1810-0618 Letter to NASSP 6-9-14

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
OFFICE OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
ACADEMIC IMPROVEMENT AND TEACHER QUALITY PROGRAMS

June 9, 2014
Jacki Ball
National Association of Secondary School Principals
1904 Association Drive
Reston, VA 20191-1537
Dear Ms. Ball,
Thanks for your insightful comments on the U.S. Department of Education’s (the Department) proposed
information collection entitled “Title II, Part A Improving Teacher Quality State Grants Subgrants to Local
Educational Agencies” (Docket Number ED-2014-ICCD-0054). We appreciate your support for this data
collection. We have summarized your specific suggestions and provided responses below.
Comment
Use the term “principal” as opposed to “administrator” when referring to building-level leaders.
Response
The 2014-15 survey uses the term “principal” throughout and does not refer to “administrators” when
referring to building-level leaders. Please see references to principals in Questions 2, 4, and 7.
Comment
Adjust the overall survey to include a stratified random sample of principals – exclusively.
Response
The survey is designed to collect district level information on uses of Title II, Part A funds as well as
overall professional development provided to educators in the district. The unit of analysis is the
district, since districts receive Title II, Part A sub-grants. However, the Department’s Institute of
Education Sciences (IES), National Center for Education Evaluation (NCEE) is currently conducting a
national study of the Implementation of Title I/II Program Initiatives, which includes a nationally
representative sample of principals. Here’s a link to information on that study:
http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewIC?ref_nbr=201310-1850-001&icID=208922. The contact
person for more information is Erica Johnson ([email protected]).
Comment
Collect separate data regarding principals and key areas of education reform or those that are having
the greatest impact on student learning. For example, Question 10 must be added to gather comparable
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data (description of activities, frequency, and number of) on whether or not professional development
activities are provided for principals related to 1) implementation of college- and career-ready
standards; and 2) training for principals to evaluate teachers.
Response
We agree with the premise of the comment; however, adding this information to Question 10 would
dramatically increase burden. Therefore, we address the comment by revising Question 5 to ask
specifically about allocations associated with allowable activities designed to prepare principals to
implement college- and career-ready standards.
The IES/NCEE study referenced above specifically asks about professional development for principals
that is related to teacher evaluations.
Comment
Develop a Question 11 to collect comparable data on district level principal mentoring programs or
activities that are specifically designed to meet the needs of principals as instructional leaders. One or
more questions must be clear to avoid any district level “joint” professional development programs.
Response
We have already made changes to the survey from previous years so that we can report specifically on
principals and the types of professional development they receive. These include: changing the
response categories in Question 2 to ask separately about principals and superintendents rather than
ask about both groups together; and adding a separate response column for principals in Question 4.
We do not plan to add another survey item that asks specifically about district level principal mentoring
programs and activities to meet the needs of principals as instructional leaders.
Again, we believe the IES/NCEE study will provide more principal-specific data.
Thanks again for your helpful suggestions and interest in our survey.
Sincerely,

Daphne Kaplan
Team Leader
Title II, Part A Program