Mastercard® de $15 y completar la encuesta. Por favor, díganos si tiene alguna pregunta o llame al equipo de ECLSK:2024 al 1-855-898-2018. A1-56 Second Survey Completion Reminder Email for Teachers (attached to second SC email) Fall 2023 Subject: Reminder to complete your ECLS-K:2024 web survey(s)! Dear Colleague: I appreciate your willingness to participate in the U.S. Department of Education’s Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024)! This is a friendly reminder to complete your web survey(s). How to complete the survey(s): • Log onto the MyECLS website and enter the PIN you were provided in an email a few weeks ago. If you cannot find the email containing the PIN, please contact the ECLS-K:2024 helpdesk at ECLS@westat.com or call 1-855-898-2018. • The website contains links to each of the surveys you are being asked to complete. Please log on to the website and complete the survey(s) by Friday, December 15. • At the end of the school year, you will receive a Certificate of Contribution from the U.S. Department of Education in recognition of your efforts to support the study. Questions or need help? • Please contact the ECLS-K:2024 team at ECLS@westat.com or call 1-855-898-2018. • You can also reach out to me if you have any questions. • If parents ask you about the study, please encourage them to participate and direct them to me if they have any questions. Thank you again! Sincerely, School Coordinator for the ECLS-K:2024 Study Why is the ECLS-K:2024 program so important? It helps us better understand how children learn. The ECLS-K:2024 is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-57 Third Survey Completion Reminder Email for School Coordinators Fall 2023 Subject: ECLS-K:2024—Survey Completion Reminder Dear : The end of the first phase of the ECLS-K:2024 is quickly approaching. Please help us obtain as many complete surveys as possible from your school’s parents and staff. What do I need to do? • Review the MyECLS website to see which parents and teachers still need to complete their surveys. • Email the attached reminders to those parents and teachers who have not yet completed the survey. Text reminders for parents are also available upon request if you prefer texting. The last day for completing the surveys is Friday, December 15. When emailing or texting teachers and parents, please help us to maintain confidentiality by not revealing the names of study participants. We encourage you to send individual messages. If you choose to send a group message, please be sure to blind-copy recipients so that they cannot see the names and email addresses or phone numbers of others included on the message. Our ECLS-K:2024 team members want to assist you in these efforts. Please email or call your ECLS-K:2024 representative to discuss how we can help follow up with parents and school staff. Do parents or school staff need help completing the survey? • Anyone who needs help can contact the ECLS-K:2024 team at ECLS@westat.com or 1-855-898-2018. We want to hear from as many of your teachers and parents as possible! Thank you for helping us meet this goal. Sincerely, The ECLS-K:2024 Team Attachments: Reminder Email for Parents Reminder Email for Teachers The ECLS-K:2024 is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-58 Third Survey Completion Reminder Email for Parents (attached to third SC email) Fall 2023 Subject: ECLS-K:2024 fall survey ending soon! Dear Parent/Guardian: Thanks again for participating in the U.S. Department of Education’s Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024)! I know you are very busy, but the last day to complete your parent survey is quickly approaching. We would like to have all surveys completed by December 15. To participate: Log on to the MyECLS website to complete the parent survey if you have not done so already. Details about the study were provided in the materials I sent home several weeks ago along with a prepaid Mastercard® worth $15 upon activation and a children’s book to thank you for your time and effort. You will also receive a yearly newsletter with study and other educational information. Questions, need help, or forgot your log-in information? Please email the ECLS-K:2024 team at ECLS@westat.com or call 1-855-898-2018. You can also reach out to me if you have any questions. Why is the ECLS-K:2024 program so important? It helps us better understand how children learn. Sincerely, School Coordinator for the ECLS-K:2024 Study The ECLS-K:2024 is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-59 Third Survey Completion Reminder Email for Parents (attached to third SC email) (Spanish) Fall 2023 Subject: ¡Ya pronto termina la encuesta de otoño de ECLS-K:2024! Estimado(a) padre o madre/tutor(a) o guardián(a) legal: ¡Gracias de nuevo por participar en el Estudio Longitudinal de la Primera Infancia, Clase de Kindergarten de 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024) del Departamento de Educación de los EE. UU.! Sé que está muy ocupado(a), pero si no completó la encuesta para padres/madres/tutores, le recordamos que pronto será el último día para completarla. Nos gustaría que todas las encuestas se completaran antes del 15 de diciembre. Para participar: Ingrese a la página de Internet MyECLS para completar la encuesta, si aún no lo ha hecho. Se proporcionaron detalles sobre el estudio en los materiales que envié a su casa hace varias semanas junto con una tarjeta prepagada Mastercard® con un valor de $15 una vez activada y un libro de niños para agradecerle por su tiempo y esfuerzo. También recibirá un boletín informativo anual con información del estudio y otra información educativa. ¿Tiene preguntas, necesita ayuda u olvidó su información para ingresar a la página? Por favor, envíe un correo electrónico al equipo de ECLS-K:2024 a la dirección ECLS@westat.com o llame al teléfono 1-855-898-2018. También puede comunicarse conmigo si tiene alguna pregunta. ¿Por qué es tan importante el programa ECLS-K:2024? Nos ayuda a entender más sobre cómo los niños aprenden. Atentamente, Coordinador(a) escolar para el estudio ECLS-K:2024 ECLS-K:2024 es un estudio que está llevando a cabo el Centro Nacional para Estadísticas de Educación (NCES por sus siglas en inglés), dentro del Instituto de Ciencias de la Educación (IES), del Departamento de Educación de los EE. UU. El Centro Nacional para Estadísticas de Educación (NCES) está autorizado a hacer el Estudio Longitudinal de la Primera Infancia (ECLS por sus siglas en inglés) por el Acta de Reforma de las Ciencias de la Educación de 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). La firma Westat, una organización que realiza estudios y está basada en los Estados Unidos, está recopilando los datos para NCES. Toda la información que usted proporcione podrá usarse solamente para propósitos estadísticos y no podrá divulgarse ni usarse de manera que permita identificar a los participantes para ningún otro propósito, salvo que lo requiera la ley (20 U.S.C. §9573 y 6 U.S.C. §151). Se combinará la información recopilada de todos los participantes para producir reportes estadísticos. A1-60 Third Survey Reminder Text Message for Parents (upon request) Fall 2023 We know you are very busy, but the last day to complete your Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024) survey is December 15. Please log on to the MyECLS website to complete your survey if you have not already done so. Please contact our school or call the ECLS-K:2024 team at 1-855-898-2018 if you have any questions. A1-61 Third Survey Reminder Text Message for Parents (upon request) (Spanish) Fall 2023 Sabemos que está muy ocupado(a), pero el último día para completar su encuesta del Estudio Longitudinal de la Primera Infancia, Clase de Kindergarten de 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024) es el 15 de diciembre. Por favor, ingrese a la página de Internet de MyECLS para completar su encuesta si todavía no lo ha hecho. Por favor, díganos si contacte a nuestra escuela o llame al equipo de ECLS-K:2024 al 1-855-898-2018 si tiene alguna pregunta. A1-62 Third Survey Completion Reminder Email for Teachers (attached to third SC email) Fall 2023 Subject: Current phase of the ECLS-K:2024 ending soon! Dear Colleague: I know you are very busy, but the last day to complete the ECLS-K:2024 survey(s) is December 15. Your participation would go a long way toward helping the study provide valuable information for parents, schools, researchers, and policymakers. How to complete the surveys: • Log onto the MyECLS website to complete the survey(s) if you have not done so already. • At the end of the school year, you will receive a Certificate of Contribution from the U.S. Department of Education in recognition of your efforts to support the study. Questions or need help? • Please contact the ECLS-K:2024 team at ECLS@westat.com or 1-855-898-2018. • You can also reach out to me if you have any questions. • If parents ask you about the study, please encourage them to participate and direct them to me if they have any questions. Sincerely, School Coordinator for the ECLS-K:2024 Study Why is the ECLS-K:2024 program so important? It helps us better understand how children learn. The ECLS-K:2024 is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-63 Fourth Survey Completion Reminder Email for School Coordinators Fall 2023 Subject: ECLS-K:2024—One Last Survey Reminder Dear : Thank you for all you have done to make the ECLS-K:2024 a success in your school! This is the final reminder to check on the completion of this fall’s parent and school staff surveys. If any parents and teachers still need to complete their surveys, please remind them that the last day is Friday, December 15. An email reminder template is attached for you to send. (A text message reminder template is also available upon request.) When emailing or texting teachers and parents, please help us to maintain confidentiality by not revealing the names of study participants. We encourage you to send individual messages. If you choose to send a group message, please be sure to blind-copy recipients so that they cannot see the names and email addresses or phone numbers of others included on the message. If you have any questions, please contact the ECLS-K:2024 team at ECLS@westat.com or 1-855-898-2018. Thank you! Sincerely, The ECLS-K:2024 Team Attachments Reminder Emails for Parents Reminder Emails for Teachers The ECLS-K:2024 is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-64 Fourth Survey Completion Reminder Email for Parents (attached to fourth SC email) Fall 2023 Subject: ECLS-K:2024—One Last Survey Reminder Dear Parent/Guardian: We are making every effort to finish strong for the U.S. Department of Education’s Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024)! If you have not already completed your parent survey, please do so today. We are really counting on your participation! To participate: Log on to the MyECLS website to complete the parent survey. Details about the study were provided in the materials I sent home several weeks ago along with a prepaid Mastercard® worth $15 upon activation and a children’s book to thank you for your time and effort. You will also receive a yearly newsletter with study and other educational information. Questions, need help, or forgot your log-in information? For any questions, please email the ECLS-K:2024 team at ECLS@westat.com or call 1-855-898-2018. You can also reach out to me if you have any questions. Why is the ECLS-K:2024 program so important? It helps us better understand how children learn. Sincerely, School Coordinator for the ECLS-K:2024 Study The ECLS-K:2024 is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-65 Fourth Survey Completion Reminder Email for Parents (attached to fourth SC email) (Spanish) Fall 2023 Subject: ECLS-K:2024— Último recordatorio para la encuesta Estimado(a) padre o madre/tutor(a) o guardián(a) legal: ¡Estamos haciendo todo lo posible para terminar con éxito el Estudio Longitudinal de la Primera Infancia, Clase de Kindergarten de 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024) del Departamento de Educación de los EE. UU.! Si aún no ha completado su encuesta para padres y madres/tutores o guardianes legales, por favor, hágalo hoy. ¡Realmente estamos contando con su participación! Para participar: Ingrese a la página de Internet MyECLS para completar la encuesta para padres/madres/tutores o guardianes legales. Se proporcionaron detalles sobre el estudio en los materiales que envié a su casa hace varias semanas junto con una tarjeta prepagada Mastercard® con un valor de $15 una vez activada y un libro de niños, para agradecerle por su tiempo y esfuerzo. También recibirá un boletín informativo anual con información del estudio y otra información educativa. ¿Tiene preguntas, necesita ayuda u olvidó su información para ingresar a la página? Para cualquier pregunta, por favor, envíe un correo electrónico al equipo de ECLS-K:2024 a la dirección electrónica ECLS@westat.com o llame al teléfono 1-855-898-2018. También puede comunicarse conmigo si tiene alguna pregunta. ¿Por qué es tan importante el programa ECLS? Nos ayuda a entender más sobre cómo los niños aprenden. Atentamente, Coordinador(a) escolar para el estudio ECLS-K:2024 ECLS-K:2024 es un estudio que está llevando a cabo el Centro Nacional para Estadísticas de Educación (NCES por sus siglas en inglés), dentro del Instituto de Ciencias de la Educación (IES por sus siglas en inglés), del Departamento de Educación de los EE. UU. El Centro Nacional para Estadísticas de Educación (NCES) está autorizado a hacer el Estudio Longitudinal de la Primera Infancia (ECLS por sus siglas en inglés) por el Acta de Reforma de las Ciencias de la Educación de 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). La firma Westat, una organización que realiza estudios y está basada en los Estados Unidos, está recopilando los datos para NCES. Toda la información que usted proporcione podrá usarse solamente para propósitos estadísticos y no podrá divulgarse ni usarse de manera que permita identificar a los participantes para ningún otro propósito, salvo que lo requiera la ley (20 U.S.C. §9573 y 6 U.S.C. §151). Se combinará la información recopilada de todos los participantes para producir reportes estadísticos. A1-66 Fourth Survey Completion Reminder Text for Parents (upon request) Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 We are making every effort to finish strong for the U.S. Department of Education’s Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024)! If you have not already completed your parent survey, please do so today by logging on to the MyECLS website. We are really counting on your participation! Please contact our school or call the ECLS-K:2024 team at 1-855-898-2018 if you have any questions. Thank you! A1-67 Fourth Survey Completion Reminder Text for Parents (upon request; Spanish) Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 ¡Estamos haciendo todo lo posible para terminar con éxito el Estudio Longitudinal de la Primera Infancia, Clase de Kindergarten de 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024) del Departamento de Educación de los EE. UU.! Si aún no ha completado su encuesta para padres y madres/tutores o guardianes legales, por favor, hágalo hoy visitando la página de Internet MyECLS. ¡Estamos contando de verdad con su participación! Si tiene alguna pregunta, por favor, comuníquese con nuestra escuela o llame al equipo de ECLS-K:2024 al 1-855-898-2018. ¡Gracias! A1-68 Fourth Survey Completion Reminder Email for Teachers (attached to fourth SC email) Fall 2023 Subject: ECLS-K:2024—One Last Survey Reminder Dear Colleague: We are making every effort to finish strong for the U.S. Department of Education’s Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024)! If you have not already completed your survey(s), please do so today. We are really counting on your participation! How to complete the survey(s): • Log on to the MyECLS website. The website contains links to each of the surveys you are being asked to complete. At the end of the school year, you will receive a Certificate of Contribution from the U.S. Department of Education in recognition of your efforts to support the study. Questions or need help? • Please contact the ECLS-K:2024 team at ECLS@westat.com or call 1-855-898-2018. You can also reach out to me if you have any questions. Sincerely, School Coordinator for the ECLS-K:2024 Study Why is the ECLS-K:2024 program so important? It helps us better understand how children learn. The ECLS-K:2024 is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-69 Final Survey Completion Reminder Email for School Coordinators Fall 2023 Subject: ECLS-K:2024 survey deadline extended until ! Dear : We are making every effort to collect as much data as possible for the ECLS-K:2024 so the survey deadline is being extended one more week, until . An email reminder template is attached for you to send. (A text message reminder template is also available upon request.) When emailing or texting teachers and parents, please help us to maintain confidentiality by not revealing the names of study participants. We encourage you to send individual messages. If you choose to send a group message, please be sure to blind-copy recipients so that they cannot see the names and email addresses or phone numbers of others included on the message. If you have any questions, please contact the ECLS-K:2024 team at ECLS@westat.com or 1-855-898-2018. Thank you! Sincerely, The ECLS-K:2024 Team Attachments Reminder Emails for Parents Reminder Emails for Teachers The ECLS-K:2024 is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-70 Final Survey Completion Reminder Email for Parents (attached to final SC email) Fall 2023 Subject: ECLS-K:2024 survey deadline extended until ! Dear Parent/Guardian: Your response is so important to us that we’ve extended the due date to make sure you have a chance to reply. Please respond to your ECLS survey by . If you have not already completed your parent survey, please do so today. We are really counting on your participation! To participate: Log on to the MyECLS website to complete the parent survey. Details about the study were provided in the materials I sent home several weeks ago along with a prepaid Mastercard® worth $15 upon activation and a children’s book to thank you for your time and effort. You will also receive a yearly newsletter with study and other educational information. Questions, need help, or forgot your log-in information? For any questions, please email the ECLS-K:2024 team at ECLS@westat.com or call 1-855-898-2018. You can also reach out to me if you have any questions. Sincerely, School Coordinator for the ECLS-K:2024 Study The ECLS-K:2024 is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-71 Final Survey Completion Reminder Email for Parents (attached to final SC email) (Spanish) Fall 2023 Subject: ECLS-K:2024— Extendimos la fecha final de la encuesta hasta el Estimado(a) padre o madre/tutor(a) o guardián(a) legal: Su respuesta es tan importante que hemos extendido la fecha final para asegurarnos de que usted tenga una oportunidad de responder. Por favor responda a la encuesta de ECLS antes del . ¡Estamos contando de verdad con su participación! Para participar: Ingrese a la página de Internet MyECLS para completar la encuesta para padres/madres/tutores o guardianes legales. Se proporcionaron detalles sobre el estudio en los materiales que envié a su casa hace varias semanas junto con una tarjeta prepagada Mastercard® con un valor de $15 una vez activada y un libro de niños, para agradecerle por su tiempo y esfuerzo. ¿Tiene preguntas, necesita ayuda u olvidó su información para ingresar a la página? Para cualquier pregunta, por favor envíe un correo electrónico al equipo de ECLS-K:2024 a la dirección electrónica ECLS@westat.com o llame al teléfono 1-855-898-2018. También puede comunicarse conmigo si tiene alguna pregunta. Atentamente, Coordinador(a) escolar para el estudio ECLS-K:2024 El ECLS-K:2024 lo está llevando a cabo el Centro Nacional para Estadísticas de Educación (NCES por sus siglas en inglés), dentro del Instituto de Ciencias de la Educación (IES por sus siglas en inglés), del Departamento de Educación de los EE.UU. El Centro Nacional para Estadísticas de Educación (NCES) está autorizado a hacer el Estudio Longitudinal de la Primera Infancia (ECLS por sus siglas en inglés) por el Acta de Reforma de las Ciencias de la Educación de 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). La firma Westat, una organización que realiza estudios y está basada en los Estados Unidos, está recopilando los datos para NCES. Toda la información que usted proporcione podrá usarse solamente para propósitos estadísticos y no podrá divulgarse ni usarse de manera que permita identificar a los participantes para ningún otro propósito, salvo que lo requiera la ley (20 U.S.C. §9573 y 6 U.S.C. §151). Se combinará la información recopilada de todos los participantes para producir reportes estadísticos. A1-72 Final Survey Completion Reminder Text for Parents (upon request) Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 We have extended the deadline to to complete your survey for the U.S. Department of Education’s Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024)! If you have not already completed your parent survey, please do so today by logging on to the MyECLS website. Please contact our school or call the ECLS-K:2024 team at 1-855-898-2018 if you have any questions. Thank you! A1-73 Final Survey Completion Reminder Text for Parents (upon request; Spanish) Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 Hemos extendido hasta el la fecha para completar la encuesta del Estudio Longitudinal de la Primera Infancia, Clase de Kindergarten de 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024) del Departamento de Educación de los EE.UU.! Si aún no ha completado su encuesta para padres y madres/tutores o guardianes legales, por favor hágalo hoy visitando la página de Internet MyECLS. Si tiene alguna pregunta, por favor comuníquese con nuestra escuela o llame al equipo de ECLS-K:2024 al 1-855-898-2018. ¡Gracias! A1-74 Final Survey Completion Reminder Email for Teachers (attached to final SC email) Fall 2023 Subject: ECLS-K:2024 survey deadline extended until ! Dear Colleague: Your response is so important to us that we’ve extended the due date to make sure you have a chance to reply. Please respond to your ECLS survey by . If you have not already completed your survey(s), please do so today. We are really counting on your participation! How to complete the survey(s): • Log on to the MyECLS website. The website contains links to each of the surveys you are being asked to complete. At the end of the school year, you will receive a Certificate of Contribution from the U.S. Department of Education in recognition of your efforts to support the study. Questions or need help? • Please contact the ECLS-K:2024 team at ECLS@westat.com or call 1-855-898-2018. You can also reach out to me if you have any questions. Sincerely, School Coordinator for the ECLS-K:2024 Study Why is the ECLS-K:2024 program so important? It helps us better understand how children learn. The ECLS-K:2024 is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-75 School Coordinator Thank You Letter Distribution Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 Dear , Thank you for all of your work in coordinating the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 202324 (ECLS-K:2024) at your school. nclosed please find materials for the school staff who were part of this study to thank them for their efforts in making the study a success. Please distribute them at your convenience. We will also send you an email with a thank you message to send to the parents of the selected children. We enjoyed meeting the school staff and your students, and we look forward to working with you again . In the meantime, you can find further information about the study and our progress at nces.ed.gov/ecls/. Thank you again for your support of the ECLS-K:2024 this year. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the ECLS-K:2024 team at 1-855-898-2018 or ECLS@westat.com. Sincerely, The ECLS-K:2024 Team A1-76 School Administrator and Teacher Thank You Letter Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 Dear , Thank you for participating in the U.S. Department of Education’s Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024). We received a warm welcome at your school and appreciate the help of your school to launch the study. a Certificate of Contribution to recognize your participation in the study.> You can find further information about the study and our progress at nces.ed.gov/ecls/. Thank you again for your support of the ECLS-K:2024 this year. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the ECLS-K:2024 team at 1-855-898-2018 or ECLS@westat.com. Sincerely, The ECLS-K:2024 Team The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-77 Thank You Email for School Coordinators Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 SUBJECT: Thank you from the ECLS-K:2024! Dear : Thank you again for all your help in coordinating the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024) at your school. We truly couldn’t have done it without you! We hope you will give our thanks to the participating children, parents, and school staff. An email for parents is attached for you to distribute. Please help us to maintain confidentiality by sending this email individually to each parent or, if sending a group message, be sure to blind-copy recipients so that they cannot see the names and email addresses of others included on the message. Thank you letters and Certificates of Contribution for the school staff were mailed to you for distribution. You can find further information about the study at nces.ed.gov/ecls/. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the ECLS-K:2024 team at 1-855-898-2018 or ECLS@westat.com. Thank you again for your support of the ECLS-K:2024 this year! Sincerely, The ECLS-K:2024 Team Attachment Thank You Email Template for Parents The ECLS-K:2024 is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-78 Thank You Email for Parents Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 SUBJECT: Thank you for participating in the ECLS-K:2024! Dear Parents/Guardians: On behalf of the U.S. Department of Education, our school, and our students, I want to thank you for participating in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024). You can find further information about the study at nces.ed.gov/ecls/. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the ECLS-K:2024 team at 1-855-898-2018 or ECLS@westat.com. Thank you again for your support of this important study! Sincerely, School Coordinator for the ECLS-K:2024 Study The ECLS-K:2024 is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-79 Thank You Email for Parents Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 (Spanish) SUBJECT: ¡Gracias por participar en ECLS-K:2024! Estimados padres, madres y tutores/guardianes legales: En nombre del Departamento de Educación de los EE. UU., de nuestra escuela y de nuestros estudiantes, quiero darle las gracias por participar en el Estudio Longitudinal de la Primera Infancia, Clase de Kindergarten de 2023-24 (ECLSK:2024). Puede encontrar más información sobre el estudio en MyECLS. Si tiene alguna pregunta o inquietud por favor, comuníquese con el equipo de ECLS-K:2024 al número de teléfono 1-855-898-2018 o a la dirección electrónica ECLS@westat.com. ¡Gracias de nuevo por su apoyo a este importante estudio! Atentamente, Coordinador escolar para el estudio ECLS-K:2024 ECLS-K:2024 es un estudio que está llevando a cabo el Centro Nacional para Estadísticas de Educación (NCES por sus siglas en inglés), dentro del Instituto de Ciencias de la Educación (IES por sus siglas en inglés), del Departamento de Educación de los EE. UU. El Centro Nacional para Estadísticas de Educación (NCES) está autorizado a hacer el Estudio Longitudinal de la Primera Infancia (ECLS por sus siglas en inglés) por el Acta de Reforma de las Ciencias de la Educación de 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). La firma Westat, una organización que realiza estudios y está basada en los Estados Unidos, está recopilando los datos para NCES. Toda la información que usted proporcione podrá usarse solamente para propósitos estadísticos y no podrá divulgarse ni usarse de manera que permita identificar a los participantes para ningún otro propósito, salvo que lo requiera la ley (20 U.S.C. §9573 y 6 U.S.C. §151). Se combinará la información recopilada de todos los participantes para producir reportes estadísticos. A1-80 Updated ECLS-K:2024 COVID-19 Protocols Overview Fact Sheet Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 A1-81 ECLS-K:2024 Executive Summary All rounds (as needed) Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024) Overview ECLS background. Over its 20-year history, the Early Childhood Longitudinal Studies (ECLS; nces.ed.gov/ecls) have been important data sources for researchers and educators to use to address key issues in promoting healthy child development and learning. In fact, ECLS data are integral to our understanding of how children enter and progress through elementary school. In addition, ECLS data have been used by policymakers to advocate for policy changes in education; for example, ECLS findings were used in Minnesota to increase access to full-day kindergarten. Recent ECLS study findings have been used to improve school experiences for elementary school students. The ECLS-K:2011, the most recently completed ECLS program study, followed a group of over 18,000 kindergarten students selected from nearly 1,000 public and private schools in 2010-11. Also participating were the children’s parents, teachers, and administrators. Study activities were conducted from fall 2010 until spring 2016, when most students were in fifth grade. The ECLS-K:2011 included child assessments in math, reading, and science, as well as surveys of parents and school staff. Data from the ECLS-K:2011 have been used to identify promising practices in kindergarten transitions, investigate connections between teacher-student relationships and self-control, and to examine other topical issues; thousands of studies using ECLS Program data can be found using the NCES Bibliography Search Tool (nces.ed.gov/bibliography). The current ECLS study, the ECLS-K:2024. The ECLS-K:2024, the fourth study in the ECLS program, will be especially meaningful, as it will provide insights into the experiences of children whose early lives were shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic. The ECLS-K:2024 begins in the children’s kindergarten year (2023-24) with follow-up data collections currently planned for 1st grade (2025), 3rd grade (2027), and 5th grade (2029). With a nationally representative sample of kindergarten students, the ECLS-K:2024 will provide a complete picture of children’s learning experiences by collecting data using child assessments and parent, teacher, and school administrator surveys. Public and private schools in the United States are randomly selected to participate in ECLS-K:2024, selected from nationwide lists of schools compiled from sources such as the 2020-21 Common Core of Data (CCD) and the 2019-20 Private School Universe Survey (PSS). In each participating school, the ECLS-K:2024 team will randomly select approximately kindergartners and invite them and their parents to participate in the study. In the first year of the study, to help with the study’s nationally representative findings, all kindergarten teachers and school administrators in the selected schools will also be asked to participate. In later rounds of the study, participating children’s teachers and school administrators will be invited. Data security. The ECLS-K:2024 implements well-tested systems to ensure confidentiality of all research participants, as well as the security of all hardcopy and electronic data. • • • • • • FISMA-moderate compliant systems Secure systems for sharing school information Encryption and password protection for all electronic data Strict inventory and tracking of hardcopy materials Rigorous data destruction protocols Compliant with FERPA PPRA, and CIPSEA regulations A1-82 Benefits to study participation. The ECLS-K:2024 provides the opportunity for participants to contribute to research that can help improve school experiences for your district, school, teachers, and students, as well as the broader educational community. This ECLS study will be especially meaningful, as it will provide important information about the experiences of children whose early lives were shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic. Having a better understanding of current children’s abilities can help your teachers improve classroom activities and better meet children’s needs. Your students’ families can learn more about how family activities and parent involvement in schooling relate to children’s school readiness, social and emotional development, and more. Additionally, schools and school staff receive monetary and non-monetary incentives for their participation, in accordance with district policy. In order for the results of the study to have their impact and ensure that they are accurate and representative of students across the nation, the ECLS-K:2024 needs those selected for the study to participate. ECLS studies are launched infrequently – about once each decade – and educators and policymakers need the results from those asked to participate in order to make informed decisions about improving early childhood education for future generations. A1-83 Insert to Children’s Book Provided as Parent Incentive All rounds Thank you to you and your child for considering participation in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024)! This book is a token of appreciation from the U.S. Department of Education, and was chosen by your child’s school. If you do not wish to keep it, please feel free to donate it to your child’s school library. A1-84 Insert to Children’s Book Provided as Parent Incentive All rounds (Spanish and Mandarin) ¡Gracias a usted y a su niño(a) por considerar participar en el Estudio Longitudinal de la Primera Infancia, Clase de Kindergarten de 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024)! Este libro es una muestra de agradecimiento del Departamento de Educación de los EE. UU. y fue elegido por la escuela de su niño(a). Si no lo quiere, puede donarlo a la biblioteca de la escuela de su niño. 感谢您和您的孩子考虑参加幼儿纵向研究，幼儿园 2023-24 班 (ECLS-K:2024)! 这本书是美国教育部的感谢礼，并由您孩子的学校选择。 如果您不想要，可以将其捐赠给您孩子的学校图书 馆。 A1-85 Spring 2024 Respondent Materials A1-86 Birthday Card Spring 2024 A1-87 Study Reminder Email for School Coordinators Spring 2024 (returning schools) SUBJECT: Upcoming ECLS-K:2024 Study Activities in Your School Dear : Thank you for your school’s participation last fall in the U.S. Department of Education’s Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024). We enjoyed vising your school and meeting your kindergartners and school staff! We are now preparing for the next phase of study activities. We plan to visit your school from through to complete the spring activities. Please contact us at 1-855-898-2018 or ECLS@westat.com if those dates no longer work for your school. What’s next? • In a few weeks, we will email you messages to notify parents and school staff about the upcoming spring ECLS-K:2024 activities. • We will then mail you a package that contains study materials to be distributed to parents and study staff. • We will call you a week or two before the school visit to discuss the upcoming study arrangements in more detail. o Please reserve space for the child assessment sessions. The ideal location would be one large room like the gymnasium, music room, or library or media center, where several sessions could be conducted simultaneously. The space should be well-lit, quiet, and have two chairs and a table for each member of the ECLS-K:2024 team. New to the study or need to refresh yourself on the ECLS-K:2024 activities? • Refer to the attached ECLS Study Overview and School Coordinator Responsibilities Checklist. .> We look forward to working with you and your school again. Sincerely, The ECLS-K:2024 Team Attachments ECLS Study Overview School Coordinator Responsibilities Checklist The ECLS-K:2024 is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-88 Email Providing MyECLS PIN to School Coordinators Spring 2024 SUBJECT: Important ECLS-K:2024 Information Dear : Please use this PIN to access the secure study website. This is your personal PIN; please keep it confidential. PIN: When you first log in to the website using your PIN, you will be prompted to enter your email address and create a password to securely access the website in the future. You will no longer need this PIN once you have created a password. Your password must be at least 8 characters in length and must contain a combination of 3 of the following 4 types: • upper case letters, • lower case letters, • numbers, • special characters. If you need technical assistance at any time, please contact the ECLS-K:2024 team at 1-855-898-2018 or ECLS@westat.com. Sincerely, The ECLS-K:2024 Team The ECLS-K:2024 is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-89 School Coordinator Responsibilities Checklist Spring 2024 U.S. Department of Education Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024) School Coordinator Responsibilities Checklist Overview As the school coordinator, your efforts and support are crucial to the success of the ECLS-K:2024. Thank you in advance for your help preparing for this important study! Some schools participated in the study last fall and if you are a returning School Coordinator, thank you for agreeing to serve in this role again this spring. For those coordinators in schools that participated last fall, some of the tasks described below are the same as those that you may have completed then, although there will be less for you to do in preparation for the study activities this spring. Leading up to the spring visit to your school, you will be responsible for: Reviewing child and teacher information. You will receive an email informing you that the selected children and their information are again available to view on the MyECLS.ed.gov website. Please review the child and teacher information and note any changes in advance of the spring study activities call with the ECLS-K:2024 representative. In the event that you have questions about the eligibility of selected children, identify children who are no longer enrolled in your school, or if you have learned of a parent or teacher who no longer wants to participate, be sure to let the ECLS-K:2024 representative know. Participating in a study activities call with the ECLS-K:2024 representative. The ECLS-K:2024 representative assigned to your school will contact you to go over the study tasks, discuss child and school staff participation, and work with you to arrange logistics for the school visit such as arranging a room for the child sessions and determining where ECLS-K:2024 staff should park when they arrive at the school. The representative can field any questions you may have about any of the ECLS-K:2024 procedures. Receiving and checking the ECLS-K:2024 study activities package. You will receive a FedEx package with the following materials: • School administrator packet, • Parent packets, • Teacher packets, and • A cover letter with a list of included materials. The parent and school staff materials include letters with instructions for participating in the next phase of the study, informational fact sheets, and the monetary tokens of appreciation (included for school staff only if allowed by the school and district). Please ensure that there are parent packets for each selected child, as well as all of the teacher packets. Notifying parents and school staff and distributing survey information. You are responsible for distributing the parent and school staff packets that will be included in your study activities package. You will receive email survey reminder templates (and text reminder templates if requested) for you to send to selected school staff and parents to notify them about the ECLS-K:2024. When emailing or texting school administrators, teachers, and parents, please help us to maintain confidentiality by not revealing the names of study participants. We encourage you to send individual messages or, if you choose to send a group message, A1-90 please be sure to blind-copy recipients so that they cannot see the names and email addresses or phone numbers of others included on the message. Encouraging participation from parents and school staff and updating status on MyECLS.ed.gov. The success of the study relies on the participation of selected children, parents, teachers, and school administrators. Please encourage everyone who has been selected to participate and notify the ECLS-K:2024 representative as soon as possible about any problems affecting participation in your school. You can check the completion of surveys on the School, Teacher, and Parent Information pages in the MyECLS.ed.gov website. Please check the website regularly throughout the study period to determine which parents and school staff need prompting to complete their surveys. Reserving space for the child sessions. Three to four study team members will need approximately 2-3 consecutive days to assess all participating students. (Less time is needed if only one or two children are participating.) Please reserve space for the ECLSK:2024 team to conduct the sessions with children. The sessions can take place in one large room with separate tables or in smaller rooms that accommodate only one or two pairs of ECLS study staff member and child. The space should be well-lit, quiet, with minimal distractions, and have two chairs and a table for each member of the study team. The goal is to arrange a space that is comfortable and safe for participating children. Internet access is not required. On the ECLS-K:2024 school visit days, you will be responsible for: Working with the ECLS-K:2024 team and providing support, as needed. Please plan to meet with the ECLS-K:2024 team before the first child session each day the study team is in your school in order to walk through the plan for the day. Show the reserved study location to the team and make sure that they are introduced to all relevant staff members and, if possible, to the children involved in the study. You should also make sure that the procedure for getting children to and from class is clear. If you are unable to meet with the team on any of the school visit days, please designate an alternate staff member to take your place. Debriefing with the ECLS-K:2024 representative and returning any completed paper surveys. At the end of each day ECLS-K:2024 staff are in your school, please plan to meet with the ECLS-K:2024 representative for 5–10 minutes to debrief about the day’s activities. The ECLS-K:2024 representative will provide you with any paper surveys that have been requested for you to distribute to school staff. Please then return any completed paper surveys back to the ECLS-K:2024 representative. After the ECLS-K:2024 school visit, you will be responsible for: Storing the ECLS-K:2024 materials in the red storage envelope until June 28, 2024. Please securely store the materials until June 28, 2024 in the red storage envelope provided by the ECLS-K:2024 representative. After that date, the materials should be shredded. Thank you for your help with the ECLS-K:2024 study activities! The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-91 School Coordinator Email: Preparing for Study Activities Spring 2024 SUBJECT: Action Required: Preparing for the ECLS-K:2024 Visit Dear : The next phase of the ECLS-K:2024 is quickly approaching, and we need your help in preparing for the study activities. • Notify parents and school staff about the next phase of the study. Emails are attached for you to use; if you would prefer to use text messages for this purpose, please let your study representative know. When sending notification emails or texts, please help us to maintain confidentiality by not revealing the names of study participants. We encourage you to send individual messages. If you choose to send a group message, please be sure to blind-copy recipients so that they cannot see the names and email addresses or phone numbers of others included on the message. • Be on the lookout for an ECLS-K:2024 package that was recently mailed to you. The package includes a letter and spring study materials for you, as well as school staff and parents of selected students. Note that this spring, school administrators and special education teachers of the selected students will also be asked to complete web surveys. o When the package arrives, check that you have received a parent packet for each selected student and all of the expected teacher packets. Distribute the packets to the school administrator and selected teachers and parents. The package cover letter will contain more detailed instructions for doing so. • Reserve space for the ECLS-K:2024 team to conduct the child assessment sessions with participating children. The school visit is planned for through . The ideal location would be one large room like the gymnasium, music room, or library or media center, where several sessions could be conducted simultaneously. The space should be well-lit, quiet, and have two chairs and a table for each member of the ECLS-K:2024 team. • Go to the MyECLS website and review the provided information for each selected student. You will be prompted to enter the PIN that you will receive in an email in the next few days. If you cannot find the PIN, please contact the ECLS-K:2024 team at ECLS@westat.com or call 1-855-898-2018. o Note any updates to the information that are needed, so you can discuss with the ECLS-K:2024 representative any changes. o If any of the selected students have left the school, please communicate details about the child’s new school to the ECLS-K:2024 representative. o Also review the School Information page on MyECLS and note any needed changes to provide to the ECLS-K:2024 representative during your call. A1-92 • Your ECLS-K:2024 representative will call you in the next few weeks to discuss the logistics of our visit to your school this spring and any changes to the child or school information that appear on the website that you noted. If you are new to the study or want to refresh yourself on the ECLS-K:2024 activities: • Refer to the attached ECLS Study Overview and School Coordinator Responsibilities Checklist. If you have any questions about these instructions, or if you need to change the dates for the school visit that are noted above, please contact the ECLS-K:2024 team at ECLS@westat.com or call 1-855-898-2018. Thank you in advance for working with the ECLS-K:2024 representative and for your important work on the study! Sincerely, The ECLS-K:2024 Team Attachments School Adminstrator and Teacher Notification Email Parent Notification Email The ECLS-K:2024 is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-93 New District Recruitment Letter Spring 2024 Spring 2024 [SUPERINTENDENT NAME] [DISTRICT NAME/DIOCESE] [ADDRESS] [ADDRESS2] [CITY, STATE ZIP] Dear : The U.S. Department of Education is currently conducting its newest study of elementary-school-aged students, called the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024). I am writing to inform you that one or more students who are participating in the ECLS-K:2024 have transferred to your district. I ask for your district’s support of this national study and to encourage the participation of the selected school(s). Key details: • The ECLS-K:2024 began in the fall of 2023 when the selected students were in kindergarten. Study activities are currently planned to continue when the selected students are in the spring of their kindergarten year (spring 2024), first-grade year (spring 2025), third-grade year (spring 2027), and fifth-grade year (spring 2029). • Study activities include one-on-one child assessments conducted by trained ECLS-K:2024 staff (with parents’ consent) and web surveys completed by school administrators, teachers, and parents/guardians. The enclosed Study Overview provides more detail about what is involved for the participants. • If allowed by your district, these schools, as well as school staff, will be provided with monetary tokens of appreciation in recognition of the time spent participating in the study. Parents/guardians also receive monetary tokens of appreciation. • The ECLS is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). We have partnered with Westat, a U.S.-based research organization, to carry out the study in participating schools. Please see the enclosed ECLS-K:2024 Study Overview for more details. Importance of participation: For more than 20 years, the ECLS program has helped educators, families, researchers, and policymakers improve children’s educational experiences. The ECLS-K:2024 is particularly meaningful, as it will provide insights into the experiences of children whose early lives were shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic. While the study is voluntary, by permitting our staff to contact selected schools and encouraging those schools to participate, you will help ensure the data continue to be useful. The participation of selected schools is essential for ensuring the data accurately reflect the changing landscape of education for students in the United States. Next steps: Study staff will be contacting you soon about the participation of selected schools in your district. The following school(s) in your district have been selected for the study and would be contacted to discuss participation. (over) A1-94 More information about the ECLS-K:2024 is available on the NCES website, nces.ed.gov/ecls, as well as a website for study participants, MyECLS.ed.gov. If you have questions or need assistance, please call 1-855-898-2018 or email ECLS@westat.com. You may also reach the ECLS Study Director, Jill McCarroll, at 202-304-2920 or jill.mccarroll@ed.gov. Thank you for your time and for supporting this important national education research study. Sincerely, [Name] [Commissioner or other title] National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences U.S. Department of Education Enclosed: ECLS-K:2024 Study Overview Learn more and watch a video to see the study experience for students. ECLS-K:2024 tokens of appreciation If district policy permits, after each spring phase of the study each school community will receive the following to recognize the time spent participating in the ECLS-K:2024: • Schools will receive a quarterly newsletter with study and other educational news<, as well as their choice of $300, or $250 plus a magazine subscription<, or $250 plus three seats in a professional development webinar for participating in the study>.> • School administrators will receive $25. • In schools with four or more participating study students, school coordinators will receive $35. • Teachers of sampled students will receive $20 for a survey they complete about themselves and $7 for each survey they complete for participating students. Teachers will also receive the quarterly newsletter. • School administrators, school coordinators, and teachers will receive a Certificate of Contribution from the U.S. Department of Education in recognition of their efforts to support the study. • Participating families will receive a $15 prepaid Mastercard® and a children’s book, as well as a yearly study newsletter. A1-95 About the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) NCES was established in 1867 to collect and provide to Congress and the public information on the condition of the education system in the United States. NCES, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES), is the sole Federal statistical agency responsible for meeting Congressional mandates to collect, analyze, and report information on the condition of education in the United States. NCES needs the support of all involved in the education process to complete the studies it conducts related to these mandates for information about education in the country as a whole. The longitudinal studies, including those in the ECLS program, collect nationally representative data from students and from their families, teachers, schools, and school systems. These data provide rich information that can be used to study how students’ backgrounds and school experiences are related to education and life outcomes. The studies are comprehensive in approach, covering an expansive array of research and policy issues central to education. NCES has produced some of the most widely used and cited longitudinal studies on education in the United States. NCES data are used not only by government agencies but also by policy institutes and researchers at leading universities from across the country. NCES also produces resources for teachers and families. For example, the nces.ed.gov/nceskids website is a resource for children to learn more about education in the United States and to play fun educational games. All data collections conducted by NCES are reviewed and approved by the Federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to ensure minimal burden on the part of the public and to prevent duplicate data collections by multiple Federal agencies. The ECLS-K:2024 is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). NCES is working with Westat, a U.S.-based research organization, to conduct this voluntary study. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-96 New School Recruitment Letter Spring 2024 Spring 2024 Dear : I am writing to invite your school to participate in the U.S. Department of Education’s Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024). The ECLS-K:2024 began in the fall of the 2023-24 school year with approximately 18,000 children in about 850 schools across the country. We are inviting your school to participate because one or more students who are participating in the study have transferred to your school. << at your district’s office/Your district office> has been notified about this study and is aware that your school is being asked to participate.> Key details: • The ECLS-K:2024 began this fall during the selected students’ kindergarten year. Study activities are currently planned to continue this spring (2024) as well as the springs of the students’ first-grade (2025), third-grade (2027), and fifth-grade (2029) years. • Study activities for children include one-on-one, age-appropriate, and engaging child assessments in math, reading, and memory skills, conducted with students’ parental consent. In selected schools, children’s height and weight will also be measured. You, as well as parents and teachers, will be asked to complete web surveys. The enclosed Study Overview provides further details about the study and what is involved for participants. • If district policy permits, we will provide you, your selected school’s coordinator to the study, and teachers a monetary token of appreciation. Parents are also provided with a monetary token of appreciation. More details are provided on the back of this letter. • The ECLS is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). We have partnered with Westat, a U.S.-based research organization, to carry out the study in participating schools. Why is it important to participate? For more than 20 years, the ECLS program has helped educators, families, researchers, and policymakers improve children’s educational experiences. While the study is voluntary, your participation is essential for ensuring the data can be used at the local, state, and national levels to guide practice and policies that increase every child’s chances of doing well in school. The ECLS-K:2024 will be particularly meaningful, as it will provide insights into the experiences of children whose early lives were shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic. Questions? Please see the attached Study Overview for more details. A study representative will also contact you about the study within the next few days. You can also contact the ECLS-K:2024 team at 1-855-898-2018 or ECLS@westat.com, or learn more at MyECLS.ed.gov. I encourage you and your school to participate in the ECLS-K:2024. Thank you for your support of this important study! Sincerely, [Name] [Commissioner or other title] National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences A1-97 U.S. Department of Education Enclosed: ECLS-K:2024 Study Overview Learn more and watch a video to see the study experience for students. (over) A1-98 ECLS-K:2024 tokens of appreciation If district policy permits, in each phase of the study, your school community will receive the following to recognize the time spent participating in the study: • Schools will receive a quarterly newsletter with study and other educational information <, as well as their choice of $300, or $250 plus a magazine subscription<, or $250 plus three seats in a professional development webinar for participating in the study>.>School administrators will receive $25. • In schools with four or more participating study students, school coordinators will receive $35. • Teachers of sampled students will receive $20 for a survey they complete about themselves and $7 for each survey they complete for participating students. Teachers will also receive the quarterly newsletter. • School administrators, school coordinators, and teachers will receive a Certificate of Contribution from the U.S. Department of Education in recognition of their efforts to support the study. • Participating families will receive a $15 prepaid Mastercard® and a children’s book, as well as a yearly study newsletter. The ECLS-K:2024 is the fourth cohort in the series of early childhood longitudinal studies that make up the ECLS program. For more than 20 years, the ECLS program has helped educators, families, researchers, and policymakers better understand and improve children’s knowledge and skills from birth through elementary school. For more details about the ECLS program, visit nces.ed.gov/ecls. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-99 Spring 2024 Cooperating District with New School Recruitment Email Spring 2024 Dear : We are very pleased that schools in your district are participating in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024). Thank you for helping make their participation possible. I am writing to inform you that one or more students who are participating in the ECLS-K:2024 have transferred to a school in your district that was not previously part of the study. As a reminder: • The ECLS-K:2024 began this fall during the selected students’ kindergarten year. Study activities are currently planned to continue this spring (2024) as well as the springs of the students’ first-grade (2025), third-grade (2027), and fifth-grade (2029) years. • Study activities include one-on-one child assessments conducted by trained ECLS-K:2024 staff (with parents’ consent) and web surveys completed by school administrators, teachers, and parents. The enclosed Study Overview provides more detail about what is involved for the participants. • If allowed by your district, these schools, as well as school staff, will be provided with monetary tokens of appreciation in recognition of the time spent participating in the study. Parents also receive monetary tokens of appreciation. • The ECLS-K:2024 is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). NCES has partnered with Westat, a U.S.-based research organization, to carry out the study in participating schools. Next steps: • ECLS-K:2024 staff will be contacting the school(s) in your district that the study’s students attend. Participation in this study is voluntary; however, we ask for your district’s continued support of the ECLS-K:2024 in the schools in your district. More information about the ECLS-K:2024 is available on the NCES website, nces.ed.gov/ecls, as well as a website for study participants, MyECLS.ed.gov. If you have questions or need assistance, please call 1-855-898-2018 or email ECLS@westat.com. You may also reach the ECLS Study Director, Jill McCarroll, at 202-304-2920 or jill.mccarroll@ed.gov. Thank you for your time and for supporting this important national education research study. Sincerely, Elizabeth Bissett Project Director, ECLS-K:2024 Westat Attached: ECLS-K:2024 Study Overview A1-100 Learn more and watch a video to see the study experience for students. The ECLS-K:2024 is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). NCES is working with Westat, a U.S.-based research organization, to conduct this voluntary study. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-101 Cooperating School with Transfer Student Recruitment Email Spring 2024 Subject: ECLS-K:2024: More Participating Children in your School Dear : Thank you for your continued support of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024). We are very pleased that your selected school staff, students, and parents are participating. I am writing to inform you that one or more students who have been participating in the study at a different school have transferred to your school, and we would like to complete study activities with them along with the other students who have participated in your school in the past. As a reminder: • The ECLS-K:2024 began this fall during the selected students’ kindergarten year. Study activities are currently planned to continue this spring (2024) as well as the springs of the students’ first-grade (2025), third-grade (2027), and fifth-grade (2029) years. • As with the other participating students at your school, these additional students will complete one-on-one assessments with trained ECLS-K:2024 staff (with parents’ consent). If you have questions or need assistance, please call 1-855-898-2018 or email ECLS@westat.com. Thank you again for your time and for supporting this important national education research study. Sincerely, Elizabeth Bissett Project Director, ECLS-K:2024 Westat Learn more and watch a video to see the study experience for students. The ECLS-K:2024 is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). NCES is working with Westat, a U.S.-based research organization, to conduct this voluntary study. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-102 School Administrator and Teachers Notification Email Spring 2024 (returning schools) SUBJECT: Participation in the U.S. Department of Education’s ECLS-K:2024 Dear Colleague: As you may know, our school has accepted an invitation from the U.S. Department of Education to participate in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024). We are one of about 850 schools across the United States that are participating. Currently, study activities are planned for several phases. The first two phases are occurring this school year, when the selected students are in kindergarten. The first phase was completed in the fall of 2023, and the second is getting ready to launch now, in the spring of 2024. • ECLS-K:2024 staff will be visiting our school to complete study activities with some or all of our kindergarten students. As they did last fall, each participating student (with parents’ consent) will take part in an assessment that is expected to take about 1 hour. • The study activities will be conducted by trained ECLS-K:2024 staff, so there is nothing that you will need to do to administer the sessions. ECLS-K:2024 staff will work with us to make sure children participate in the study activities at convenient times. • You will be asked to complete brief web surveys about yourself and, if a teacher of participating students, web surveys about each of those children. You may have completed similar ECLS-K:2024 surveys this past fall. • Parents are also again asked to complete a web survey about their child to provide important contextual data on children’s home learning environments. I will soon provide you with a packet of study information. The study is voluntary, but I encourage you to participate. You will receive a Certificate of Contribution from the U.S. Department of Education in recognition of your efforts to support the study. Please log on to the study website, MyECLS (MyECLS.ed.gov), to complete your survey by June 28. • You will be emailed a PIN to access the secure portion of the website in a separate email sent directly from the ECLS-K:2024 project team at Westat, the U.S.-based research organization that will be collecting the data. If you have questions, you may contact me directly, or feel free to contact the ECLS-K:2024 team at ECLS@westat.com or 1-855-898-2018 or visit the ECLS-K:2024 website at MyECLS. Thank you for your time and for supporting this important study. Sincerely, School Coordinator for the ECLS-K:2024 Study The ECLS-K:2024 is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-103 School Administrator and Teachers Notification Email Spring 2024 (new schools) SUBJECT: Participation in the U.S. Department of Education’s ECLS-K:2024 Dear Colleague: Our school is proud to be one of about 850 schools across the United States that has accepted an invitation from the U.S. Department of Education to participate in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024). Results from the ECLS-K:2024 will provide parents/guardians, teachers, and policymakers with valuable information that can be used to improve children’s elementary education and experiences. What you need to know: • Some or all of your students have been selected to participate in the ECLS-K:2024. Study activities will begin this school year. • For each phase of the study, each participating student will take part in an assessment that is expected to take about 1 hour. The study activities are conducted by trained ECLS-K:2024 staff, so there is nothing that you will need to do to administer the sessions. ECLS-K:2024 staff will work with our school to make sure children participate in the study activities at convenient times. • You will be asked to complete brief web surveys about yourself and your school and, if a teacher of participating students, web surveys about each of the study's children in your class. To thank you for your time and effort, you will receive a quarterly newsletter with study and other educational information<, as well as a check for $20 for each of the fall and spring surveys on your background and school. Teachers of selected students will also receive $7 for each child-level survey>. At the end of the school year, you will receive a Certificate of Contribution from the U.S. Department of Education in recognition of your efforts to support the study. • Parents are also asked to complete a web survey for their child during every study phase to provide important contextual data on children’s home learning environments. • The study is voluntary, but I encourage you to participate. I will soon provide you with a packet of study information. The study is voluntary, but I encourage you to participate. You will receive a Certificate of Contribution from the U.S. Department of Education in recognition of your efforts to support the study. Please log on to the study website, MyECLS (MyECLS.ed.gov), to complete your survey by June 28. • You will be emailed a PIN to access the secure portion of the website in a separate email sent directly from the ECLS-K:2024 project team at Westat, the U.S.-based research organization that will be collecting the data. If you have questions, you may contact me directly, or feel free to contact the ECLS-K:2024 team at ECLS@westat.com or 1-855-898-2018 or visit the ECLS-K:2024 website at MyECLS. Thank you for your time and for supporting this important study. Sincerely, School Coordinator for the ECLS-K:2024 Study The ECLS-K:2024 is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-104 Email Providing MyECLS PIN to School Administrators and Teachers Spring 2024 SUBJECT: Important ECLS-K:2024 Information Dear : Please use this PIN to access the secure study website. This is your personal PIN; please keep it confidential. PIN: When you first log in to the website using your PIN, you will be prompted to enter your email address and create a password to securely access the website in the future. You will no longer need this PIN once you have created a password. Your password must be at least 8 characters in length and must contain a combination of 3 of the following 4 types: • upper case letters, • lower case letters, • numbers, • special characters. If you need technical assistance at any time, please contact the ECLS-K:2024 team at 1-855-898-2018 or ECLS@westat.com. Sincerely, The ECLS-K:2024 Team The ECLS-K:2024 is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-105 Email Providing Secondary MyECLS PIN to School Administrators Spring 2024 SUBJECT: ECLS-K:2024 Secondary Log in Details Dear : If you have designated a school staff member to help you complete some sections of the School Administrator Survey, please forward this secondary PIN to that person. This PIN will allow that person to have limited access to the secure study website. SECONDARY PIN: When your designee first logs in to the website using this PIN, this person will be prompted to enter an email address and create a password to securely access the website in the future. The designee will no longer need this PIN after creating a password. The designee’s password must be at least 8 characters in length and must contain a combination of 3 of the following 4 types: • upper case letters, • lower case letters, • numbers, • special characters. If you need technical assistance at any time, please contact the ECLS-K:2024 team at 1-855-898-2018 or ECLS@westat.com. Sincerely, The ECLS-K:2024 Team The ECLS-K:2024 is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-106 Parent Notification Email Spring 2024 (returning school) SUBJECT: Participation in the U.S. Department of Education’s ECLS-K:2024 Dear Parent/Guardian: As you may remember, last fall the U.S. Department of Education launched the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024). About 850 schools participated in this important study. The study is now gearing up for its next phase, occurring this spring. What you need to know: • Last fall, your child and other students in kindergarten were selected to participate in the study’s activities. This spring, these selected children will again answer age-appropriate math-, reading-, and memory-related questions during an approximately 1-hour one-on-one session with a trained ECLS-K:2024 staff member. ECLS-K:2024 staff will work with teachers to make sure children do not miss important lessons or activities. • You will be asked to complete a new <45-minute> web survey to provide a more complete picture of your child’s learning and development. Please complete your survey by June 28. • The study is voluntary, but I encourage you to participate. You will receive a monetary token of appreciation for participating. I will be sending an ECLS-K:2024 information packet home with your child this week. Please watch for it. You can also learn more about the study here: MyECLS (MyECLS.ed.gov). • As part of this package, you will receive a postcard containing a PIN to use to access the secure study website. Our school supports the goals of this valuable study, and we are hopeful that every selected child, parent, and teacher from our school will participate. If you have questions, you may contact me directly, or feel free to contact the ECLS-K:2024 team at ECLS@westat.com or 1-855-898-2018. Sincerely, School Coordinator for the ECLS-K:2024 Study The ECLS-K:2024 is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-107 Parent Notification Email (Spanish) Spring 2024 (returning school) SUBJECT: Participación en el estudio ECLS-K:2024 del Departamento de Educación de los EE. UU. Estimado(a) padre o madre/tutor(a) o guardián(a) legal: Como recordará, el otoño pasado el Departamento de Educación de los EE. UU. lanzó el Estudio Longitudinal de la Primera Infancia (ECLS-K:2024). Unas 850 escuelas participaron en este importante estudio. El estudio ahora se está preparando para la fase siguiente que tendrá lugar esta primavera. Qué necesita saber: • El otoño pasado, su niño(a) y otros estudiantes de kindergarten fueron seleccionados para participar en las actividades del estudio. Esta primavera, estos niños que fueron seleccionados contestarán nuevamente preguntas relacionadas con matemáticas, lectura y memoria apropiadas para su edad durante una sesión individual de aproximadamente 1 hora con un miembro entrenado del equipo ECLS-K:2024. • A usted se le pedirá que complete una nueva encuesta por Internet para proporcionar una imagen más completa del aprendizaje y desarrollo de su niño(a). Por favor, complete su encuesta antes del 28 de junio. • El estudio es voluntario, pero le animamos a participar. Como muestra de nuestro agradecimiento usted recibirá un pago por su participación. Enviaré un paquete de información de ECLS-K:2024 a casa con su niño(a) esta semana. Por favor, esté atento(a). También puede obtener más información sobre el estudio aquí: MyECLS (MyECLS.ed.gov). • Como parte de este paquete usted recibirá una tarjeta con el número de PIN que deberá usar para acceder a la página segura del estudio en Internet. Nuestra escuela apoya los objetivos de este valioso estudio, y esperamos que cada uno de los niños, padres/madres y maestros seleccionados de nuestra escuela participen. Si tiene alguna pregunta, puede comunicarse conmigo directamente, o también no dude en comunicarse con el equipo de ECLS-K:2024 a la dirección electrónica ECLS@westat.com o al teléfono 1-855-898-2018. Atentamente, Coordinador(a) escolar para el estudio ECLS-K:2024 ECLS-K:2024 es un estudio que está llevando a cabo el Centro Nacional para Estadísticas de Educación (NCES por sus siglas en inglés), dentro del Instituto de Ciencias de la Educación (IES por sus siglas en inglés), del Departamento de Educación de los EE. UU. El Centro Nacional para Estadísticas de Educación (NCES) está autorizado a hacer el Estudio Longitudinal de la Primera Infancia (ECLS por sus siglas en inglés) por el Acta de Reforma de las Ciencias de la Educación de 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). La firma Westat, una organización que realiza estudios y está basada en los Estados Unidos, está recopilando los datos para NCES. Toda la información que usted proporcione podrá usarse solamente para propósitos estadísticos y no podrá divulgarse ni usarse de manera que permita identificar a los participantes para ningún otro propósito, salvo que lo requiera la ley (20 U.S.C. §9573 y 6 U.S.C. §151). Se combinará la información recopilada de todos los participantes para producir reportes estadísticos. A1-108 Parent Notification Email Spring 2024 (new school) SUBJECT: Participation in the U.S. Department of Education’s ECLS-K:2024 Dear Parent/Guardian: Our school is proud to be one of about 850 schools across the United States that has accepted an invitation from the U.S. Department of Education to participate in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024). Results from the study will provide parents/guardians, teachers, and policymakers with valuable information that can be used to improve children’s elementary education and experiences. What you need to know: • Your child and other students in our school have been selected to participate. • Current plans are for participating children and their families to complete brief activities multiple times over the course of the next several years—in kindergarten (spring 2024), in first grade (spring 2025), in third grade (spring 2027), and in fifth grade (spring 2029). • During each study phase, children will answer age-appropriate reading-, math-, and memory-related questions during an approximately 1-hour one-on-one session with a trained ECLS-K:2024 staff member. ECLS-K:2024 staff will work with teachers to make sure children do not miss important lessons or activities. • You will be asked to complete a <45-minute> web survey at each study phase to provide a more complete picture of your child’s learning and development. Please complete your spring survey by June 28. • The study is voluntary, but I encourage you to participate. You will receive a monetary token of appreciation for participating<; our school will too>. I will be sending an ECLS-K:2024 information packet home with your child this week. Please watch for it. You can also learn more about the study here: MyECLS (MyECLS.ed.gov). • As part of this package, you will receive a postcard containing a PIN to use to access the secure study website. Our school supports the goals of this valuable study, and we are hopeful that every selected child, parent, and teacher from our school will participate. If you have questions, you may contact me directly, or feel free to contact the ECLS-K:2024 team at ECLS@westat.com or 1-855-898-2018. Sincerely, School Coordinator for the ECLS-K:2024 Study The ECLS-K:2024 is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-109 Parent Notification Email (Spanish) Spring 2024 (new school) SUBJECT: Participación en el estudio ECLS-K:2024 del Departamento de Educación de los EE. UU. Estimado(a) padre o madre/tutor(a) o guardián(a) legal: Nuestra escuela se enorgullece de estar entre unas 850 escuelas en todos los Estados Unidos que ha aceptado una invitación del Departamento de Educación de los EE. UU. para participar en el Estudio Longitudinal de la Primera Infancia, Clase de Kindergarten de 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024). Los resultados de este estudio brindarán a los padres o madres/tutores o guardianes legales, maestros y legisladores valiosa información que podrá usarse para mejorar la educación y las experiencias de los niños durante la escuela elemental. ¿Qué necesita saber? • Su niño(a) y otros estudiantes en nuestra escuela han sido seleccionados para participar. • Según los planes actuales, los niños y las familias que participen realizarán breves actividades varias veces en el curso de los próximos años – en kindergarten (primavera de 2024), en primer grado (primavera de 2025), en tercer grado (primavera de 2027) y en quinto grado (primavera de 2029). • Durante cada fase del estudio, los niños tendrán la oportunidad de hacer actividades relacionadas con lectura, matemáticas y memoria. Se tratará de actividades interesantes y apropiadas para su edad que se realizarán durante una sesión individual de una hora en la escuela con un miembro del equipo del estudio especialmente entrenado. El personal de ECLS-K:2024 trabajará con los maestros para asegurarse de que los niños no pierdan importantes lecciones o actividades. • A usted se le pedirá que complete una encuesta por Internet durante cada fase del estudio para proporcionar una imagen completa del aprendizaje y desarrollo de su niño(a). Por favor complete su encuesta de primavera antes del 28 de junio. • El estudio es voluntario pero los aliento a participar. Usted recibirá un pequeño pago como agradecimiento por participar<; nuestra escuela también>. Esta semana enviaré a su hogar con su niño(a) un paquete de información de ECLS-K:2024. Por favor esté pendiente. También puede obtener más información sobre el estudio aquí: MyECLS (MyECLS.ed.gov). • Como parte de este paquete, usted recibirá una tarjeta postal con un PIN que deberá usar para ingresar al sitio web seguro del estudio. Nuestra escuela apoya los objetivos de este valioso estudio, y esperamos que todos los niños, padres y maestros seleccionados de nuestra escuela participen. Si tiene alguna pregunta, puede comunicarse conmigo directamente, o no dude en contactar al equipo de ECLS-K:2024 a ECLS@westat.com o al teléfono 1-855-898-2018. Atentamente, Coordinador(a) escolar para el estudio ECLS-K:2024 ECLS-K:2024 es un estudio que lleva a cabo el Centro Nacional para Estadísticas de Educación (NCES por sus siglas en inglés), dentro del Instituto de Ciencias de la Educación (IES por sus siglas en inglés), del Departamento de Educación de los EE. UU. El Centro Nacional para Estadísticas de Educación (NCES) está autorizado a hacer el Estudio Longitudinal de la Primera Infancia (ECLS por sus siglas en inglés) por el Acta de Reforma de las Ciencias de la Educación de 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). La firma Westat, una organización que realiza estudios y está basada en los Estados Unidos, está recopilando los datos para NCES. Toda la información que usted proporcione podrá usarse solamente para propósitos estadísticos y no podrá divulgarse ni usarse de manera que permita identificar a los participantes para ningún otro propósito, salvo que lo requiera la ley (20 U.S.C. §9573 y 6 U.S.C. §151). Se combinará la información recopilada de todos los participantes para producir reportes estadísticos. A1-110 School Coordinator Study Activities Package Cover Letter Spring 2024 Spring 2024 [SCHOOL COORDINATOR NAME] [SCHOOL NAME] [ADDRESS] [CITY], [STATE] [ZIP CODE] Dear : Thank you again for your help with the U.S. Department of Education’s Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024). Enclosed is the spring Study Activities Package, which includes materials for you, as well as packets for you to distribute to the school staff and parents/guardians of the selected children. Contents of this Package: • For you, the school coordinator, there is to thank you for your time and effort and> a guide for encouraging the participation of teachers and parents. • Teacher Packets for primary and special education teachers, each containing a cover letter <, a check for $20 the teacher’s background survey, an additional $7 for each child-level survey the teacher is asked to complete,> and the ECLS-K:2024 teacher fact sheet. • Parent Packets for parents of sampled children, each containing a cover letter, a $15 prepaid Mastercard®, a children’s book, and the ECLS-K:2024 parent fact sheet. • School Administrator Packet for the head of the school, containing a cover letter <, a check for $25,> and an ECLS-K:2024 Study Overview. Instructions: Ensure that you have received a parent packet for each selected child and all expected teacher packets. Teachers who serve as both primary and special education teachers may have two packets. Notify the school administrator and selected teachers and parents that you will be distributing study packets to them, if you have not already done so. Use the emails that were attached to the recent email welcoming you to the spring phase of the study. When emailing or texting the school administrator, teachers, and parents, please help us to maintain confidentiality by not revealing the names of study participants. We encourage you to send individual messages. If you choose to send a group message, please be sure to blind-copy recipients so that they cannot see the names and email addresses or phone numbers of others included on the message. Distribute the packets to the school administrator and selected teachers and parents. Encourage the school administrator, teachers, and parents to participate <(and, if noted in the MyECLS website that consent has yet to be provided, to give consent for their child’s participation)> by using the strategies outlined in the enclosed guide. We will also provide you with reminder emails and, if requested, text messages for this purpose. Reserve space for the ECLS-K:2024 child assessment sessions, if you have not already done so. The success of the study relies on the participation of children, school staff, and parents. Please notify your ECLS-K:2024 representative as soon as possible about any issues affecting participation in your school. The ECLSK:2024 team will be happy to assist you in following-up with study participants about the completion of the surveys. If you have any questions about these instructions, please do not hesitate to contact the ECLS-K:2024 team at ECLS@westat.com or call 1-855-898-2018. Sincerely, The ECLS-K:2024 Team Enclosures A1-111 Guide for Encouraging Participation School Administrator Packet Teacher Packets Parent Packets The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-112 Spring 2024 School Administrator Welcome Letter Spring 2024 Dear School Administrator: As you know, your school has agreed to participate in the U.S. Department of Education’s Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024). For more than 20 years, the ECLS program has helped improve education for children from birth through elementary school. Results from the ECLS can be used to support students’ learning and development. The study helps answer the following types of questions: • What math and literacy skills do children have when they start school? • What educational activities do students do at home and with their families? • What support do parents and families need to be more involved in their child’s education? The ECLS-K:2024 will be particularly meaningful, as it will provide important information about the experiences of children whose early lives were shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic. What do I need to know? Westat, the U.S-based research organization collecting the data, will be working with your school coordinator to coordinate the study activities. • Child assessments will be conducted with participating students in your school this spring over the course of 2 to 3 days. The activities will focus on students’ literacy, math, and memory skills, and accommodations are available to ensure that sampled students can participate as appropriate. In some schools, students’ height and weight will also be measured. • The study activities are conducted by trained ECLS-K:2024 staff, so there is nothing that the students’ teachers need to do to administer the sessions. ECLS-K:2024 staff will work with your school to make sure children participate in the study activities at convenient times. • We are asking school administrators, teachers, and parents of participating students to complete web surveys. • If district policy permits, we will provide you, your selected school’s coordinator to the study, and teachers a monetary token of appreciation. You will also receive a Certificate of Contribution from the U.S. Department of Education to thank you for participating in the ECLS-K:2024. Parents will receive a monetary token of appreciation for their efforts. • Details about the study can be found in the fact sheet enclosed with this letter. More study information, including a short video, is available at MyECLS.ed.gov, accessible from the QR code below. • Participation is voluntary, but I encourage you to take part in this important program. What do I need to do? Please log on to the study website (MyECLS.ed.gov) and complete your survey by June 28. • When you first log on to the website, enter the unique PIN that will be emailed to you directly from Westat. • After you enter the PIN, enter your email address and a password to log on in the future. The log on process will keep your data secure each time you visit the website. Enclosed is a worksheet that provides more details on the content of the school administrator survey. After reviewing the survey content, you may decide to ask another school staff person to complete some of the survey sections on your behalf. A separate email with a second, unique PIN to access the secure section of the MyECLS.ed.gov website and the survey will be sent to you. If you have identified someone else to answer sections of the school administrator survey, please forward the email with the second PIN to that person. This person should not be given your unique PIN, as that will allow access portions of the survey that should be completed only by you. A1-113 You can find more study information in the enclosed Study Overview. If you have any questions, please contact the ECLS-K:2024 team at ECLS@westat.com or call 1-855-898-2018. Thank you for your participation in the ECLSK:2024. Sincerely, Elizabeth Bissett Project Director, ECLS-K:2024 Westat Enclosures ECLS-K:2024 Study Overview School Administrator Survey Worksheet Learn more and watch a video to see the study experience for students. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-114 School Administrator Survey Worksheet Spring 2024 ECLS-K:2024 School Administrator Survey Worksheet The ECLS-K:2024 school administrator web survey is designed to be completed by the principals/school administrators at participating schools. The survey includes a broad range of questions about the school setting, policies and practices at both the school level and in specific grades, and about the principal and the teaching staff. The survey is divided into eight separate sections, described below. The ECLS-K:2024 anticipates that some school administrators will need help from other school staff to complete some of the sections. Each school administrator will receive a unique PIN to log in to the MyECLS.ed.gov website, create an account, and complete the web survey. If you need help completing any of the sections, we have provided you with a second PIN that should be given to your designee to log on to the study website and create their own account to complete survey sections. For security purposes, please do not share your PIN or account information (i.e., your username and a password you create) with anyone. Instructions for Completing the School Administrator Survey Review the survey section descriptions below to determine if you would like to assign a knowledgeable staff member (your designee) to complete any of the sections on your behalf. You can also ask your designee to complete only portions of sections, as needed. All sections except for Section H can be completed by your designee, if you choose to delegate them. Section H should be completed by you as it includes questions about your background, training, and job responsibilities; it is accessible on the MyECLS.ed.gov website only with your PIN or, once established, your password with your email address. o The survey asks for details that might require you to review your school’s records. For this reason, it may be easier to complete the survey while at school. o The individual survey sections can be completed in any order. The survey sections can be completed all at once or over the course of multiple sessions. Each section, with the exception of section H, can be completed entirely by you or your designee, or by both of you. Log on to the study website, MyECLS.ed.gov, and enter your PIN. On your first visit, you will be asked to enter your email address and to create a password to ensure the security of your data. o If you would like someone else to answer certain sections of the survey, please provide this person with the second PIN and instructions for logging on to the site. o While the survey may be completed on any device, we recommend using your desktop or laptop computer. Some of the questions are easier to read on a larger screen. After logging on to the MyECLS.ed.gov website, indicate who will complete each of the survey sections. For sections A through G, you can indicate yourself, a designee, or both. This will make it clear to your designee the sections that each person is asked to complete. A1-115 Survey Section Descriptions • • • • • • • • Section A – School Characteristics asks for basic school information and enrollment, a demographic breakdown of your student population, and information about your school’s participation in the USDAreimbursable breakfast and lunch programs. The types of questions include the average daily attendance; the percentage of students in various racial/ethnic groups, with special needs, and eligible for select programs; and the number of children qualified to receive federally-reimbursable meals served. Section B – School Facilities and Resources covers your school’s facilities, including the availability of dedicated rooms, such as a cafeteria or music room, as well as the availability of computers. Section C – School-Family-Community Connections asks for information about the school’s interaction with parents, the neighborhood where the school is located, safety and emergency procedures, and problems that may be occurring within your school. Specific questions include the availability of programs or services for parents, methods used to communicate with parents, instances of crime in the surrounding community and within the school, and the frequency of emergency drill practice. Section D – School Policies and Practices asks about practices and policies related to student promotion and retention, suspensions, and benchmarks for student success in various subject areas. Specific questions include the implementation of student-focused special programs, and the number of students assigned suspensions by gender and race/ethnicity. Section E – School Programs for Particular Populations covers information about the school’s programs for various populations, including homeless students, English language learners, students with disabilities, and students in special education. Types of questions include the percentage of students who are English language learners (in the school and in kindergarten), and the percentage of kindergartners with IEPs or receiving special/additional instruction. Section F – Federal Programs asks questions pertaining to public schools including the use of Title I and Title III funds, actions taken in response to the need for improvement, and state assessments. Administrators from private schools will be asked one question in this section and then will be skipped out of the remainder of the questions in Section F. Section G – Staffing and Teacher Characteristics covers the characteristics of staff at your school, including the number of staff members in various capacities, the primary roles of various staff members, and the demographics of your school staff. Section H – School Administrator Characteristics asks questions about you, the designated school administrator, including your educational background, training, and time spent on various tasks. This section should not be completed by anyone else but you, the school administrator/principal, as it contains information that only you would know about yourself. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-116 Teacher Welcome Letter Spring 2024 (returning schools) Spring 2024 Dear Teacher: I am proud of our school’s involvement in the U.S. Department of Education’s Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024). The study provides important information about children’s reading and math skills, social skills such as problem-solving and self-control, health and development, and educational opportunities at school and at home. The ECLS-K:2024 is particularly meaningful as it will provide information about the experiences of children whose early lives were shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is now time for the next phase of the study. What do I need to know? • The ECLS-K:2024 team will return to our school to conduct study activities this spring. • Participating students (with parents’ consent) will again be asked to complete engaging, age-appropriate activities during a one-on-one session with an ECLS-K:2024 team member. o The session will last about 1 hour for most children. The ECLS-K:2024 team will work with you to make sure children participate in the study activities at convenient times. o The activities will focus on students’ literacy, math, and memory skills. In some schools, children’s height and weight will also be measured. Accommodations are available to ensure that sampled students can participate as appropriate. o You will not need to conduct the student assessment sessions, but you can observe them if you like. o Visit our study website at MyECLS.ed.gov (accessible via the QR code below) to see examples of the study sessions with students. Children who participated in previous ECLS sessions reported enjoying the activities and the individual attention. • You will again be asked to complete a web survey about your teaching practices and experiences <(about 23 minutes)>. Teachers of participating children will also be asked to complete surveys about selected children’s skills and abilities <(about 12 minutes)>. • As was done in the fall, parents/guardians of participating children will be asked to complete a web survey, and will receive a monetary token of appreciation for doing so. o The study aims to include all sampled families and has procedures in place to do so, such as phone surveys for those without internet access and translated materials or interpreters for those who speak a language other than English. o Parents are also welcome to observe the study sessions with their child. • The information you provide will be kept secure and combined with information from other school staff, students, and parents/guardians to provide nationally representative results. • The ECLS-K:2024 is endorsed by more than 25 education organizations. • Participation is voluntary, but I encourage you to take part in this important study. What do I need to do? Please log on to MyECLS.ed.gov and complete your surveys by June 28. You will be emailed a PIN to access the secure portion of the website in a separate email sent directly from the ECLS-K:2024 project team at Westat, the U.S.based research organization that will be collecting the data. • When you first log on to the website, enter the unique PIN that will be emailed to you directly from Westat. • After you enter the PIN, enter your email address and a password to log on in the future. The log on process will keep your data secure each time you visit the website. • Surveys may be completed at your convenience and do not have to be done all at once. See the back or next page for more information. A1-117 To thank you for participating in the study: • At the end of the school year, you will receive a Certificate of Contribution from the U.S. Department of Education. You can find more information in the fact sheet I provided. If you have any questions, please contact the ECLSK:2024 team at ECLS@westat.com or call 1-855-898-2018. You can also learn more at MyECLS.ed.gov. Thank you in advance for participating! Sincerely, School Coordinator for the ECLS-K:2024 Study Learn more and watch a video to see the study experience for students. Enclosure ECLS-K:2024 teacher fact sheet The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-118 Teacher Welcome Letter Spring 2024 (new schools) Spring 2024 Dear Teacher: I am proud of our school’s involvement in the U.S. Department of Education’s Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024). The study provides important information about children’s reading and math skills, social skills such as problem-solving and self-control, health and development, and educational opportunities at school and at home. The ECLS-K:2024 is particularly meaningful as it will provide information about the experiences of children whose early lives were shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is now time for the spring 2024 phase of the study. What do I need to know? • The ECLS-K:2024 team will visit our school to conduct study activities this spring. • Participating students (with parents’ consent) will be asked to complete engaging, age-appropriate activities during a one-on-one session with an ECLS-K:2024 team member. o The session will last about 1 hour for most children. The ECLS-K:2024 team will work with you to make sure children participate in the study activities at convenient times. o The activities will focus on students’ literacy, math, and memory skills. In some schools, children’s height and weight will also be measured. Accommodations are available to ensure that sampled students can participate as appropriate. o You will not need to conduct the student assessment sessions, but you can observe them if you like. o Visit our study website at MyECLS.ed.gov (accessible via the QR code below) to see examples of the study sessions with students. Children who participated in previous ECLS sessions reported enjoying the activities and the individual attention. • You will be asked to complete a web survey about your teaching practices and experiences <(about 23 minutes)>. Teachers of participating children will also be asked to complete surveys about selected children’s skills and abilities <(about 12 minutes)>. • Parents/guardians of participating children will be asked to complete a web survey, and will receive a monetary token of appreciation for doing so. o The study aims to include all sampled families and has procedures in place to do so, such as phone surveys for those without internet access and translated materials or interpreters for those who speak a language other than English. o Parents are also welcome to observe the study sessions with their child. • The information you provide will be kept secure and combined with information from other school staff, students, and parents/guardians to provide nationally representative results. • The ECLS-K:2024 is endorsed by more than 25 education organizations. • Participation is voluntary, but I encourage you to take part in this important study. What do I need to do? Please log on to MyECLS.ed.gov and complete your surveys by June 28. You will be emailed a PIN to access the secure portion of the website in a separate email sent directly from the ECLS-K:2024 project team at Westat, the U.S.based research organization that will be collecting the data. • When you first log on to the website, enter the unique PIN that will be emailed to you directly from Westat. • After you enter the PIN, enter your email address and a password to log on in the future. The log on process will keep your data secure each time you visit the website. • Surveys may be completed at your convenience and do not have to be done all at once. See the back or next page for more information. A1-119 To thank you for participating in the study: • At the end of the school year, you will receive a Certificate of Contribution from the U.S. Department of Education. You can find more information in the fact sheet I provided. If you have any questions, please contact the ECLSK:2024 team at ECLS@westat.com or call 1-855-898-2018. You can also learn more at MyECLS.ed.gov. Thank you in advance for participating! Sincerely, School Coordinator for the ECLS-K:2024 Study Learn more and watch a video to see the study experience for students. Enclosure ECLS-K:2024 teacher fact sheet The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-120 Parent Welcome Letter Spring 2024 (returning schools) Spring 2024 Dear Parent/Guardian: As you may recall, last fall the U.S. Department of Education launched the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024). The study provides important information about children’s reading and math skills, social skills such as problem-solving, health and development, and educational opportunities at school and at home. I am proud of our school and students for participating in the study, and I appreciate your support. It is now time to conduct the next phase of the study in our school. What do I need to know? • The ECLS-K:2024 team will return to our school to conduct the study activities with our students. Participating children will be asked to complete engaging, age-appropriate activities during a 1-hour one-on-one session with an ECLS-K:2024 team member. o The activities will include reading-, math-, and memory-related questions. In some schools, students will also have their height and weight measured. Accommodations are available to ensure that sampled students can participate as appropriate. o School staff and parents/guardians are welcome to be in the room during the session. o The ECLS-K:2024 team will work with teachers to make sure children do not miss important lessons or activities. o Visit MyECLS.ed.gov to see examples of the study sessions with students. You may show these examples to your children. • This spring, we ask that you complete a new <45-minute> web survey at your convenience. Some of our school staff will also participate, completing surveys about their background, the school, our classrooms, and selected students. • The information provided will be kept secure and combined with information from parents/guardians, students, and school staff to provide results for the nation as a whole. • The ECLS-K:2024 is endorsed by more than 25 education organizations. • The study is voluntary, but I encourage you to participate. What do I need to do? Please log on to MyECLS.ed.gov to complete your survey by June 28. • As part of this package, you have received a postcard containing a PIN to use on your first visit to the study website. • After you enter the PIN, enter your email address and a password to log on in the future. The log on process will keep your data secure each time you visit the website. To thank you for participating in the study: • Enclosed is a $15 prepaid Mastercard® and a children’s book. The card will be activated after you log on to MyECLS.ed.gov, regardless of whether you complete the survey. You will also receive a yearly newsletter with study and other educational information. • Our school will receive a quarterly newsletter with study and other educational information . See the back or next page for more information. A1-121 The ECLS-K:2024 is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). NCES is working with Westat, a research organization, to conduct this voluntary study. If you have any questions, please contact the ECLS-K:2024 team at ECLS@westat.com or call 1-855-898-2018. Thank you for participating in this important study! Sincerely, School Coordinator for the ECLS-K:2024 Study Learn more and watch a video to see the study experience for children. Enclosure ECLS-K:2024 parent fact sheet The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). The data are being collected for NCES by Westat, a U.S.-based research organization. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports. A1-122 Parent Welcome Letter (Spanish) Spring 2024 (returning schools) Estimado(a) padre o madre/tutor(a) o guardián(a) legal: Como recordará, el otoño pasado el Departamento de Educación de los EE. UU. lanzó el Estudio Longitudinal de la Primera Infancia (ECLS-K:2024). El estudio proporciona importante información sobre las habilidades de lectura y matemáticas de los niños, sus habilidades sociales tales como resolución de problemas, su salud y desarrollo, y sus oportunidades educativas en la escuela y el hogar. Me enorgullece que nuestra escuela y nuestros estudiantes participen en el estudio, y le agradezco su apoyo. Ahora ha llegado el momento de llevar a cabo la siguiente fase del estudio en nuestra escuela. ¿Qué necesito saber? • El equipo ECLS-K:2024 regresará a nuestra escuela para realizar las actividades del estudio con nuestros estudiantes. A los niños que participen se les pedirá que completen actividades interesantes apropiadas para su edad durante una sesión de 1 hora con un miembro del equipo de ECLS-K:2024. o Las actividades incluirán preguntas relacionadas con la lectura, las matemáticas y la memoria. En algunas escuelas también se medirá la estatura y el peso de los estudiantes. Hay acomodaciones disponibles para asegurar que los estudiantes seleccionados puedan participar como sea apropiado. o El personal escolar y los padres/madres/tutores o guardianes son bienvenidos en el salón durante la sesión. o El equipo de ECLS-K:2024 trabajará con los maestros para asegurar que los niños no pierdan importantes lecciones o actividades. o Visite MyECLS.ed.gov para ver ejemplos de las sesiones del estudio con los estudiantes. Puede mostrarle estos ejemplos a sus niños. • Esta primavera a usted le pedimos que complete una nueva encuesta por Internet en el momento que le resulte conveniente. Algunos miembros del personal de nuestra escuela también participarán, completando encuestas sobre ellos mismos, la escuela, nuestros salones de clase y los estudiantes seleccionados. • La información que se proporcione se mantendrá segura y se combinará con información de otros padres/madres/tutores o guardianes legales, estudiantes y personal escolar para proporcionar resultados para toda la nación. • El estudio ECLS-K:2024 está respaldado por más de 25 organizaciones educativas. • El estudio es voluntario, pero nos gustaría que tome parte en el mismo. ¿Qué necesito hacer? Por favor, ingrese a MyECLS.ed.gov para < dar permiso para que su niño(a) participe en el estudio lo más pronto posible y> complete su encuesta antes del 28 de junio. • Como parte de este paquete, usted recibió una tarjeta con un número de PIN para usar en su primera visita a la página del estudio. • Después de ingresar el PIN, ponga su dirección de email y una contraseña para entrar a la página en el futuro. El proceso para entrar protegerá la seguridad de sus datos cada vez que visite la página. Para agradecerle por participar: • Le estamos enviando junto con esta carta una tarjeta prepagada Mastercard® de $15 y un libro de niños. Su tarjeta se activará después que usted ingrese en MyECLS.ed.gov, ya sea que usted complete o no la encuesta. También recibirá un boletín informativo anual con información del estudio y otra información educativa. • recibirá un boletín informativo trimestral con información sobre el estudio y otros temas de educación Vea al otro lado de la página o en la página siguiente para más información. A1-123 ECLS-K:2024 es un estudio que está llevando a cabo el Centro Nacional para Estadísticas de Educación (NCES por sus siglas en inglés), dentro del Instituto de Ciencias de la Educación (IES por sus siglas en inglés), del Departamento de Educación de los EE. UU. NCES está trabajando con Westat, una firma que realiza estudios de investigación, para realizar este estudio voluntario. Si tiene alguna pregunta, por favor, comuníquese con el equipo de ECLS-K:2024 a ECLS@westat.com o al teléfono 1-855-898-2018. Infórmese más y vea ¡Gracias por participar en este importante estudio! un video sobre la experiencia del Atentamente, estudio para los niños. Coordinador(a) escolar para el estudio ECLS-K:2024 Anexo Hoja de información de ECLS-K:2024 para padres y madres/tutores o guardianes legales El Centro Nacional para Estadísticas de Educación (NCES) está autorizado a hacer el Estudio Longitudinal de la Primera Infancia (ECLS por sus siglas en inglés) por el Acta de Reforma de las Ciencias de la Educación de 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). La firma Westat, una organización que realiza estudios y está basada en los Estados Unidos, está recopilando los datos para NCES. Toda la información que usted proporcione podrá usarse solamente para propósitos estadísticos y no podrá divulgarse ni usarse de manera que permita identificar a los participantes para ningún otro propósito, salvo que lo requiera la ley (20 U.S.C. §9573 y 6 U.S.C. §151). Se combinará la información recopilada de todos los participantes para producir reportes estadísticos. A1-124 Parent Welcome Letter (Mandarin) Spring 2024 (returning schools) 2024 年春季 亲爱的家长/监护人： 您可能还记得，美国教育部在去年秋天启动了幼儿纵向研究，幼儿园 2023-24 班 (ECLS-K：2024)，此项研 究提供了有关儿童阅读和数学技能、解决问题等社交技能、健康和发展、以及学校和家庭教育机会的重要信 息。 我为我们的学校和学生参与这项研究感到自豪，我也非常感谢您们的支持。现在是在我们学校进行下一阶段 研究的时候了。 我需要知道什么？ • ECLS-K：2024 团队将回到我们的学校，与我们的学生一起展开研究活动。在研究的每个阶段，参与 的学童将被邀请与团队成员进行 1 小时的一对一研究，完成融入式、适龄的活动。 o 活动包括与阅读、数学和记忆相关的问题，部分学校也会测量学童的身高和体重。活动中会提 o 在您孩子的研究活动进行期间，您和学校工作人员可陪同在房间内。 o • o 供变通措施，以确保儿童可以适度参与。 ECLS-K:2024 团队将与老师合作，确保您的孩子不会错过重要的课程或活动。 浏览 MyECLS.ed.gov 网页，查看与学生一起进行研究的范例。您可以给您的孩子看这些范例。 今年春天，我们请求您在方便的时候完成一项新的<45 分钟>网络调查。我们学校的部分职员也将参 与，完成有关他们的背景、学校、我们的教室和选定学生的调查。 • 您提供的信息将得到保护，并与其他家长/监护人、学生和学校职员的信息相结合，提供全国性的综合 结果。 • ECLS-K：2024 得到了超过 25 个教育机构的认可。 • 这项研究是自愿性质，但我鼓励您参与<，不参加不会受到处分>。 我需要做什么？ 请登录 MyECLS.ed.gov，<尽快同意您的孩子参与研究，>并在 6 月 28 日前完成您的调查问卷。 • 在此资料袋里，您已经收到了一张包含个人身份识别号码的明信片，以便于您第一次访问研究网站使 用。 • 您输入个人身份识别号码后，请输入您的电邮地址和一个密码以便于将来进入网站。此登录过程会在 您每次访问此网站时，安全地记录您的信息。 请参阅背面或下一页，了解您需要做些什么。 A1-125 为了感谢您的参与： • 随函附上的是一张价值 15 美元的预付万事达卡®和一本儿童书。 无论您是否完成调查，您的 15 美元 预付卡将于您在 MyECLS.ed.gov 上输入个人身份识别码后激活。您也会得到一份包括研究和其他教 育信息的年刊。 • <我们的老师也将因为参加研究收到感谢酬金>，我们的学校＜也＞将收到一份包含有关研究和其他教 育信息的季刊<，并会得到感谢酬金>。 ECLS-K：2024 由美国教育部教育科学研究所 （IES） 下属的国家教育统计中心 （NCES） 进行，NCES 正在 与研究机构 Westat 合作进行这项自愿研究。 如果您有任何疑问，请发电邮至 ECLS@westat.com 联系 ECLS-K：2024 团队，或致电 1-855-898-2018。 感谢您参与这项重要的研究！ 观看儿童参与研究体 验的短片。 ECLS-K：2024 研究的学校协调员 敬上 附上 ECLS 家长说明书 (Parent Fact Sheet) 国家教育统计中心（NCES）根据 2002 年教育科学改革法案（ESRA 2002，20 U.S.C. §9543）授权进行幼儿 纵向研究（ECLS），这些数据是由美国研究机构 Westat 为 NCES 收集。 您提供的所有信息只能用于统计目 的，除非法律要求（20 U.S.C. §9573 和 6 U.S.C. §151），否则不得以可识别的形式披露或使用于任何其他目 的。 所收集的信息将与其他答复者合并，以编制统计报告。 A1-126 Parent Welcome Letter Spring 2024 (new schools) Spring 2024 Dear Parent/Guardian: I am proud to tell you that the U.S. Department of Education has chosen our school to participate in an exciting study called the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2023-24 (ECLS-K:2024). Approximately 21,000 students and families, from about 850 schools across the country, have been asked to participate. Schools and students were chosen to ensure the study reflects the diversity of our country. We can use results from the ECLS-K:2024 to better understand and improve children’s experiences related to learning. The study will provide information about children’s: • Reading, math, and memory skills • Social skills such as communication and problem-solving • Health and development • Educational opportunities at school and at home The ECLS-K:2024 will be especially meaningful, as it will provide important information about the experiences of children whose early lives were shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic. What do I need to know? You and your child have been selected to participate in the ECLS-K:2024. The study is voluntary, but I encourage you to participate as your input is valuable. < There is no penalty for not participating.> • Study activities are currently planned to occur when children are in kindergarten, in first grade, in third grade, and in fifth grade. • During each phase of the study, your child will have the opportunity to do engaging, age-appropriate reading-, math-, and memory-related activities during a 1-hour one-on-one session at our school with a study team member. Children in some schools will also have their height and weight measured. o Accommodations are available to ensure that children can participate as appropriate. o You and/or school staff are welcome to be in the room during your child’s session. o Your child’s spring session will be conducted between and . The study team will work with teachers to make sure your child does not miss important lessons or activities. Children who participated in previous ECLS sessions report enjoying the activities and the individual attention. • You will be asked to complete a < 45-minute> web survey at your convenience during each study phase. o Phone surveys and interpreters are available if you prefer, do not have internet access, or speak a language other than English. • Some of our school’s staff will also participate, completing surveys about their background, the school, our classrooms, and selected students. • The information that you provide will be kept secure and combined with information from other parents/guardians, students, and school staff to provide results for the nation as a whole. • The ECLS-K:2024 is endorsed by more than 25 education organizations. What do I need to do? Please log on to MyECLS.ed.gov to complete your survey by June 28. • As part of this package, you have received a postcard containing a PIN to use on your first visit to the study website. • After you enter the PIN, enter your email address and a password to log on in the future. The log on process will keep your data secure each time you visit the website. See the back or next page for more information. A1-127 To thank you for participating in the study: • Enclosed is a $15 prepaid Mastercard® and a children’s book. The card will be activated after you log on to MyECLS.ed.gov, regardless of whether you complete the survey. You will also receive a yearly newsletter with study and other educational information. •