Respondent Materials and Letters

Appendix F
Respondent Materials

Draft Respondent Letters for
National Data Collection

District Superintendent Letter Example – Page 1
Spring 2009

Dear Superintendent:
I am writing to ask for your support on an important new study being conducted for the
U.S. Department of Education about early childhood education. The Early Childhood
Longitudinal Study – Kindergarten Class of 2010-11 (ECLS-K:11) will collect national data
about public and private kindergarten programs and the children who attend them. The study is
an important part of the efforts to improve schools and the education of all the nation's children
by increasing our understanding of the dynamics of school achievement, particularly those factors
that lead to the success of children during the critical early school years.
This research and data collection program is sponsored by the National Center for
Education Statistics (NCES), Institute of Education Sciences, of the U.S. Department of
Education. ECLS-K:11 is the third in an important series of longitudinal studies sponsored by the
U.S. Department of Education, which also includes the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study,
Kindergarten Class of 1998-99 (ECLS-K) and the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth
Cohort of 2001 (ECLS-B). Like its predecessors, ECLS-K:11 will provide a rich and
comprehensive source of information on children’s early learning and development, transitions
into kindergarten and beyond, and progress through school for a new cohort of children.
To adequately represent the diversity of kindergarten programs in the U.S., a carefully
selected sample of 900 such programs has been chosen to participate in the study. Some schools
from your district are among those in this sample. With your permission, ECLS-K staff will
contact these schools to discuss study details and to invite them to join the study. These contacts
will begin this spring. The first data collection will occur in the beginning of the 2010-2011
school year when 23,000 students will be selected from those attending the participating schools
across the country. Follow up data will be collected each spring from kindergarten through fifth
grade.
Features of the ECLS-K:11 include:
„

One-on-one assessments of children conducted by trained ECLS-K:11 assessors.
These assessments, which will take approximately 60 minutes to administer, are
designed to measure children’s early cognitive development, such as language and
quantitative skills, and executive function. Sampled children also will be weighed and
measured and have their hearing screened. Assessments will not begin 6 six weeks after
the beginning of the school year. Spring assessments will be completed 6 weeks before
the end of the school year.

„

Telephone interviews with parents and guardians who are unique sources of
information about the selected children and their families. Questions will cover such
areas as home environment, childcare, family structure, and the health and well being
of the children.

„

Questionnaires for kindergarten teachers, which will provide information about their
teaching practices and the selected children whom they teach.

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District Superintendent Letter Example – Page 2
•

Questionnaires for school administrators in spring 2010, which will provide the study
with information on the selected schools.

•

Questionnaires for children’s child care providers, which will provide information about
their child care environment and the children for whom they provide care.

Your chief state school officer has received a letter from the commissioner of NCES
notifying him/her of the study. We also have sent a letter to and spoken with your state’s testing
director. Enclosed is a list of the schools in your district that have been selected to participate in
the ECLS-K:11. An ECLS-K:11 representative will call you within a few days to discuss the
study, answer any questions you may have, and discuss the appropriate protocol for notifying the
selected schools in your district.
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond
to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB
control number for this information collection is 1850-0750. Approval expires 01/31/2009.The
collection of information in this study is authorized by Public Law 107-279 Education Sciences
Reform Act of 2002, Title I, Part C, Sec. 151(b) and Sec. 153(a). Participation is voluntary.
Respondents may skip questions they do not wish to answer. Responses are protected from
disclosure by federal statute (PL 107-279 Title I, Part C, Sec. 183). All responses that relate to or
describe identifiable characteristics of individuals 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. Data will be combined to produce statistical reports. No individual data that
links the respondent’s name, address, telephone number, or identification number with their
responses will be included in the statistical reports. Any questions or concerns about
confidentiality or the respondent’s rights in this research study should be directed to Gail
Mulligan at the National Center for Education Statistics at 1-202-502-7491 or
[email protected].
We look forward to working with you and the selected schools in your district. I have
enclosed information further describing the study. If you have any questions, please feel free to
call me or Rich Hilpert, ECLS-K:11 data collection director, at 1-800-750-6206.

Sincerely,

Karen Tourangeau
Project Director

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Catholic School Recruitment Letter Example
Spring 2009
Dear Principal,
I am writing to ask for your support on an important new study being conducted for the U.S.
Department of Education about early childhood education. The Early Childhood Longitudinal Study –
Kindergarten Class of 2010-11 (ECLS-K:11) will collect national data about public and private
kindergarten programs and the children who attend them. The study is an important part of the efforts to
improve schools and the education of all the nation's children by increasing our understanding of the
dynamics of school achievement, particularly those factors that lead to the success of children during the
critical early school years.
This research and data collection program is sponsored by the National Center for Education
Statistics (NCES), Institute of Education Sciences, of the U.S. Department of Education. ECLS-K:11 is
the third in an important series of longitudinal studies sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education,
which also includes the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-99 (ECLS-K)
and the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort of 2001 (ECLS-B). Like its predecessors,
ECLS-K:11 will provide a rich and comprehensive source of information on children’s early learning and
development, transitions into kindergarten and beyond, and progress through school for a new cohort of
children
To adequately represent the diversity of kindergarten programs in the U.S., a carefully selected
sample of 900 such programs has been chosen to participate in the study. We have contacted your diocese
and have received permission to contact you. The participation of each of the selected schools is vital to
the success of this important study. The first data collection will occur in the beginning of the 2010-2011
school year when 23,000 students will be selected from those attending the participating schools across
the country. Follow up data will be collected each spring from kindergarten through fifth grade.
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a
collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number
for this information collection is 1850-0750. Approval expires 01/31/2009.The collection of information
in this study is authorized by Public Law 107-279 Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002, Title I, Part
C, Sec. 151(b) and Sec. 153(a). Participation is voluntary. Respondents may skip questions they do not
wish to answer. Responses are protected from disclosure by federal statute (PL 107-279 Title I, Part C,
Sec. 183). All responses that relate to or describe identifiable characteristics of individuals 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. Data will be combined to produce statistical reports. No individual
data that links the respondent’s name, address, telephone number, or identification number with their
responses will be included in the statistical reports. Any questions or concerns about confidentiality or the
respondent’s rights in this research study should be directed to Gail Mulligan at the National Center for
Education Statistics at 1-202-502-7491 or [email protected].

F-3

We look forward to working with you and your teachers and kindergartners. I have enclosed
information further describing the study. If you have any questions, please feel free to call me or Rich
Hilpert, ECLS-K:11 data collection director, at 1-800-750-6206.

Sincerely,

Karen Tourangeau
Project Director

F-4

Private School (other than Catholic) Recruitment Letter Example
Spring 2009
Dear Principal,
I am writing to ask for your support on an important new study being conducted for the U.S.
Department of Education about early childhood education. The Early Childhood Longitudinal Study –
Kindergarten Class of 2010-11 (ECLS-K:11) will collect national data about public and private
kindergarten programs and the children who attend them. The study is an important part of the efforts to
improve schools and the education of all the nation's children by increasing our understanding of the
dynamics of school achievement, particularly those factors that lead to the success of children during the
critical early school years.
This research and data collection program is sponsored by the National Center for Education
Statistics (NCES), Institute of Education Sciences, of the U.S. Department of Education. ECLS-K:11 is
the third in an important series of longitudinal studies sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education,
which also includes the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-99 (ECLS-K)
and the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort of 2001 (ECLS-B). Like its predecessors,
ECLS-K:11 will provide a rich and comprehensive source of information on children’s early learning and
development, transitions into kindergarten and beyond, and progress through school for a new cohort of
children
To adequately represent the diversity of kindergarten programs in the U.S., a carefully selected
sample of 900 such programs, including your own, has been chosen to participate in the study. The
participation of each of the selected schools is vital to the success of this important study. The first data
collection will occur in the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year when 23,000 students will be selected
from those attending the participating schools across the country. Follow up data will be collected each
spring from kindergarten through fifth grade.
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a
collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number
for this information collection is 1850-0750. Approval expires 01/31/2009.The collection of information
in this study is authorized by Public Law 107-279 Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002, Title I, Part
C, Sec. 151(b) and Sec. 153(a). Participation is voluntary. Respondents may skip questions they do not
wish to answer. Responses are protected from disclosure by federal statute (PL 107-279 Title I, Part C,
Sec. 183). All responses that relate to or describe identifiable characteristics of individuals 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. Data will be combined to produce statistical reports. No individual
data that links the respondent’s name, address, telephone number, or identification number with their
responses will be included in the statistical reports. Any questions or concerns about confidentiality or the
respondent’s rights in this research study should be directed to Gail Mulligan at the National Center for
Education Statistics at 1-202-502-7491 or [email protected].

F-5

We look forward to working with you and your teachers and kindergartners. I have enclosed
information further describing the study. If you have any questions, please feel free to call me or
Rich Hilpert, ECLS-K:11 data collection director, at 800-750-6206.

Sincerely,

Karen Tourangeau
Project Director

F-6

School Coordinator Letter Example
December 2008

School Coordinator
School name
School address
City, ST, ZIP
Dear <>,
Included with this letter are several items regarding the Early
Childhood Longitudinal Study – Kindergarten Class of 2010-11
(ECLS-K:11). Some of them are informative and may duplicate
information you have already received. Please feel free to share any
of these with others in your school. By completing the last two
forms in this list, you will provide information necessary for our
field staff to prepare materials for the study activities in your school.
In your packet, you should find:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

ECLS-K:11 brochure
School and Teacher Summary Sheet
Parent Summary Sheet
Frequently Asked Questions for Schools
Frequently Asked Questions for Parents
Kindergarten Enrollment List
Kindergarten Teacher List

There are instructions on both of the enclosed “Lists” that should
help you or an assistant to complete them for us. These need not be
completed until the week prior to our supervisor’s first visit to your
school. After these lists have been prepared, please keep them at
your school.
Note that the Kindergarten Enrollment List was designed to show
you what information we need on each of the kindergarten children
in your school. It is not necessary to record this information on this
form if it can more easily be provided in a different format, for
example in a computer printout.
The ECLS-K:11 field supervisor who will be working with your
school will call you before coming to your school to set up the study
activities and select the sample of kindergarten children. If you have
questions about preparing these lists, you can discuss them with the
supervisor at that time. The supervisor will bring letters and Parent
Summary Sheets for the parents/guardians of the sampled children so
that they can be prepared and mailed before the assessment activities
begin.

F-7

Also included in your packet are three identical packets for the
kindergarten teachers at your school. The teacher packets include:
•
•
•
•

Letter to the teacher
ECLS-K:11 brochure
School and Teacher Summary Sheet
Parent Summary Sheet

I would appreciate it if you would give these to your kindergarten
teachers. If you need additional packets, you can request them from
the supervisor when s/he calls you.
Again, we want you to know how much we appreciate your time and
support of the ECLS-K:11 study. Our staff are prepared to work
with you and to do as much as possible to make their activities in
your school go as smoothly as possible. If there is anything that they
can do to help you to help us, please do not hesitate to ask when the
supervisor calls.
We look forward to working with you, your kindergarten teachers,
and the kindergarten children on this important study.

Sincerely,

Karen Tourangeau
Project Director

Enclosures
SCL

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it
displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 1850-0750. Approval expires
01/31/2009 The collection of information in this study is authorized by Public Law 107-279 Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002,
Title I, Part C, Sec. 151(b) and Sec. 153(a). Participation is voluntary. Respondents may skip questions they do not wish to answer.
Responses are protected from disclosure by federal statute (PL 107-279 Title I, Part C, Sec. 183). All responses that relate to or
describe identifiable characteristics of individuals 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. Data will be combined to produce statistical reports. No
individual data that links the respondent’s name, address, telephone number, or identification number with their responses will be
included in the statistical reports. Any questions or concerns about confidentiality or the respondent’s rights in this research study
should be directed to Gail Mulligan at the National Center for Education Statistics at 1-202-502-7491 or [email protected].

F-8

Teacher Letter Example
Spring 2009
Dear Teacher,
We are very happy that your school will be participating in the Early Childhood
Longitudinal Study – Kindergarten Class of 2010-11 (ECLS-K:11). We have enclosed
information about the study, which includes a brochure describing the study, a School and
Teacher Summary Sheet, and Parent Summary Sheet.
Shortly after the start of the school year our field supervisor will visit your school to
select the kindergarten children and their parents/guardians who will be invited to participate in
the study. The field supervisor will meet with you and other teachers of kindergarten children in
the school to discuss the study and your role in the study. At that time, the field supervisor will
review with you the questionnaires that teachers will be asked to complete about their classroom
and the children in the each of their classes. You will receive an honorarium for each
questionnaire that you complete for the selected children in your class.
In addition, the field supervisor will talk with you about the ECLS-K:11 child
assessment. The assessment, which will be administered by a trained assessor, has several
features that will allow the majority of children to participate in the assessment without any
special accommodations. These include:
•
•
•
•
•

the assessment is administered individually to each child;
the assessment is untimed;
children can take breaks when they need them;
based on how a child performs on the items administered first, the remaining items
will be geared to the child’s level; and
the child responds to almost all questions by pointing to or verbalizing the answer.
Children are not asked to write out their answers.

Even with these features, some children will not be able to take the assessment without
additional accommodations in the standard procedures. The ECLS-K:11 field supervisor will ask
you to help them identify children who:
•
•
•

have a non-English language background;
have an IEP or 504 Plan; and
you suspect may need a special accommodation for the assessment.

Although it is not possible to offer all types of accommodations to children in the ECLSK:11 study, the field staff will work with you and other appropriate staff in the school to
understand the child’s accommodation needs and to provide an appropriate accommodation
whenever possible.
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond
to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB
control number for this information collection is 1850-0750. Approval expires 01/31/2009. The
collection of information in this study is authorized by Public Law 107-279 Education Sciences
Reform Act of 2002, Title I, Part C, Sec. 151(b) and Sec. 153(a). Participation is voluntary. You

F-9

may skip questions you do not wish to answer; however, we hope that you will answer as many
questions as you can. Your responses are protected from disclosure by federal statute (PL 107279 Title I, Part C, Sec. 183). All responses that relate to or describe identifiable characteristics of
individuals 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. Data will be
combined to produce statistical reports. No individual data that links your name, address,
telephone number, or identification number with your responses will be included in the statistical
reports. If you have any questions or concerns about confidentiality or your rights in this research
study, contact Gail Mulligan at the National Center for Education Statistics at 1-202-502-7491 or
[email protected].

Sincerely,

Karen Tourangeau
Project Director
Enclosures
KT/til

F-10

Parent Letter Example

Dear Parent:
I am pleased to invite you and your child to participate in a new and exciting
study of children’s early learning experiences. This study is called the Early Childhood
Longitudinal Study – Kindergarten Class of 2010-11 (ECLS-K:11). It is sponsored by
the National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences, of the U.S.
Department of Education.
Your child was selected at random to join 21,000 children from 900 kindergartens
around the country cooperating in this important national study. These children were
selected to represent the experiences of the more than 4 million children in kindergarten
in the United States this year. It is important that each and every child participate so that
the study accurately portrays the early educational experiences of all American children.
The intent is to provide information to help all children be successful in their education.
The enclosed materials should answer your questions and give you more detailed
information about this study and what is involved for you and your child. Phone numbers
are given for you to call with any other questions you may have. This is an opportunity
for you and your child to provide information to improve the quality of education for all
children. This study is vital to efforts to improve schools and the education of all the
nation's children by increasing our understanding of the dynamics of school achievement,
particularly those factors that lead to the success of children during the critical early
school years.
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to
respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number.
The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 1850-0750. Approval
expires 01/31/2009. The collection of information in this study is authorized by Public
Law 107-279 Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002, Title I, Part C, Sec. 151(b) and
Sec. 153(a). Participation is voluntary. You may skip questions you do not wish to
answer; however, we hope that you will answer as many questions as you can.
ALL INFORMATION COLLECTED DURING THE STUDY IS
CONFIDENTIAL. Your responses are protected from disclosure by federal statute (PL
107-279 Title I, Part C, Sec. 183). All responses that relate to or describe identifiable
characteristics of individuals 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. Data will be combined to produce statistical reports. No individual data that links
your name, address, telephone number, or identification number with your responses will
be included in the statistical reports. Since the school will not get any of the information
about your child, participation will not affect your child’s grades or progress in school.
If you will allow your child to participate in this study, you do not need to return
this form. We thank you for your support. If you do not want your child to take part in

F-11

this study, please fill out the attached form and return it to the school by the date shown
on the form.
Thank you for your time and consideration of the study.
Sincerely,

Karen Tourangeau
Project Director

F-12

Example Summary Sheets from ECLS-K
(Updated summary sheets for use in the full-scale collection will be included in the
OMB package submitted with the results of the field test.)

F-14

F-15

F-16

F-17

Example Birthday Card from ECLS-K

F-19

F-20

Example Parent Consent Forms for ECLS-K:11

Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class 2010-11 (ECLS-K:11)
Explicit Parent Consent Form
You and your child are being asked to take part in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class
2010-11 (ECLS-K:11). The ECLS-K:11, sponsored by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES),
Institute of Education Sciences, of the U.S. Department of Education and conducted by Westat, will follow a
nationally representative sample of children from kindergarten through fifth grade.
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of
information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information
collection is 1850-0750. Approval expires 01/31/2009. The collection of information in this study is authorized
by Public Law 107-279 Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002, Title I, Part C, Sec. 151(b) and Sec. 153(a).
Participation is voluntary. You may skip questions you do not wish to answer; however, we hope that you will
answer as many questions as you can. Your responses are protected from disclosure by federal statute (PL 107279 Title I, Part C, Sec. 183). All responses that relate to or describe identifiable characteristics of individuals
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. Data will be combined to produce statistical reports. No individual
data that links your name, address, telephone number, or identification number with your responses will be
included in the statistical reports. If you have any questions or concerns about confidentiality or your rights in
this research study, contact Gail Mulligan at the National Center for Education Statistics at 1-202-502-7491 or
[email protected].
I have read the letter and the information above. I freely agree to take part, and allow my child to participate in
the ECLS-K:11 study in elementary school. I know that data about me, my child, and my family will be released
only as described.
NAME OF CHILD: ____________________________________

ID: ___________________

____________________________________________ __________________________
Signature of parent/guardian
Date
Print your name:
_______________________
First

_______________________
Middle

__________________________
Last

SCHOOL INFORMATION
Please provide the information below about the school your child will attend in the 2010-11 school year.
SCHOOL NAME:
SCHOOL ADDRESS:

CITY: ___________________________
TELEPHONE NUMBER: (

STATE:___________

)

F-22

ZIP CODE:

_____________

PARENT CONTACT INFORMATION
Please provide the information below about the parent who is most knowledgeable about the child's
education.
NAME:
ADDRESS:

CITY: ___________________________

HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER:(
WORK TELEPHONE NUMBER:(

STATE:___________

)
)

ZIP CODE:

_____________

Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class 2010-11 (ECLS-K:11)
Implicit Parent Consent Form
You and your child are being asked to take part in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class
2010-11 (ECLS-K:11). The ECLS-K:11, sponsored by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES),
Institute of Education Sciences, of the U.S. Department of Education and conducted by Westat, will follow a
nationally representative sample of children from kindergarten through fifth grade.
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of
information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information
collection is 1850-0750. Approval expires 01/31/2009. The collection of information in this study is authorized
by Public Law 107-279 Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002, Title I, Part C, Sec. 151(b) and Sec. 153(a).
Participation is voluntary. You may skip questions you do not wish to answer; however, we hope that you will
answer as many questions as you can. Your responses are protected from disclosure by federal statute (PL 107279 Title I, Part C, Sec. 183). All responses that relate to or describe identifiable characteristics of individuals
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. Data will be combined to produce statistical reports. No individual
data that links your name, address, telephone number, or identification number with your responses will be
included in the statistical reports. If you have any questions or concerns about confidentiality or your rights in
this research study, contact Gail Mulligan at the National Center for Education Statistics at 1-202-502-7491 or
[email protected].
If you allow your child to take part in the ECLS-K:11 study, you do not need to do anything with this form.
If you do not want your child to take part in the study, sign and return this form before:
_________________________
I have read the letter and the information above. I DO NOT WANT MY CHILD TO PARTICIPATE.
NAME OF CHILD: ____________________________________

ID: ___________________

____________________________________________ __________________________
Signature of parent/guardian
Date
Print your name:
_______________________
First

_______________________
Middle

__________________________
Last

Example Brochure From ECLS-K
(An updated brochure for use in the full-scale collection will be included in the OMB package
submitted with the results of the field test.)

F-26

F-27

F-28

F-29

Example WECEP Respondent Letters
for ECLS-K:11

WECEP Notification Letter

Spring 2011

Dear______________________:
(Child Care Provider)
Recently, my child and I participated in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten Class of
2010-11 (ECLSK:11), which is being conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES),
Institute of Education Sciences, of the U.S. Department of Education. I have given them permission to
contact you and to ask some questions about your care of my child. You will receive a letter soon
explaining the study and asking you to participate. An interviewer from Westat, a social science research
firm, will contact you by phone to provide you with additional information about the study and to conduct
an interview.
This notice is to let you know that my child and I are taking part in this study and that I did give the study
team permission to contact you about participating as well.
Sincerely yours,

________________________
(Name of participating parent)

________________________
(My child’s name)

F-31

WECEP Center-Based Provider Lead Letter
[DATE]

[PANEL_INFO]
[NAME OF ADMINISTRATOR]
[ADDRESS1]
[ADDRESS2]
[CITY], [STATE] [ZIP]
Dear NAME OF ADMINISTRATOR,

As you may already know, (CHILD) is taking part in an important research study called the Early
Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2010-11 (ECLS-K:11). We will be interviewing parents and
children. We also are interested in the important role that before- and after-school program teachers and care
providers play in children’s lives. We would like to find out about (CHILD)'s experiences while in your program.
The ECLS-K:11 is being conducted by Westat for the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES),
Institute of Education Sciences, of the U.S. Department of Education. This study will give us information about
children and their families. Policymakers will use the information to help our nation’s families and communities.
We know that child care providers and before- or after-school program teachers play an important role in children’s
lives. The data we collect in this part of the study will help us better understand many issues related to the care and
education of young children.
We would like to interview you and (CHILD)’s provider/teacher(s) over the telephone. We will ask about
the care and education of (CHILD) and about (his/her/their) learning and behavior. Enclosed with this letter is a
copy of (PARENT)’s permission form for you to participate in the child care portion of the study on behalf of
(CHILD)'s family. This interview with you will take about 10 minutes. We will ask you about the program and
staffing at the center/school. The interview with (CHILD)’s provider/teacher(s) will take about 30 minutes. We will
ask about the child’s care and education, how the provider/teacher gets along with the study child, the child's
learning and behavior, the provider/teacher’s background, and his/her ideas about working with young children. We
will send your program $35 to thank you for your time.
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of
information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information
collection is 1850-0750. Approval expires 01/31/2009. The collection of information in this study is authorized by
Public Law 107-279 Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002, Title I, Part C, Sec. 151(b) and Sec. 153(a).
Participation is voluntary. You may skip questions you do not wish to answer; however, we hope that you will
answer as many questions as you can. Your responses are protected from disclosure by federal statute (PL 107-279
Title I, Part C, Sec. 183). All responses that relate to or describe identifiable characteristics of individuals 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. Data will be combined to produce statistical reports. No individual data that
links your name, address, telephone number, or identification number with your responses will be included in the
statistical reports. If you have any questions or concerns about confidentiality or your rights in this research study,
contact Gail Mulligan at the National Center for Education Statistics at 1-202-502-7491 or [email protected].
An interviewer from Westat will call you by telephone to schedule a time for the interview. If you have
questions about the study, you may ask the interviewer, or you may call the Westat study hotline at 1-800-555-5555
(a toll-free number). The information you give will help make the study a success. We thank you for your help.
Sincerely yours,

Karen Tourangeau
Project Director

F-32

WECEP Home-Based Provider Lead Letter
[DATE]
[PANEL_INFO]
[NAME OF CHILD CARE PROVIDER]
[ADDRESS1]
[ADDRESS2]
[CITY], [STATE] [ZIP]

Dear NAME OF CHILD CARE PROVIDER,
As you may already know, (CHILD) is taking part in an important research study called the Early
Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2010-11 (ECLS-K:11). We will be interviewing parents and
children. We also are interested in the important role that caregivers play in children’s lives. We would like to find
out about (CHILD)'s experiences while in your care.
The ECLS-K:11 is being conducted by Westat for the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES),
Institute of Education Sciences, of the U.S. Department of Education. This study will give us information about
children and their families. Policy makers will use the information to help our nation’s families and communities.
We know that caregivers like you play an important role in children’s lives. The data we collect in this part of the
study will help us better understand many issues related to the care and education of young children.
We would like to interview you over the telephone. Enclosed with this letter is a copy of (PARENT)’s
permission letter for you to participate in the child care portion of the study on behalf of (CHILD)'s family. This
interview would take about 25 to 30 minutes. You will be asked questions about the care you provide, how you get
along with the study child, the child's learning and behavior, your background, and your ideas about caring for
children. We will send you $35 to thank you for your time.
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of
information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information
collection is 1850-0750. Approval expires 01/31/2009. The collection of information in this study is authorized by
Public Law 107-279 Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002, Title I, Part C, Sec. 151(b) and Sec. 153(a).
Participation is voluntary. You may skip questions you do not wish to answer; however, we hope that you will
answer as many questions as you can. Your responses are protected from disclosure by federal statute (PL 107-279
Title I, Part C, Sec. 183). All responses that relate to or describe identifiable characteristics of individuals 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. Data will be combined to produce statistical reports. No individual data that
links your name, address, telephone number, or identification number with your responses will be included in the
statistical reports. If you have any questions or concerns about confidentiality or your rights in this research study,
contact Gail Mulligan at the National Center for Education Statistics at 1-202-502-7491 or [email protected].
An interviewer from Westat will call you by telephone to schedule a time for the interview. If you have
questions about the study, you may ask the interviewer, or you may call the Westat study hotline at 1-800-555-5555
to speak with a study coordinator. The information you give will help make the study a success. We thank you for
your help.
Sincerely yours,

Karen Tourangeau
Project Director

F-33