The Minnesota Reading Corps evaluation
(Phase I) will determine the impacts that AmeriCorps members have
on the pre-K and K-3 literacy tutoring students they serve, as well
as assess the outcomes of those members serving. Phase I includes a
feasibility study and a process assessment. The documents include
surveys and interview protocol that will be used to capture data
form members, schools and others. Phase II is designed determine
the effect of the Minnesota Reading Corps (MRC) AmeriCorps program
on preschool beneficiaries and on the AmeriCorps tutors. The member
assessment involves the administration of a follow-up survey to the
group of 1,031 AmeriCorps members who submitted pre-service surveys
at the beginning of the 2012-13 school year. Findings from the
baseline and follow-up surveys will be compared to examine changes
in AmeriCorps members' educational goals and civic engagement. The
survey includes questions on the applicant's interests and values
as they relate to tutoring, measures of civic engagement and
volunteer attitudes and behaviors, what the applicant thinks he/she
might do after the program, as well how the service might have
affected them personally. The MRC program currently collects IGDI
(Individual Growth and Development Indicators) assessment data on
all preschool students enrolled in the program. For the preschool
evaluation, MRC will provide IGDI data already being collected on
all enrolled preschool students at 40 program sites at the
beginning (fall), middle (winter) and end (spring) of the 2013-2014
school year. Research staff will conduct primary data collection to
obtain IGDI assessment data on up to 1,440 preschool students at 40
comparison sites during the same time frame. IGDI assessment data
from both the MRC program sites and comparison sites will be
analyzed to determine the effect of the MRC preschool program on
the growth in preschool students' emergent literacy skills over the
course of the school year.
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.