NPSAS, a nationally representative
study of how students and their families finance education beyond
high school, was first implemented by the National Center for
Education Statistics (NCES) in 1987 and has been fielded every 3 to
4 years since. This submission is for collection of student data in
the eighth cycle in the series, NPSAS:12, and supplements the
recently obtained approval for NPSAS:12 collection of institutional
data (OMB# 1850-0666 v.9). NPSAS:12 will also serve as the base
year study for the Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal
Study (BPS) of first-time postsecondary students that will focus on
issues of persistence, degree attainment, and employment outcome.
BPS will conduct follow-up studies in 2014 and 2017, with revised
strata for institution sampling to reflect the recent growth in
enrollment in for-profit 4-year institutions. Institution
contacting for the full scale collection will begin in September
2011, list collection will be conducted January through June 2012,
and student data collection will take place January through
September 2012. This submission requests approval for collecting
student records, conducting student interviews, and post-data
collection administrative record matching for the full-scale
NPSAS:12.
The apparent increase in the
requested burden hours is due to the fact that the last approval
was for full scale data collection from institutions only, while
this request is for all of the full scale data collection from
both, institutions and students. Additionally, estimates for
response burden for the student interview and records collection
increased to 23.6 hours based on the field test experience. The
estimated average response burden for the full-scale student
interview increased minimally to 25.2 minutes based on the field
test experience and known revisions to the instrument since the
field test.
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.