School Coordinator Assistance

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.

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

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