12-4-07 memo

From: Cathy Mutarelli [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2007 4:17 PM
To: Matsuoka, Karen Y.
Cc: Amy Feldman; Gil Garcia; Ludy van Broekhuizen
Subject: Fw: 200708-1850-007: The Effectiveness of a Program toAccelerate Vocabulary Development in Kindergarten

Dear Karen,

In response to your inquiry to Question 7 of the VOCAB Study:

Question 7:

7. Please clarify specifically what data products will be produced, such as tables, microdata, etc. What

disclosure review procedures are in place for such products?

Your e-mail stated:

We have just one follow-up question.

Item 7 continues to give the impression that the complete research file,

"de-identified," will be released. This is akin to statistical

agencies' public use micro-data files. Ensuring confidentiality is a

complex activity going well beyond the removal of direct identifiers.

It is Department of Education policy that any such micro-data files be

approved by the Disclosure Review Board of the National Center for

Education Statistics prior to release. Please assure OMB that you

intend to follow D of Ed policy on this matter.

Our Response:

Thanks for the opportunity to clarify our response to your Item 7. We

understand that confidentiality requires more than just removing direct

identifiers. We are committed to following the Department of Education's

policy regarding disclosure review procedures on this study.

We appreciate your careful attention to our application.

Ludy