Notification materials

Appendix A

Notification Materials

Study Fact Sheet

Confidentiality and non-disclosure Agreement

LETTER OF SUPPORT: STATE CTE DIRECTORS

Date

Dear Colleague:

We are writing to ask for your assistance with an important study relating to the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (Perkins). This study seeks to evaluate the implementation of the Perkins Act across the United States, and study findings will give Congress, the U.S. Department of Education and other stakeholders helpful information regarding the Act’s implementation and effectiveness.

The U.S. Department of Education has contracted with MPR Associates, Inc., to lead this national study. The survey component of the study is being conducted by RTI International, a highly respected independent, nonprofit research organization that has conducted many other important studies for the Department. This current study is being conducted for the Department’s Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development.

Data collected from this survey will be used to provide a comprehensive picture of how the Perkins Act is being implemented across the United States. Your responses will not be individually identified, and will be combined with data from other state directors. Although your participation is voluntary, we strongly encourage you to participate. Because of your unique insight, your responses are critical to ensure that Congress obtains an accurate portrayal of the Act’s impact.

Your cooperation and assistance in working with RTI to provide a completed survey, in a timely manner, is greatly appreciated. The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium (NASDCTEc), and National Research Center for Career and Technical Education (NRCCTE) fully endorse this study, and we hope that you, too, will recognize its value and choose to participate.

Sincerely,

Jan Bray Kimberly A. Green James R. Stone

Executive Director Executive Director Director

ACTE NASDCTEc NRCCTE

LETTER OF SUPPORT: LOCAL PROGRAM DIRECTORS

Date

Dear Colleague:

We are writing to ask for your assistance with an important study about your (district/institution’s) implementation of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (Perkins). This study seeks to evaluate the implementation of the Perkins Act across the United States, and study findings will give Congress, the U.S. Department of Education and other stakeholders helpful information regarding the Act’s implementation and effectiveness.

The U.S. Department of Education has contracted with MPR Associates, Inc., to lead this national study. The survey component of the study is being conducted by RTI International, a highly respected independent, nonprofit research organization that has conducted many other important studies for the Department. This current study is being conducted for the Department’s Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development.

Data collected from this survey will be used to provide a comprehensive picture of how the Perkins Act is being implemented across the United States. Your responses will not be individually identified, and will be combined with data from other (local education agencies/institutions). Although your involvement in this study is voluntary, we strongly encourage you to participate. Because only a select sample of districts/institutions have been asked to provide data, your responses are critical to ensure that the Congress obtains an accurate portrayal of the Act’s impact.

Your cooperation and assistance in working with RTI to provide a completed survey, in a timely manner, is greatly appreciated. The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium (NASDCTEc), and National Research Center for Career and Technical Education (NRCCTE) fully endorse this study, and we hope that you, too, will recognize its value and choose to participate.

Sincerely,

Jan Bray Kimberly A. Green James R. Stone

Executive Director Executive Director Director

ACTE NASDCTEc NRCCTE

INTRODUCTORY LETTER: STATE CTE DIRECTORS

LETTERHEAD

[Name]

[Agency]

[Address]

[Date]

Dear State Director of Career and Technical Education:

We are asking you to participate in an important survey about your state’s implementation of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (Perkins) as part of the congressionally mandated National Assessment of Career and Technical Education study.

As you may know, the 2006 reauthorization contains a provision for the independent evaluation and assessment of career and technical education programs (CTE) funded under the Act. The U.S. Department of Education has contracted with MPR Associates, Inc., and RTI International, to conduct this national study. Study findings will give Congress, the Department of Education and other stakeholders helpful information regarding the Act’s implementation and effectiveness.

Information from your state is critical in evaluating the full impact of CTE nationally.

Survey information for this study will focus primarily on the 2008-2009 school year. We anticipate the survey to take approximately 90 minutes to complete because of the comprehensive nature of the data we are seeking. The survey is designed to be completed through a web application and need not be completed in a single session.

Your contribution to this survey is entirely voluntary. There are no consequences for not participating. If you elect to participate in the survey, simply access the web site at <website URL>, using the Login ID and password indicated below. We assure you that all responses to the survey will not be individually identified and will be made available only to persons on the research team.

Your Login ID: <UserID>

Your Password: <PW>

It is only through the cooperation and efforts of participating State CTE Directors, such as yourself, that we will obtain accurate data. You will be making a valuable contribution to this effort, and will be helping to ensure the study’s success by giving us your unqualified support.

If you have any questions about the study or the survey, please feel free to contact the Perkins Survey Help Desk at RTI (1-866-434-4718 or [email protected]), or Steve Klein, the study’s project director at MPR Associates, at (503) 963-3757, [email protected], or Michael Fong, the U.S. Department of Education’s Project Officer, at (202) 401-7462, [email protected]

We greatly appreciate your cooperation with this study.

Sincerely,

INTRODUCTORY LETTER: LOCAL PROGRAM DIRECTORS

LETTERHEAD

[Name]

[Agency]

[Address]

[Date]

Dear Local Director of Career and Technical Education:

We are asking you to participate in an important survey about your [local education agency’s/institution’s] implementation of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (Perkins) as part of the congressionally mandated National Assessment of Career and Technical Education study.

As you may know, the 2006 reauthorization contains a provision for the independent evaluation and assessment of career and technical education programs (CTE) funded under the Act. The U.S. Department of Education has contracted with MPR Associates, Inc., and RTI International, to conduct this national study. Study findings will give Congress, the Department of Education and other stakeholders helpful information regarding the Act’s implementation and effectiveness.

Information from your [local education agency/institution] is critical in evaluating the full impact of CTE nationally.

Survey information for this study will focus primarily on the 2008-2009 school year. We anticipate the survey to take approximately 90 minutes to complete because of the comprehensive nature of the data we are seeking. The survey is designed to be completed through a web application and need not be completed in a single session.

Your contribution to this survey is entirely voluntary. There are no consequences for not participating. If you elect to participate in the survey, simply access the web site at <website URL>, using the Login ID and password indicated below. We assure you that all responses to the survey will not be individually identified and will be made available only to persons on the research team.

Your Login ID: <UserID>

Your Password: <PW>

It is only through the cooperation and efforts of participating local CTE Directors, such as yourself, that we will obtain accurate data. You will be making a valuable contribution to this effort, and will be helping to ensure the study’s success by giving us your unqualified support.

If you have any questions about the study or the survey, please feel free to contact the Perkins Survey Help Desk at RTI (1-866-434-4718 or [email protected]), or Steve Klein, the study’s project director at MPR Associates, at (503) 963-3757, [email protected], or Michael Fong, the U.S. Department of Education’s Project Officer, at (202) 401-7462, [email protected]

We greatly appreciate your cooperation with this study.

Sincerely,

COVER LETTER: INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION

LETTERHEAD

[Contact Name]

[Name of educational institution]

[Address of educational institution]

[Date]

Dear [Contact Name]:

We are asking you to participate in an important survey about your institution’s implementation of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (Perkins) as part of the congressionally mandated National Assessment of Career and Technical Education study.

The 2006 reauthorization contains a provision for the independent evaluation and assessment of career and technical education programs (CTE) funded under the Act. The U.S. Department of Education has contracted with MPR Associates, Inc., and RTI International, to conduct this national study. Study findings will give Congress, the Department of Education and other stakeholders helpful information regarding the Act’s implementation and effectiveness.

Because only a sample of institutions have been selected to participate, information from your institution is critical in evaluating the full impact of CTE nationally.

The survey should be completed by the individual at your institution who is currently designated to serve as your institution’s Perkins Coordinator or contact person. Please pass along the enclosed introductory letter to this person, as it includes the login information that he or she will need to access the survey.

Survey information for this study will focus primarily on the 2008-2009 school year. We anticipate the survey to take approximately 30 minutes to complete because of the comprehensive nature of the data we are seeking. The survey is designed to be completed through a web application and need not be completed in a single session.

Your institution’s contribution to this survey is entirely voluntary. However, it is only through the cooperation and efforts of participating institutions, such as yours, that we will obtain accurate data. You will be making a valuable contribution to this effort, and will be helping to ensure the study’s success by giving us your unqualified support.

If you have any questions about the study or the survey, please feel free to contact the Perkins Survey Help Desk at RTI (1-866-434-4718 or [email protected]), or Steve Klein, the study’s project director at MPR Associates, at (503) 963-3757, [email protected], or Michael Fong, the U.S. Department of Education’s Project Officer, at (202) 401-7462, [email protected]

We greatly appreciate your cooperation with this study.

Sincerely,

COVER LETTER: LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCY

LETTERHEAD

[Contact Name]

[Name of educational institution]

[Address of educational institution]

[Date]

Dear [Contact Name]:

We are asking your local education agency (LEA) to participate in an important survey about your LEA’s implementation of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (Perkins) as part of the congressionally mandated National Assessment of Career and Technical Education study.

The 2006 reauthorization contains a provision for the independent evaluation and assessment of career and technical education programs (CTE) funded under the Act. The U.S. Department of Education has contracted with MPR Associates, Inc., and RTI International, to conduct this national study. Study findings will give Congress, the Department of Education and other stakeholders helpful information regarding the Act’s implementation and effectiveness.

Because only a sample of LEAs have been selected to participate, information from your LEA is critical in evaluating the full impact of CTE nationally.

The survey should be completed by the individual at your LEA who is currently designated to serve as your institution’s Perkins Coordinator or contact person. Please pass along the enclosed introductory letter to this person, as it includes the login information that he or she will need to access the survey.

Survey information for this study will focus primarily on the 2008-2009 school year. We anticipate the survey to take approximately 30 minutes to complete because of the comprehensive nature of the data we are seeking. The survey is designed to be completed through a web application and need not be completed in a single session.

Your contribution to this survey is entirely voluntary. However, it is only through the cooperation and efforts of participating LEAs, such as yours, that we will obtain accurate data. You will be making a valuable contribution to this effort, and will be helping to ensure the study’s success by giving us your unqualified support.

If you have any questions about the study or the survey, please feel free to contact the Perkins Survey Help Desk at RTI (1-866-434-4718 or [email protected]), or Steve Klein, the study’s project director at MPR Associates, at (503) 963-3757, [email protected], or Michael Fong, the U.S. Department of Education’s Project Officer, at (202) 401-7462, [email protected]

We greatly appreciate your cooperation with this study.

Sincerely,

INTRODUCTORY LETTER: INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION

LETTERHEAD

[Contact Name]

[Name of educational institution]

[Address of educational institution]

[Date]

Dear [Contact Name]:

You have been designated by your institution’s chief executive to participate in an important survey about your institution’s implementation of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (Perkins) as part of the congressionally mandated National Assessment of Career and Technical Education study.

The 2006 reauthorization contains a provision for the independent evaluation and assessment of career and technical education programs (CTE) funded under the Act. The U.S. Department of Education has contracted with MPR Associates, Inc., and RTI International, to conduct this national study. Study findings will give Congress, the Department of Education and other stakeholders helpful information regarding the Act’s implementation and effectiveness.

Survey information for this study will focus primarily on the 2008-2009 school year. We anticipate the survey to take approximately 30 minutes to complete because of the comprehensive nature of the data we are seeking. The survey is designed to be completed through a web application and need not be completed in a single session.

Your contribution to this survey is entirely voluntary. There are no consequences for not participating. To participate in the survey, simply access the web site at <website URL>, using the Login ID and password indicated below. We assure you that all responses to the survey will not be individually identified and will be made available only to persons on the research team.

Your Login ID: <UserID>

Your Password: <PW>

It is only through the cooperation and efforts of participating institutions, such as yours, that we will obtain accurate data. You will be making a valuable contribution to this effort, and will be helping to ensure the study’s success by giving us your unqualified support.

If you have any questions about the study or the survey, please feel free to contact the Perkins Survey Help Desk at RTI (1-866-434-4718 or [email protected]), or Steve Klein, the study’s project director at MPR Associates, at (503) 963-3757, [email protected], or Michael Fong, the U.S. Department of Education’s Project Officer, at (202) 401-7462, [email protected]

We greatly appreciate your cooperation with this study.

Sincerely,

INTRODUCTORY LETTER: LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCY

LETTERHEAD

[Contact Name]

[Name of educational institution]

[Address of educational institution]

[Date]

Dear [Contact Name]:

You have been designated by the chief executive of your local education agency (LEA) to participate in an important survey about your agency’s implementation of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (Perkins) as part of the congressionally mandated National Assessment of Career and Technical Education study.

The 2006 reauthorization contains a provision for the independent evaluation and assessment of career and technical education programs (CTE) funded under the Act. The U.S. Department of Education has contracted with MPR Associates, Inc., and RTI International, to conduct this national study. Study findings will give Congress, the Department of Education and other stakeholders helpful information regarding the Act’s implementation and effectiveness.

Because only a sample of LEAs have been selected to participate, information from your LEA is critical in evaluating the full impact of CTE nationally.

Survey information for this study will focus primarily on the 2008-2009 school year. We anticipate the survey to take approximately 30 minutes to complete because of the comprehensive nature of the data we are seeking. The survey is designed to be completed through a web application and need not be completed in a single session.

Your contribution to this survey is entirely voluntary. There are no consequences for not participating. To participate in the survey, simply access the web site at <website URL>, using the Login ID and password indicated below. We assure you that all responses to the survey will not be individually identified and will be made available only to persons on the research team.

Your Login ID: <UserID>

Your Password: <PW>

It is only through the cooperation and efforts of participating LEAs, such as yours, that we will obtain accurate data. You will be making a valuable contribution to this effort, and will be helping to ensure the study’s success by giving us your unqualified support.

If you have any questions about the study or the survey, please feel free to contact the Perkins Survey Help Desk at RTI (1-866-434-4718 or [email protected]), or Steve Klein, the study’s project director at MPR Associates, at (503) 963-3757, [email protected], or Michael Fong, the U.S. Department of Education’s Project Officer, at (202) 401-7462, [email protected]

We greatly appreciate your cooperation with this study.

Sincerely,

REMINDER POSTCARD: ALL POTENTIAL RESPONDENTS

Your participation in the Perkins Survey, which assesses the implementation of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 is very important as the results will allow federal policymakers to assess the effect of legislative changes introduced in the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006.

Using the login information mailed to you a few weeks ago, please complete the online survey at your earliest convenience at: <website URL>

If you cannot locate your login information or you have questions about the study, please contact the Perkins Survey Help Desk Toll-Free at 1-866-434-4718, or by email at [email protected].

Your time and effort are greatly appreciated.

THANK-YOU POSTCARD: ALL RESPONDENTS

Thank you for completing the Perkins Survey, which assesses the implementation of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006. The information you provided is will allow federal policymakers to assess the effect of legislative changes introduced in the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006.

If there are any questions regarding your responses provided, we will contact you for follow-up. Thank you for your time and effort expended toward the Perkins Survey, we do greatly appreciate your participation.

Study Brochure (tri-fold) – Draft Text

The 2009-10 Perkins Survey

Study summary

The Perkins Survey is one component of the ongoing National Assessment of Career and Technical Education (NACTE). As part of the NACTE study, the Perkins Survey is designed to collect information relating to the implementation of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006. Data collected during the survey will assist federal policymakers in assessing the effect of legislative changes introduced in the Act. The study focuses on evaluating how state eligible agencies, secondary local education agencies (LEAs) and postsecondary institutions of higher education (IHEs) are responding to the new legislative changes introduced in the 2006 Act, with the goal of answering the following types of questions:

• Programs of Study

• How many Programs of Study are currently offered, and what are the characteristics of these programs?

• How were these programs developed and who participated in their creation?

• What strategies have been used to implement the programs at the local level, and what types of assistance was provided?

• Accountability Systems

• How have states designed and implemented new Perkins accountability measures?

• What approaches are states using to apply Career and Technical Education (CTE) performance accountability systems at the local levels?

• How well, and to what extent, are the new performance reporting requirements working to promote accountability and program improvement?

• Finance Systems

• How has financing of, and state and local priorities for, CTE changed as a result of new legislative provisions?

• How has increased flexibility in the use of federal funds, and Tech Prep funds, in particular, affected state eligible agencies and local CTE programs?

This work is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, which has contracted with MPR Associates, Inc., and RTI International (RTI) to conduct the study.

Description of survey and fiscal data collection

This survey assessing the implementation of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 is part of the congressionally mandated National Assessment of Career and Technical Education (NACTE) Study. The questions focus primarily on the 2008-2009 school year.

The survey will provide data on a range of important issues in career and technical education, including the extent to which states and local entities have developed, implemented, or improved career and technical education programs; the educational and employment outcomes of students participating in career and technical education programs, and the effect of state and local accountability requirements in improving the provision of program services. Reports based on the survey will be available to Congress, state and local educators and to the general public.

The survey is web-based and can be accessed at: http://www.WEBSITENAME.COM. You will need your study ID and password, which are provided in the letter accompanying this brochure. If you cannot locate this information, please contact the Perkins Survey Help Desk at RTI, Toll-Free at 1-866-434-4718 or by email at: [email protected].

Because some of the information requested may take time to locate, you may skip items and return to them later. Likewise, the survey need not be completed in a single session.

The survey is being administered to State CTE Directors from all states, and also to a limited number of secondary and/or postsecondary institutions. For institutional respondents, please recognize that it is important that you to participate on behalf of your educational institution, otherwise the results of the study might not be as useful as possible.

The time available to complete the survey is limited. We encourage you or your institutional Perkins Coordinator to respond as soon as possible.

Details of respondent privacy and data collection procedures

As a matter of policy, the U.S. Department of Education is concerned with protecting the privacy of participants in voluntary surveys. We want to let you know that:

• Your responses will be merged with those of other respondents and will not be identified as the agency you represent, except as required by law.

• You may skip questions you do not wish to answer; however, we encourage you to answer as many questions as possible, because incomplete data will reduce the value of the information provided to Congress.

Your answers may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose, unless otherwise compelled by law. Participation is voluntary and will not affect any aid or other benefits that your institution may receive. You may decline to answer any question or stop at anytime.

Contact info

Study website: http://www.WEBSITENAME.COM

If you have questions about the study or need help completing the survey, please contact the Perkins Survey Help Desk at 1-866-434-4718 or by email at [email protected].

If you have questions or concerns you may contact the following:

Michael Fong Steven Klein

NACTE Project Officer Study Director

U.S. Department of Education MPR Associates, Inc.

(202) 401-746 (503) 963-3757

[email protected] [email protected]

If you have questions about your rights as a study participant, you may contact RTI’s Office of Research Protection toll free at 1-866-214-2043.

Confidentiality Agreement

EVALUATION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CARL D. PERKINS CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION ACT OF 2006

Research Triangle Institute, Under Contract No. ED-04-CO-0121/0006

Safeguards for Individuals Against Invasion of Privacy: In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974 [5 USC 552a], Privacy Act Regulations [34 CFR Part 5b], and the Computer Security Act of 1987, Research Triangle Institute (RTI) and all its subcontractors are required to comply with the applicable provisions of the legislation, regulations, and guidelines and to undertake all necessary safeguards for individuals against invasions of privacy.

To provide this assurance and these safeguards in performance of work on this project, all staff, consultants and agents of RTI, and its subcontractors who have any access to study data, shall be bound by the following assurance.

Assurance of Confidentiality

1. In accordance with all applicable legislation, regulations, and guidelines, RTI assures all respondents that the confidentiality of their responses to all information requests will be maintained by RTI, and that no information obtained in the course of this activity may be disclosed in a manner in which the individual is identifiable, unless the individual has consented to such disclosure, to anyone other than authorized staff, consultants, agents, or representatives of RTI, the prime contractor (MPR Associates, Inc.), and the Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development, U.S. Department of Education.

2. The following safeguards will be implemented to assure that confidentiality is protected by all employees, consultants, agents, and representatives of RTI and all subcontractors and that physical security of the records is provided:

a. At each site where these items are processed or maintained, all confidential records that will permit identification of individuals shall be kept in a safe locked room when not in use or personally attended by project staff.

b. When confidential records are not locked, admittance to the room or area in which they reside shall be restricted to staff sworn to confidentiality on this project.

c. All electronic data shall be maintained in secure and protected data files, and personally identifying information, if any, shall be maintained on separate files from data collected under this contract.

d. All data files on network or multi-user systems shall be under strict control of a database manager with access restricted to project staff sworn to confidentiality, and then only on a need to know basis.

e. All data files on single-user computers shall be password protected and all such machines will be locked and maintained in a locked room when not attended by project staff sworn to confidentiality.

f. External electronically stored data files (e.g., tapes or diskettes) shall be maintained in a locked storage device in a locked room when not attended by project staff sworn to confidentiality.

7. Any data released to the general public shall be appropriately masked such that linkages to individually identifying information, if any, is not possible and individual identification cannot be disclosed.

8. Data or copies of data may not leave the authorized site for any reason.

3. Staff, consultants, agents, or RTI and all its subcontractors will take all necessary steps to insure that the letter and intent of all applicable legislation, regulations and guidelines are enforced at all times through appropriate qualifications standards for all personnel working on this project and through adequate training and periodic follow-up procedures.

By my signature affixed below I hereby swear and affirm that I have carefully read this statement and fully understand the statement as well as legislative and regulatory assurances which pertain to the confidential nature of all records to be handled in regard to this project and will adhere to all safeguards that have been developed to provide such confidentiality. As an employee, consultant, agent or representative of RTI or one of its subcontractors, consultants, agents, or representatives, I understand that I am prohibited by law from disclosing any such confidential information to anyone other than staff, consultant, agents, or representatives of RTI, the prime contractor (MPR Associates, Inc.), or the Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development, U.S. Department of Education. I understand that any willful and knowing individual disclosure or allowance of disclosure in violation of the applicable legislation, regulations, and guidelines is punishable by law and would subject the violator to possible fine or imprisonment.

/ / /

(Signature) (Employee ID#) (Date)

/ / /

(Supervisor's Signature) (Employee ID#) (Date)

AFFIDAVIT OF NONDISCLOSURE

EVALUATION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CARL D. PERKINS CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION ACT OF 2006

(RTI is a subcontractor to MPR Associates, Inc.,

under Contract No. ED-04-CO-0121/0006)

_________________________

(Job Title)

( Date of Assignment to the Project

R esearch Triangle Institute

(Organization, State or Local Agency or Instrumentality)

P .O. Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709

(Address)

I, __________________________________, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that when given access to any project-related data bases or files containing individually identifiable information, I will not:

(i) use or reveal any individually identifiable information furnished, acquired, retrieved or assembled by me or others, for any purpose other than statistical purposes in the survey, project or contract;

(ii) make any disclosure or publication whereby a sample unit or survey respondent could be identified or the data furnished by or related to any particular person under this section can be identified; or

(iii) permit anyone other than the individuals authorized by the project officer within the Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development, U.S. Department of Education, to examine the individual reports.

___________________________________

(Signature)

State of North Carolina

County of ____________________

Subscribed and sworn/affirmed before me, a Notary Public in and for ______________ County, State of North Carolina, on this date, ___________________, 2009.

___________________________________________

Notary Public

My Commission expires ______________, _________

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