OMB appreciates that NCES appropriately wishes to conduct pretesting before agreeing to new or revised content for the SASS. At the same time, we expect that NCES will anticipate emerging data needs and build question development and testing into its schedule before the next request for OMB clearance. In particular, NCES should perform the testing it believes is necessary in order to change its current description of alternative paths to teacher certification as the current wording in SASS is perceived by some as insensitive. Second, NCES should be in contact with OMB and other major stakeholders well prior to the next OMB clearance request to see if there are high priority topics, especially related to school reform and teacher evaluation systems, that may warrant modifications or additions to SASS. Any outcomes of these consultations could then be addressed in testing prior to the next OMB clearance request.
table that charts list comparision
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
07/31/2014
36 Months From Approved
12/31/2013
215,553
0
18,503
91,226
0
886
0
0
0
The Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) is an in-depth, nationally-representative survey of first through twelfth grade public and private school teachers, principals, schools, library media centers, and school districts. Kindergarten teachers in schools with at least a first grade are also surveyed. For traditional public school districts, principals, schools, teachers and school libraries, the survey estimates are state-representative. For public charter schools, principals, teachers, and school libraries, the survey estimates are nationally-representative. For private school principals, schools, and teachers, the survey estimates are representative of private school types. There are two additional components within SASS's 4-year data collection cycle: the Teacher Follow-up Survey (TFS) and the Principal Follow-up Survey (PFS), which are conducted a year after the SASS main collection, and the approval for which will be sought at a later date. SASS respondents include public and private school principals, teachers, and school and school district staff. Topics covered include, but are not limited to, demographic characteristics of teachers and principals, school staffing, school programs and services, school library staffing, school library usage, teacher professional development, district policies on teacher recruitment and retention, and teacher certification. This submission for SASS 2011/12 requests OMB approval for full-scale data collection activities to take place during school year 2011-12. These data collection activities include administering the teacher listing form for teacher sampling, and collection of all survey questionnaires for districts, schools, principals, teachers, and school libraries.
This clearance request shows an increase in the estimated number of respondents and burden hours because the last approval was only for preliminary activities while this request is for the SASS 2011/12 full scale data collections.
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.
SASS 2011-12 Full Scale Response to OMB Passback.docx
SASS 2009 TLF Methodological Test Report.doc
SASS 2011-12 School Materials and Questionnaires