OMB passback

MEMORANDUM OMB # 1850-0803 v.44

DATE: March 22, 2011

TO: Shelly Martinez

Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget

FROM: Patricia Etienne

National Center for Education Statistics

THROUGH: Kashka Kubzdela

National Center for Education Statistics

SUBJECT: Response to OMB passback on NAEP State Assessment Directors Exploratory Survey 2011

 

1. Because of its topic and because it’s going to all 51 states/DC, this looks like a national policy survey on an important topic. Such a survey would have to go through a full clearance (with 60 and 30 day federal register notices). Please provide an assurance that the results will not be published as results of a national survey of states, that they will only be used internally and/or be published only in NAEP R&D publications to support NAEP’s R&D decisions.

The results of this information collection will be only used internally by NCES and will not be available to the public. Furthermore, Question 1 of the survey has been modified to facilitate more focused responses.

 

2. What will the results affect and how? For example: Are the results expected to affect recruitment strategies for NAEP and/or the timing of NAEP? If yes, please give examples of what information would be used how to make what types of decisions.

The results of this survey will be used in two ways: (a) to explore the feasibility of expanding state participation in the NAEP grade 12 pilot; and (b) to inform NAEP’s research on 12^th grade preparedness.

 

3. One more thing that struck me as odd for that survey is why we would offer confidentiality to these folks given that the content is largely fact-based and in the public domain.  If NCES does want to offer confidentiality, I need something in writing demonstrating how CCSSO would handle this data confidentially, such as the detail that would typically be in A10 of a full supporting statement.  Also, it would be good to know if Marilyn is comfortable with that arrangement before it comes over here.

Text in the Information Collection section has been revised to remove the explicit assurances of confidentiality. The text now indicates that prior to the actual survey questions, the following text will be presented to the respondents, “Your name and contact information will only be used for follow-up if there are any individual responses that require further clarification. Your name and contact information will not be used for any other purpose and will not be maintained in the data file.” The text on the survey itself was revised accordingly as reflect in the attached revised Volume I of this submission.