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 surveys 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.
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