Appendix H

[DATE]

[SUPERINTENDENT NAME]
[DISTRICT NAME]
[ADDRESS]
[CITY, STATE ZIP]
Dear [SUPERINTENDENT]:
I am writing to ask your support for a new study of kindergartners in which one or more of the schools in
your district have been selected to participate. The Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten
Class of 2010-11 (ECLS-K:2011), conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) of the
U.S. Department of Education, will be in schools in the fall of 2010 and follows by about a decade a
study of an earlier cohort of children. With the results from the previous study, researchers have
examined full-day kindergarten, summer learning loss, teaching practices, and even childhood obesity.
The new kindergartners’ school experiences will be compared with those of the earlier cohort to learn
more about how the demographic profile of our children and their learning environments have changed,
and how these changes relate to the children’s development. The study will involve nearly 21,000
kindergartners in all types of schools across the country.
The study will gather information from home and school to provide rich data on children’s early school
experiences beginning in kindergarten and continuing through fifth grade. If schools selected in your
district have already agreed to participate in the ECLS-K:2011, then please extend my appreciation to
them for their cooperation. I recognize from personal experience that participating in voluntary studies
like the ECLS-K:2011 can be challenging given the essential work you do with students. The participation
of each sampled school and student is important to ensure that the sample is truly representative of
kindergartners in the United States and that the results reflect what kindergartners know and can do.
If you are still considering whether your schools can participate, then I urge you to consider carefully the
importance of the ECLS-K:2011 for understanding children’s early learning and development and their
progress through elementary school. The national education organizations listed on the back of this
letter are supporting this important study by officially endorsing it.
If you have any questions about the ECLS-K:2011 or your district’s participation, please feel free to call
1-888-204-4864 or send an email to [email protected]. Information about the ECLS-K:2011 also
is available at http://nces.ed.gov/ecls.
Thank you for your support of this important study.
Sincerely,
Arne Duncan
U.S. Secretary of Education

National Education Associations Endorsing the ECLS-K:2011
American Association of School Administrators
American Federation of Teachers
American Montessori Society
Council for American Private Education
Council for Exceptional Children
Council of Chief State School Officers
International Reading Association
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
National Association for the Education of Young Children
National Association of Elementary School Principals
National Catholic Educational Association
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
National Education Association
National Parent-Teacher Association (PTA)
National School Boards Association
National Science Teachers Association
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

About the study
The Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten
Class of 2010-11 (ECLS-K:2011) is an exciting new study
sponsored by the National Center for Education Statistics
(NCES) within the Institute of Education Sciences of
the U.S. Department of Education and conducted by
Westat.
During the 2010-11 school year, approximately 20,700
kindergartners in 900 public and private schools
across the nation will be selected for the ECLS-K:2011.
The ECLS-K:2011 will gather information from multiple
sources to provide rich data on children’s early school
experiences beginning with kindergarten and following
children through fifth grade. Each year, the study
will conduct:

• Child assessments – Children will be assessed in

reading, mathematics, and science in one-on-one
sessions with trained assessors during the regular
school day.

• Physical measurements – Children will have their
height and weight measured. In kindergarten
they also will have their hearing tested.

• Parent interviews – Parents will be asked to

participate in telephone interviews to provide
background information about their child, their
family, and themselves.

• Teacher and school administrator interviews –

Children’s teachers will be asked to complete
questionnaires that ask about their backgrounds,
teaching practices, and the classroom learning
environment. They also will be asked about children’s
academic skills. Children’s school administrators
will be asked to complete questionnaires about
their backgrounds and features of their school
and programs at the school.

• Before- and after- school care provider interviews –

In the kindergarten year, before- and after-school care
providers will be interviewed about both their care
settings and their care of the ECLS-K:2011 children.

For additional questions
or comments, contact:
Gail Mulligan
ECLS-K:2011 Project Officer
Institute of Education Sciences
National Center for Education Statistics
1990 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006-5650
Phone: (202) 502-7491
E-Mail: [email protected]
Karen Tourangeau
ECLS-K:2011 Project Director

Kindergarten Class of 2010-11

Westat, Inc.
1600 Research Blvd
Rockville, MD 20850
Phone: (888) 204-4864
E-Mail: [email protected]

National Center for Education Statistics
Institute of Education Sciences

To learn more about the ECLS program,
visit http://nces.ed.gov/ecls and
to learn more about the ECLS-K:2011
visit http://nces.ed.gov/ecls/myeclsk2011

NCES is authorized to conduct this study under the Education
Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-279, Section
153). Under that law, the data provided by respondents
may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be
disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose
except as required by law (Public Law 107-279, Section 183).
The U.S. Office of Management and Budget has approved
the data collection under OMB # 1850-0750.

27201.0709.8575010801

U.S. Department of Education

Comparing kindergartners then and now
The last nationally representative study to track students through
elementary school began with a kindergarten class in 1998-99.
There have been many changes in children’s lives and in their
families and schools in the past 12 years.
For example;

• In early 2002 the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) was signed
The ECLS program
The ECLS-K:2011 is the third in a series of early childhood longitudinal
studies sponsored by the National Center for Education Statistics. Like
its predecessors, the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten
Class of 1998-99 (ECLS-K) and the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study,
Birth Cohort of 2001 (ECLS-B), the ECLS-K:2011 will provide comprehensive and reliable data about today’s children, their early learning and
development, transition into kindergarten, and progress through school.
The data collected over the years will allow researchers, policymakers,
and educators to study how student, home, classroom, school, and
community factors in children’s lives relate to cognitive, social, and
emotional development and physical health at various points.

Why is the ECLS-K:2011 so important?
Because many factors influence children’s school experiences and
outcomes, it is important to understand the different environments in
which children live and learn. The ECLS-K:2011 will allow researchers
and policymakers to answer the following types of questions:

• What do children know and what skills do they possess when
they start school?

• How well do children do in their first encounter with formal
schooling?

• How healthy are kindergartners? What percentage are

considered overweight or underweight? How many have
difficulty hearing?

• How do kindergartners behave? Do they pay attention to
teachers, cooperate with other children, and display an
eagerness to learn?

• How do children’s knowledge, skills, and behavior change over
time? How do their school experiences change over time?

• How well do children’s kindergarten programs prepare them
for the opportunities and challenges in later grades?

into law. NCLB requires schools to test 3rd through 8th graders
to show they are making progress.

• School choice options, in particular public charter schools, have
become more available to parents.

• More children have experience with computers and the internet.
More educational television programs are available and aimed
at young children.

• Health issues that can affect children’s performance in school, such
as child obesity and asthma, have become more prevalent. There
also has been increased attention paid to autism spectrum disorders and to learning disabilities, such as attention deficit disorder.

• There has been an increase in access to prekindergarten
programs, including state-funded programs.

The new ECLS-K:2011 can compare today’s kindergartners
and the environments in which they are learning to those
of over a decade ago.

Why should I participate?
The ECLS-K:2011 will provide information that can help families,
teachers, schools, superintendents, policy makers, and
researchers make informed decisions about what is best for
today’s children. It also can be used to explore how changes
in school policy and the learning environment affect children’s
experience in kindergarten and in later school years. Such
information is critical to providing our children with the best
opportunity for success.
We found during the ECLS-K that children enjoyed the
assessments and showing what they knew. Parents also
reported that they were happy to participate:
“I feel strongly that more parents should get involved to help
improve the education system in this country. I am very
excited and happy to be a part of this landmark study.”

– Parent, Boston, MA

“We are happy to make a difference in education and the
future of the early childhood program.”

– Parent, Mason City, IA

“I think the study was a good idea. I was very happy that
(my son) was picked. He said it was fun and that he had
a really good time.”
– Parent, Cincinnati, OH

The success of the ECLS-K:2011 depends on your help. It is vitally
important that those individuals who are selected agree to
participate because they represent many others across the
nation. Your participation will help to assure that the experiences
of all parents and kindergartners are represented in the study.

For questions or comments, contact:

The ECLS-K:2011 will
• Provide information on students enrolled in

kindergarten during the 2010-11 school year;

• Track children’s progress through elementary
school, providing a rich and comprehensive
source of information on children’s early
learning and development;

Gail Mulligan
ECLS-K:2011 Project Officer
Institute of Education Sciences
National Center for Education Statistics
1990 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006-5650
Phone: (202) 502-7491
E-Mail: [email protected]

• Allow comparisons with the kindergarten class
of 1998-99 to see how young children’s early
learning experiences have changed over the
intervening 12 years; and

• Provide policy makers, education professionals,
researchers, and parents with important
information about children’s education and
development.

Karen Tourangeau
ECLS-K:2011 Project Director
Westat, Inc.
1600 Research Blvd
Rockville, MD 20850
Phone: (888) 204-4864
E-Mail: [email protected]

Kindergarten Class of 2010-11

Timeline of Data Collection Activities
2010-11 School Year

Kindergarten Class of 2010-11
27202.0709.8575010801

TIMELINE OF ECLS-K:2011 Data Collection Activities for school year 2010-11
Fall 2010
Principal

• Selects an assessment date convenient for the school.

SPRING 2011
• Completes the school administrator questionnaire.

• Represents principals in similar schools.
• Receives on average of $200 for their school in Spring 2011.

• Identifies a school coordinator. The school coordinator works
with ECLS-K:2011 staff to plan for the assessment.

School Coordinator

BENEFITS

• Receives $25 in Spring 2011 in appreciation for ­completing
the school administrator questionnaire.

• Works with ECLS-K:2011 staff. Arranges logistics for data
collection within the school.

• Distributes school administrator and teacher
questionnaires.

• Assists in obtaining important information about schools,
teachers, and students in the U.S.

• Provides a list of students to participate in the study.

• Collects completed questionnaires.

• Receives $25 in Fall 2010.

• Completes a form asking about academic skills and classroom behavior for each sampled student in his or her class.

• Completes a student rating form for each sampled
student in his or her class.

• Provides important information about U.S. kindergartners
and their school environments.

• Completes a teacher questionnaire.

• Completes a teacher questionnaire.

• Receives $7 per completed Student Rating Form.

• Provides consent for his or her child to participate in the
ECLS-K:2011.

• Responds to a telephone interview.

• Represents U.S. parents of kindergartners like him/herself
and contributes to an understanding of the importance
of family background factors in early learning and
achievement.

• Arranges for parental notification for students to participate
in the ECLS-K:2011.

Teacher

Parent

• Responds to a telephone interview.

• Receives informational study material including newsletters and summaries of results from previous ECLS studies.

Child

• Participates in a one-on-one assessment.

• Participates in a one-on-one assessment.

• Represents U.S. students like him/herself and contributes
to an understanding of what U.S.
kindergartners know and can do.

ECLS-K:2011 Staff

• Provide school information packets to schools in
advance of the school recruitment calls.

• Conduct child assessments and parent interviews.

• Provide valuable data to policymakers, educators,
researchers, and the general public about U.S.
kindergartners.

• Work with the principal to identify a school coordinator and
to set an assessment date.
• Sample kindergartners within each school and link teachers
to students.
• Help school coordinator with assessment details.
• Conduct child assessments and parent interviews.
• Maintain school, teacher, and student confidentiality.

Find Out More

http://nces.ed.gov/ecls/myeclsk2011

• Collect completed school and teacher questionnaires.

Example Birthday Card from ECLS-K

This page left intentionally blank

[DATE]
[SUPERINTENDENT NAME]
[DISTRICT NAME/DIOCESE]
[ADDRESS]
[CITY, STATE ZIP]
Dear [SUPERINTENDENT]:
I am writing to inform you about the upcoming Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class
of 2010-11 (ECLS-K:2011), the third in a series of longitudinal studies of young children conducted by
the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). The earlier studies have been important sources of
data for researchers and policy makers to address key issues related to children’s development and
learning including literacy in the home, the teaching of reading and mathematics, and the associations
between physical exercise, childhood obesity, and well-being. Researchers using the data have published
their findings widely in scientific journals and the popular press. NCES also presents the results from
these studies for practitioners and the general public on our website, http://nces.ed.gov/ecls.
Like its predecessor studies, the ECLS-K:2011 will provide important information on children’s early
learning and development, transition into kindergarten, and progress through elementary school. The new
cohort of kindergartners’ school experiences will be compared to those of over a decade earlier to study
the extent to which the demographic profile of children and their environment for learning have changed.
We are notifying you because one or more schools in your district have been selected to take part in
ECLS-K:2011 in the 2010-11 school year.
Participation in this study is voluntary; however, we ask your agency to support the participation of
schools in your district in ECLS-K:2011. Since ECLS-K:2011 is designed to test a representative sample
of U.S. students, the accuracy of ECLS-K:2011 depends on the full participation of the sampled schools
and students. In appreciation for their time and efforts, the schools that participate will each receive an
honorarium of $200 in spring 2011. In addition, school-level coordinators and participating teachers also
will receive honoraria.
The National Center for Education Statistics of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of
Education Sciences is the primary sponsor of the ECLS-K:2011, which is being conducted on behalf of
NCES by Westat. ECLS-K:2011 been endorsed by the national education organizations listed on this
letter. NCES is authorized to conduct this study under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002
(Public Law 107-279, Section 153). Under that law, the data provided by your schools, staff, students, and
their parents may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable
form for any other purpose except as required by law (Public Law 107-279, Section 183). The U.S. Office
of Management and Budget has approved the data collection under OMB # 1850-0750.
Next winter, a representative of Westat will contact the schools in your district that are on the attached
list. We are required by law to protect the names of schools selected for the study from disclosure; we
ask that each district respect this requirement and protect the identity of participating schools as well.
Information collected from multiple individuals will be combined to produce reports of findings from the
ECLS-K:2011. The reports will not identify participating districts, schools, children and their parents, or
individual staff.
Detailed information about the ECLS-K:2011 can be found in the materials enclosed with this letter. If
you have questions about the study, please feel free to call Westat toll-free at 1-888-204-4864 or send an
email to [email protected]. Also, more information about ECLS-K:2011 is available at:
http://nces.ed.gov/ecls/MyECLSK2011.
Thank you for your support of the ECLS-K:2011.

Sincerely,
Stuart Kerachsky
Deputy Commissioner
National Center for Education Statistics
cc: [DISTRICT TEST DIRECTOR]
Enclosure: LIST OF SELECTED SCHOOLS

Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class 2010-11 (ECLS-K:2011)
Parent Permission for Child to Participate

Your child is being asked to take part in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 201011 (ECLS-K:2011), which follows a sample of children from kindergarten through fifth grade. The ECLS-K:2011
is sponsored by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) of the U.S. Department of Education’s
Institute of Education Sciences and is being conducted on behalf of NCES by Westat. In the 2010-11 school
year, children in kindergarten in your child's school and other schools across the nation will be selected to
participate in ECLS-K:2011. Your child will be asked to take individually administered assessments designed
to measure skills in reading, mathematics, and science. Also as part of the assessment, through a brief
number game and a picture game, we will be assessing your child's working memory and regulation of
attention. Your child’s teacher and child care provider will complete questionnaires about themselves and your
child.
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). The valid OMB control number for this information
collection is 1850-0750. Participation in the ECLS-K:2011 is voluntary. Children may skip questions they do not
wish to answer; however, we hope that they will answer as many questions as they can. Children's 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 from
multiple individuals will be combined to produce statistical reports. No individual data that links names,
addresses, telephone numbers, or identification numbers with responses will be included in the statistical
reports.
If you have any questions or concerns about the protection of the information you provide 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].
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
I have read the letter and the information above.


I consent to my child’s participation in the ECLS-K:2011.



I DO NOT consent to my child’s participation in the ECLS-K:2011.

Please complete, sign, and return this form in the enclosed envelope to your child’s school.
CHILD’S NAME:
Sign your name:
Print your name:

First and last name
Signature of parent/guardian
First

Date
Middle

Last

Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class 2010-11 (ECLS-K:2011)
Parent Permission for Child to Participate

Your child is being asked to take part in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 201011 (ECLS-K:2011), which follows a sample of children from kindergarten through fifth grade. The ECLS-K:2011
is sponsored by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) of the U.S. Department of Education’s
Institute of Education Sciences and is being conducted on behalf of NCES by Westat. In the 2010-11 school
year, children in kindergarten in your child's school and other schools across the nation will be selected to
participate in ECLS-K:2011. Your child will be asked to take individually administered assessments designed
to measure skills in reading, mathematics, and science. Also as part of the assessment, through a brief
number game and a picture game, we will be assessing your child's working memory and regulation of
attention. Your child’s teacher and child care provider will complete questionnaires about themselves and your
child.
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). The valid OMB control number for this information
collection is 1850-0750. Participation in the ECLS-K:2011 is voluntary. Children may skip questions they do not
wish to answer; however, we hope that they will answer as many questions as they can. Children's 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 from
multiple individuals will be combined to produce statistical reports. No individual data that links names,
addresses, telephone numbers, or identification numbers with responses will be included in the statistical
reports.
If you have any questions or concerns about the protection of the information you provide 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].
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
I have read the letter and the information above.


I DO NOT consent to my child’s participation in the ECLS-K:2011.

Please complete, sign, and return this form in the enclosed envelope to your child’s school.
CHILD’S NAME:
Sign your name:
Print your name:

First and last name
Signature of parent/guardian
First

Date
Middle

Last

Fall 2010

Dear Parent,
I am pleased to invite you and your child to participate in a new and exciting study of how
young children develop and learn. This study is called the Early Childhood Longitudinal
Study, Kindergarten Class of 2010-11 (ECLS-K:2011). It is the third in a series of
longitudinal studies of young children conducted by the National Center for Education
Statistics (NCES). Like the earlier studies, the ECLS-K:2011 will be an important source of
data for researchers and policy makers as they seek to understand and improve children’s
development and learning. The ECLS-K:2011 is described in more detail in the brochure
included in your study package. For more information you can also visit the ECLS-K:2011
website at http://nces.ed.gov/ecls/myECLS-K2011.
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 nearly 4 million children entering kindergartens in the
United States this year. It is important that each and every selected child participate so that
the study accurately portrays the early education experiences of all American children. The
study’s goal is to provide information to help all children be successful in their education.
The National Center for Education Statistics of the U.S. Department of Education’s
Institute of Education Sciences is the primary sponsor of the ECLS-K:2011, which is being
conducted on behalf of NCES by Westat, a survey and research company. ECLS-K:2011
has been endorsed by the national education organizations listed on this letter. Participation
in this study is voluntary; however, I encourage your participation in the ECLS-K:2011. You
and your child have the opportunity to provide information that will help improve the
quality of education for all U.S. children.
All information collected will be protected from disclosure to the fullest extent allowable by
law. Information from multiple individuals will be combined to produce statistical reports;
no information that identifies you or your child (e.g., name or address) will be included in
any reports. Your child’s school will not receive any of the information collected by our
assessors about your child; participation will not affect your child’s grades or progress in
school.
A consent form for your child to participate in the ECLS-K:2011 assessment tasks is
enclosed. Please sign the form and return it to your child’s school.
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. If you have
further questions about the study, please feel free to call Westat toll free at 1-888-204-4864
or send an email to [email protected]. Also, more information about ECLSK:2011 is available at the NCES website at http://nces.ed.gov/ecls/myECLSK2011.

Thank you for your time and consideration of the study.
Sincerely,

Stuart Kerachsky, Ph.D.
Deputy Commissioner
National Center for Education Statistics Institute of Education Sciences
Enclosures

Fall 2010

Dear Parent,
I am pleased to invite you and your child to participate in a new and exciting study of how
young children develop and learn. This study is called the Early Childhood Longitudinal
Study, Kindergarten Class of 2010-11 (ECLS-K:2011). It is the third in a series of
longitudinal studies of young children conducted by the National Center for Education
Statistics (NCES). Like the earlier studies, the ECLS-K:2011 will be an important source of
data for researchers and policy makers as they seek to understand and improve children’s
development and learning. The ECLS-K:2011 is described in more detail in the brochure
included in your study package. For more information you can also visit the ECLS-K:2011
website at http://nces.ed.gov/ecls/myECLS-K2011.
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 nearly 4 million children entering kindergartens in the
United States this year. It is important that each and every selected child participate so that
the study accurately portrays the early education experiences of all American children. The
study’s goal is to provide information to help all children be successful in their education.
The National Center for Education Statistics of the U.S. Department of Education’s
Institute of Education Sciences is the primary sponsor of the ECLS-K:2011, which is being
conducted on behalf of NCES by Westat, a survey and research company. ECLS-K:2011
has been endorsed by the national education organizations listed on this letter. Participation
in this study is voluntary; however, I encourage your participation in the ECLS-K:2011. You
and your child have the opportunity to provide information that will help improve the
quality of education for all U.S. children.
All information collected will be protected from disclosure to the fullest extent allowable by
law. Information from multiple individuals will be combined to produce statistical reports;
no information that identifies you or your child (e.g., name or address) will be included in
any reports. Your child’s school will not receive any of the information collected by our
assessors about your child; participation will not affect your child’s grades or progress in
school.
A consent form for your child to participate in the ECLS-K:2011 assessment tasks is
enclosed. If you will allow your child to participate in the study, you do not need to return
this form. If you do not want your child to take part in this study, please fill out the form
and return it in the enclosed envelope to your child’s school.
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. If you have
further questions about the study, please feel free to call Westat toll free at 1-888-204-4864
or send an email to [email protected]. Also, more information about ECLSK:2011 is available at the NCES website at http://nces.ed.gov/ecls/myECLSK2011.

Thank you for your time and consideration of the study.
Sincerely,

Stuart Kerachsky, Ph.D.
Deputy Commissioner
National Center for Education Statistics Institute of Education Sciences
Enclosures

[DATE]
[PRINCIPAL NAME]
[SCHOOL NAME]
[ADDRESS 1]
[CITY, STATE ZIP]
Dear [PRINCIPAL]:
I am writing to inform you about the upcoming Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of
2010-11 (ECLS-K:2011), the third in a series of longitudinal studies of young children conducted by the
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). The earlier studies have been important sources of data for
researchers and policy makers to address key issues related to children’s development and learning including
literacy in the home, the teaching of reading and mathematics, and the associations between physical exercise,
childhood obesity, and well-being. Researchers using the data have published their findings widely in
scientific journals and the popular press. NCES also presents the results from these studies for practitioners
and the general public on our website, http://nces.ed.gov/ecls.
Like its predecessor studies, the ECLS-K:2011 will provide important information on children’s early
learning and development, transition into kindergarten, and progress through elementary school. The new
cohort of kindergartners’ school experiences will be compared to those of over a decade earlier to study the
extent to which the demographic profile of children and their environment for learning have changed. We
are notifying you because your school has been selected to take part in ECLS-K:2011 in the 2010-11 school
year.
The selected kindergarten children will complete individual assessments with trained ECLS-K:2011 assessors.
These assessments are designed to measure children’s language and quantitative skills, as well as obtain
indicators of children’s working memory and regulation of attention, both of which are associated with
learning. Children will also have their height and weight measured. These activities will take approximately 1
hour to complete. Parents and teachers will also be asked to participate. Parents will be asked to provide
background information about their children and their families. Teachers will be asked to provide
information about their teaching practices, the sampled children’s classrooms, and the sampled children.
Participation in this study is voluntary; however, I encourage your school’s participation in ECLS-K:2011.
Since ECLS-K:2011 is designed to be a representative sample of U.S. students, its accuracy depends on the
full participation of your school, teachers, and students. We are asking you to identify a staff member at your
school to act as a liaison with the ECLS-K:2011 and facilitate the activities in the school that are part of the
study. In appreciation for your time and efforts, your school will receive a $200 honorarium, and participating
school staff also will receive an honorarium.
The National Center for Education Statistics of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education
Sciences is the primary sponsor of the ECLS-K:2011, which is being conducted on behalf of NCES by
Westat. ECLS-K:2011 been endorsed by the national education organizations listed on this letter. NCES is
authorized to conduct this study under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-279,
Section 153). Under that law, the data provided by your schools, staff, students, and their parents may be
used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other
purpose except as required by law (Public Law 107-279, Section 183). The U.S. Office of Management and
Budget has approved the data collection under OMB # 1850-0750.
Within the next few days, a representative of Westat will contact you about participating in this important
study. Information collected from multiple individuals will be combined to produce reports of findings from
the ECLS-K:2011. The reports will not identify participating districts, schools, children and their parents, or
individual staff.

Detailed information about the ECLS-K:2011 can be found in the materials enclosed with this letter. If you
have questions about the study, please feel free to call Westat toll-free at 1-888-204-4864 or send an email to
[email protected]. Also, more information about ECLS-K:2011 is available at
http://nces.ed.gov/ecls/MyECLSK2011.
Thank you for your support of the ECLS-K:2011.
Sincerely,
Stuart Kerachsky
Deputy Commissioner
National Center for Education Statistics

Fall 2010

[NAME]
[SCHOOL NAME]
[ADDRESS 1]
[ADDRESS 2]
[CITY, STATE ZIP]
Dear School Coordinator:
Welcome to the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2010-11
(ECLS-K:2011), an important new study conducted by the National Center for
Education Statistics (NCES). This study is the third in a series of longitudinal studies
sponsored by NCES and is described in more detail in the brochure included in your
study package. For more information, you can also visit the ECLS-K:2011 website at
nces.ed.gov/ecls/myECLSK2011.
As you know, your school has been selected to participate in the ECLS-K:2011 and your
principal has designated you to help with the ECLS-K:2011 activities that will take place
in your school. Enclosed is a check for $25 in appreciation for your helping us with this
important study.
This fall children will complete one-on-one assessments with trained ECLS-K:2011
assessors. These assessments are designed to measure children’s reading, mathematics,
and science skills and knowledge. Children also will have their height and weight
measured and executive functioning assessed. These activities will take approximately 1
hour for each child to complete.
We appreciate your help with five tasks, which are detailed in the enclosed materials.
These are (1) confirm the date and time for the fall activities; (2) identify an appropriate
space for the assessments; (3) help select a sample of kindergarten children to participate
in the study; (4) notify parents that their children were selected for the study; and (5)
identify the primary teachers of the selected children. Please read the enclosed materials
for more information about the study and your important role in it.
The National Center for Education Statistics of the U.S. Department of Education’s
Institute of Education Sciences is the primary sponsor of the ECLS-K:2011, which is
being conducted on behalf of NCES by Westat. ECLS-K:2011 has been endorsed by the
national education organizations listed on this letter. NCES is authorized to conduct this
study under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-279, Section
153). Under that law, the data you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and
may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as
required by law (Public Law 107-279, Section 183). The U.S. Office of Management and
Budget has approved the data collection under OMB # 1850-0750.

OMB 1850-0750; expires 03/31/2012.

Thank you for your support of the ECLS-K:2011. We look forward to working with you
and your school. An ECLS-K:2011 representative will call you in the coming weeks to
further explain the study and your responsibilities. If you have any questions or concerns
in advance of the phone call, please call Westat toll free at 1-888-204-4864 or send an
email to [email protected].
Sincerely,

Stuart Kerachsky, Ph.D.
Deputy Commissioner
National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences

[DATE]
[NAME]
[STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION]
[ADDRESS]
[CITY, STATE ZIP]
Dear [CHIEF STATE SCHOOL OFFICER]:
I am writing to inform you about the upcoming Early Childhood Longitudinal Study,
Kindergarten Class of 2010-11 (ECLS-K:2011), the third in a series of longitudinal studies of
young children conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). The
earlier studies have been important sources of data for researchers and policy makers to
address key issues related to children’s development and learning including literacy in the
home, the teaching of reading and mathematics, and the associations between physical
exercise, childhood obesity, and well-being. Researchers using the data have published their
findings widely in scientific journals and the popular press. NCES also presents the results
from these studies for practitioners and the general public on our website,
http://nces.ed.gov/ecls.
Like its predecessor studies, the ECLS-K:2011 will provide important information on
children’s early learning and development, transition into kindergarten, and progress through
elementary school. The new cohort of kindergartners’ school experiences will be compared
to those of over a decade earlier to study the extent to which the demographic profile of
children and their environment for learning have changed. We are notifying you because
{insert number} schools in your state have been selected to take part in ECLS-K:2011 in the
2010-11 school year. Participation in the study is voluntary; however, we ask your agency to
support the participation of schools in your state in this study so that the sample is truly
representative of kindergarteners across the country.
The National Center for Education Statistics of the U.S. Department of Education’s
Institute of Education Sciences is the primary sponsor of the ECLS-K:2011, which is being
conducted on behalf of NCES by Westat. ECLS-K:2011 has been endorsed by the national
education organizations listed on this letter, including the Council of Chief State School
Officers. NCES is authorized to conduct this study under the Education Sciences Reform
Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-279, Section 153). Under that law, the data provided by your
schools, staff, students, and their parents may be used only for statistical purposes and may
not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by
law (Public Law 107-279, Section 183). The U.S. Office of Management and Budget has
approved the data collection under OMB # 1850-0750.

This fall Westat will notify sampled school districts about the study. During the winter, a
Westat representative will contact sampled schools to discuss the data collection activities.
Detailed information about the ECLS-K:2011 can be found in the materials enclosed with
this letter. If you have questions about the study, please feel free to call Westat toll-free at 1888-204-4864 or send an email to [email protected]. Also, more information
about ECLS-K:2011 is available at: http://nces.ed.gov/ecls/MyECLSK2011. Thank you for
your support of the ECLS-K:2011.
Sincerely,
Stuart Kerachsky
Deputy Commissioner
National Center for Education Statistics
cc: [STATE TEST DIRECTOR]
Enclosure

Fall 2010

Dear ,
Welcome to the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2010-11
(ECLS-K:2011), the third in a series of longitudinal studies of young children conducted
by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Like the earlier studies, the
ECLS-K:2011 will be an important source of data for researchers and policy makers to
address key issues related to children’s development and learning. The ECLS-K:2011 is
described in more detail in the brochure included in your study package. For more
information on this and the prior longitudinal studies, you can also visit the NCES
website at http://nces.ed.gov/ecls/myECLSK2011.
Teachers are an essential component of the ECLS-K:2011. You provide valuable
insights into the classroom experiences of the children participating in the study. We will
ask you to help us in several ways. As the regular classroom teacher of some of our
sampled children, we will ask you to complete a questionnaire about the characteristics
of your classroom and your professional background, as well as a child-level
questionnaire for each ECLS-K:2011 sampled student you teach. You will receive an
honorarium of $7 for each of the child-level questionnaires that you complete. We also
will need your cooperation as we complete one-on-one child assessments. We will be in
your school for 2-3 days to conduct the assessments. We will make arrangements with
your school’s ECLS-K:2011 school coordinator regarding the times that we can have
access to the children and where the assessments will take place. It is possible that we
will be taking children out of your classroom so that they can participate in the
assessment.
Your participation in this study is voluntary; however, I encourage your participation in
the ECLS-K:2011. Please read the enclosed materials for more information about the
study and your important role in it. These materials provide instructions for you on how
to complete the questionnaires and return them to your school’s ECLS-K:2011 school
coordinator. They also provide information about the one-on-one child assessments.
The National Center for Education Statistics of the U.S. Department of Education’s
Institute of Education Sciences is the primary sponsor of the ECLS-K:2011, which is
being conducted on behalf of NCES by Westat. ECLS-K:2011 has been endorsed by the
national education organizations listed on this letter. NCES is authorized to conduct this
study under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-279, Section
153). Under that law, the data you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and
may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as
required by law (Public Law 107-279, Section 183). The U.S. Office of Management and
Budget has approved the data collection under OMB # 1850-0750.

Thank you for your support of the ECLS-K:2011. If you have questions about the
study, please feel free to call Westat toll free at 1-888-204-4864 or send an email to
[email protected]. Also, more information about ECLS-K:2011 is available at
the MyECLSK2011 website at http://nces.ed.gov/ecls/myECLSK2011.
Thank you for your time and consideration of the study.

Stuart Kerachsky, Ph.D.
Deputy Commissioner
National Center for Education Statistics Institute of Education Sciences
Enclosures

Spring 2011
Dear ,
I am pleased to invite you to take part 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:2011). It is the third in a group of long-term
studies of young children done by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
Like the earlier studies, it will give us important information about children’s development
and learning. You may read more about the study in the brochure in your study package.
For more information you can also visit the ECLS-K:2011 website at
http://nces.ed.gov/ecls/myECLS-K2011.
One or more children in your child care program were selected at random to join 21,000
children from 900 kindergartens around the country cooperating in this important national
study. We are interviewing children’s parents, teachers, and principals, and assessing the
children themselves. We are also getting information from child care providers. The
parents of one or more of your children gave us permission to contact you (consent forms
are in your study package).
You have the chance to help us understand the role of before- and after-school care in the
lives of all U.S. children. The children in this study were selected to represent the
experiences of the nearly 4 million children entering kindergartens this year. It is important
that each and every child and child care program participate so that the study correctly
describes the early education experiences of all American children. The study’s goal is to
provide information to help all children be successful in their education.
The National Center for Education Statistics of the U.S. Department of Education’s
Institute of Education Sciences is the primary sponsor of the ECLS-K:2011, which is being
done on behalf of NCES by Westat. ECLS-K:2011 has been endorsed by the national
education organizations listed on this letter. Taking part in this study is voluntary; however,
I encourage you to be part of it. All information collected will be protected from disclosure
to the fullest extent allowable by law. Information from multiple individuals will be
combined to produce statistical reports; no information that identifies you or the children
in your care will be included in any reports.
A token of our appreciation is enclosed. We would like for you to fill out the questionnaire
called "Directors/Administrators in Center-based Care: Your Program." We would also like
for each child’s main teacher (or you, if you are also the main teacher) to complete one
questionnaire called "Teachers in Center-based Care: About Yourself," and one or more
questionnaires (one per child) called "Teachers/Care Providers: About the Child." If one
of the children left your program more than a month ago and you don’t expect him or her
to return, please fill in whatever questions you can and write “has not been here for over a
month” on the top of that child’s "Teachers/Care Providers: About the Child"
questionnaire. Please send the questionnaires back to us in the envelope provided. If you
have questions, please feel free to call Westat toll free at 1-888-204-4864 or send an email
to [email protected].
Thank you for your time and consideration of the study.
Sincerely,
Karen Tourangeau, Project Director

Westat
Enclosures

Spring 2011
Dear ,
I am pleased to invite you to take part 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:2011). It is the third in a group of long-term
studies of young children done by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
Like the earlier studies, it will give us important information about children’s development
and learning. You may read more about the study in the brochure in your study package.
For more information you can also visit the ECLS-K:2011 website at
http://nces.ed.gov/ecls/myECLS-K2011.
One or more children whom you take care of were selected at random to join 21,000
children from 900 kindergartens around the country cooperating in this important national
study. We are interviewing children’s parents, teachers, and principals, and assessing the
children themselves. We are also getting information from child care providers. The
parents of one or more of your children gave us permission to contact you (consent forms
are in your study package).
You have the chance to help us understand the role of before- and after-school care in the
lives of all U.S. children. The children in this study were selected to represent the
experiences of the nearly 4 million children entering kindergartens this year. It is important
that each and every child and child care provider participate so that the study correctly
describes the early education experiences of all American children. The study’s goal is to
provide information to help all children be successful in their education.
The National Center for Education Statistics of the U.S. Department of Education’s
Institute of Education Sciences is the primary sponsor of the ECLS-K:2011, which is being
done on behalf of NCES by Westat. ECLS-K:2011 has been endorsed by the national
education organizations listed on this letter. Taking part in this study is voluntary; however,
I encourage you to be part of it. All information collected will be protected from disclosure
to the fullest extent allowable by law. Information from multiple individuals will be
combined to produce statistical reports; no information that identifies you or the children
in your care will be included in any reports.
A token of our appreciation is enclosed. We would like for you to fill out the questionnaire
called "Care Providers in Home-based Care: Your Program and You." Also, please fill out
the questionnaire called "Teachers/Care Providers: About the Child." There is one of
these questionnaires for each child in the study. If one of the children left your care more
than a month ago and you don’t expect him or her to return, please fill in whatever
questions you can and write “has not been here for over a month” on the top of that
child’s "Teachers/Care Providers: About the Child" questionnaire. Please send the
questionnaires back to us in the envelope provided. If you have questions, please feel free
to call Westat toll free at 1-888-204-4864 or send an email to [email protected].
Thank you for your time and consideration of the study.
Sincerely,
Karen Tourangeau
Project Director
Westat

Enclosures