OMB appreciates that the NCES Commissioner is planning to form a committee to explore, among other things, the need for better data on pre-k offerings in collections such as this one. NCES should report back to OMB within three months with more information about the scope, timing, and plans for that effort, and also should include in the next submission of this survey for approval a report on the findings of such an effort.
table that charts list comparision
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
06/30/2016
36 Months From Approved
07/31/2013
25,567
0
15,867
6,410
0
3,186
0
0
0
The Private School Universe Survey (PSS) is the NCES collection of basic data from the universe of private elementary and secondary schools in the United States. The PSS is designed to gather biennial data on the total number of private schools, teachers, and students, along with a variety of related data, including: religious orientation; grade-levels taught and size of school; length of school year and of school day; total student enrollment by gender (K-12); number of high school graduates; whether a school is single-sexed or coeducational; number of teachers employed; program emphasis; and existence and type of its kindergarten program. The PSS includes all schools that are not supported primarily by public funds, that provide classroom instruction for one or more of grades K-12 or comparable ungraded levels, and that have one or more teachers. The PSS is also used to create a universe list of private schools that can be used as a sampling frame for NCES surveys of private schools. No substantive changes have been made to the survey or its procedures since its last approved PSS 2010-13. This clearance is for the 2013-14 and 2015-16 PSS data collections, and the 2015-16 PSS list- and area-frame building operations.
US Code:
20 USC 9543
Name of Law: NCES is authorized to conduct this survey under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA)
The burden associated with the 2013-14 and 2015-16 PSS (9,400 and 9,830 hours respectively) is somewhat greater than that of the 2011-12 PSS (9,127 hours). This increase is the net result of a number of factors. The 2013-14 PSS list-frame development burden was included in the last PSS clearance (2011-2013) and is not included in this clearance. The estimated number of interviews is increased from 26,200 (2011-12 PSS) to 27,000 (2013-14 and 2015-16 PSS), reflecting both the inclusion of 3,000 schools that were included with the 2011-12 SASS collection burden and the reduction in the total number of private schools that has been occurring since 2007. The estimated completion time for the PSS questionnaire is revised upward from 19 minutes (based on the 2007-08 PSS) to 20 minutes (based on the 2011-12 PSS). Additionally, because PSS is biennial, the last OMB 3-year clearance cycle (2010-13) encompassed only one full scale data collection, while the cycle of this request (2013-2016) encompasses two 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.
PSS 2013-16 Responses to Passback.docx
Part B and C - PSS 2013-16.doc
30D FRN.pdf
Appendix E PSS 2013-16 Table Shells.xls
Private School Universe Survey 2013-16