ELT OMB Section B

Evaluation of State Expanded Learning Time (ELT)

Section B

April 3, 2013

Contract Number: ED-IES-12-C-0086 Mathematica Reference Number: 40166-300 Submitted to: Institute of Education Sciences IES/NCEE U.S. Department of Education 555 New Jersey Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20208 Project Officer: Erica Johnson Submitted by: Mathematica Policy Research 600 Alexander Park Suite 100 Princeton, NJ 08540 Telephone: (609) 799-3535 Facsimile: (609) 799-0005 Project Director: Phil Gleason

Evaluation of State Expanded Learning Time (ELT) Section B April 3, 2013

CONTENTS

PART B: SUPPORTING STATEMENT FOR PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT SUBMISSION 2

COLLECTION OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS 2

1. Respondent Universe and Sampling Methods 2

2. Procedures for the Collection of Information 2

3. Methods to Maximize Response Rates and Deal with Nonresponse 3

4. Pilot Testing 3

5. Individuals Consulted on Statistical Aspects of the Design 3

Appendix A: State ELT Plans Report interview Protocol

APPENDIX B: STATE ELT PLANS REPORT interview ADVANCED LETTER

Appendix C: Mathematica Confidentiality Pledge

PART B: SUPPORTING STATEMENT FOR PAPERWORK
REDUCTION ACT SUBMISSION

This OMB package requests clearance to conduct semi-structured interviews with 21^st Century Community Learning Centers (21^st CCLC) state coordinators. The state coordinator interviews will be used to produce a State Expanded Learning Time (ELT) Plans Report, which will summarize the ELT plans developed by the states that have received the optional Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Flexibility to use 21^st CCLC funds to support ELT. The report will focus on how states plan to use these funds to support ELT, the level of their support, and how they will monitor subgrantees’ ELT implementation. Included in this request is the State ELT Plans Report interview protocol (Appendix A), State ELT Plans Report interview advanced letter (Appendix B), and Mathematica’s internal confidentiality pledge (Appendix C).

The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) within the Department of Education (ED) has contracted with Mathematica Policy Research and its partners Abt Associates, Synergy Enterprises (SEI), and Evidence-Based Education Research & Evaluation (EBERE), to conduct the interviews and write the report.

COLLECTION OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS

1. Respondent Universe and Sampling Methods

We will conduct semi-structured interviews with the 21st CCLC coordinators of the 22 states that have applied for and received the optional 21^st CCLC ESEA Flexibility to obtain information for the State ELT Plans Report. If additional states receive Flexibility approval, or if the fiscal year (FY) 2013 budget includes ELT as an allowable use of 21^st CCLC funds, we may conduct interviews with these additional states.

2. Procedures for the Collection of Information

To address the study research questions and to obtain consistent information on each ESEA Flexibility state’s ELT plans, we will conduct semi-structured interviews with the 21st CCLC coordinators of the 22 states that have applied for and received the optional 21^st CCLC ESEA Flexibilityto obtain information for the State ELT Plans Report. These approximately hour-long phone interviews will occur in summer 2013 and will be conducted by individuals who will be specifically trained to conduct them. Prior to the interview, we will ask for copies of relevant documents, such as the state Request for Proposals (RFP) for the 21^st CCLC grant competition (if released) and any documentation the state has shared with prospective grantees.

3. Methods to Maximize Response Rates and Deal with Nonresponse

We will maximize response rates by capitalizing on our existing relationships with the state coordinators and minimizing the burden of the interviews. Members of our team have interacted extensively with these coordinators on prior research projects and we will capitalize on these existing relationships to help ensure a high response rate. Prior to conducting interviews, we will review state RFPs for 21^st CCLC subgrants, if available, and any other publicly available sources. We will use a protocol (Appendix A) to ensure that we collect the required information efficiently and we will avoid asking for information we are able to obtain from other public sources, such as state websites. Before scheduling the interview, we will send an advanced letter (Appendix B) to the state coordinators to introduce the study and its purpose, inform them of our desire to schedule an interview, describe the topics to be covered in the interview, and indicate that we would follow up soon to try to schedule an interview and collect any relevent documentation. Within a week after sending the advanced letter, we will call the state administrators to answer their questions and arrange a time for the interview. We will conduct these interviews during summer 2013 (after receiving OMB approval) at a time convenient for the state coordinator.

4. Pilot Testing

We will conduct pilot testing during April 2013 with fewer than nine respondents in order to assess the content and wording of questions and respondent burden time.

5. Individuals Consulted on Statistical Aspects of the Design

There are no consultants on the statistical aspects of the design for the State ELT Coordinator interviews.

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