OMB appreciates that conducting a survey as part of an international consortium is challenging and requires adhering to the international schedules and protocols. However, OMB does not concur that the U.S. government has (or should have) no say in the setting of those international schedules and protocols. First, the U.S. always has the opportunity to decide whether to participate in a collection; for education surveys, this would be the purview of the Department. Second, there should be opportunities, particularly via participation in the surveyÂs oversight and expert groups, to explain requirements of the U.S., including those found in the Paperwork Reduction Act, as well as to express concerns about proposed decisions for the collection. Therefore, while we are willing to accept this collection as an emergency request, this justification should not be used in the future. Rather, we strongly encourage the Department to take stock of its participation in these and other similar international surveys, to determine how to be sure that they are meeting U.S. needs within U.S. constraints.
table that charts list comparision
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
05/31/2010
6 Months From Approved
6,739
0
0
5,783
0
0
0
0
0
NCES seeks OMB approval for Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2011 and the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) 2011, both coordinated by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA). TIMSS is administered every four years in more than 60 countries and provides data for internationally benchmarking U.S. performance in mathematics and science at the fourth- and eighth-grade levels against other countries around the world. PIRLS is administered every five years in more than 50 countries and provides assessment data for internationally benchmarking U.S. performance in fourth-grade reading. The international field test for the two studies will begin on March 1, 2010, and the full scale collection in April-May 2011.
Since the field test recruitment needs to start in November 2009, the Department has requested emergency processing for the PIRLS/TIMSS March-April 2010 field test, including recruitment of selected schools, school districts, and state education agencies. In order to have a reasonal chance to meet the minimum number of schools for the PIRLS and TIMSS field test and to conduct a valid field test including the response rates under the proposed joint sampling plan, NCES must initiate contact with states and school districts as soon as possible after it receives a list of sample schools chosen by the International Association for the Evaluation of Education Achievement (IEA), in early November.
The central change to TIMSS and PIRLS from previous cycles is the effort to combine the grade 4 sample and administer both TIMSS and PIRLS to the same schools for the field test. The hours are considered a program change since this collection is a reinstatement.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
OMB Passback Responses 2009-10-29.docx
TIMSS_PIRLS 2011 Appendix B.doc
Signed Memo PIRLS and TIMSS 2011 Emergency Clearance 11.3.09.pdf
PIRLS Student Questionnaire - Grade 4