The Middle Grades Longitudinal Study of 2017-2018 (MGLS:2017) is the first study sponsored by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) of the U.S. Department of Education (ED), to follow a nationally-representative sample of students as they enter and move through the middle grades (grades 6-8). The data collected through repeated measures of key constructs will provide a rich descriptive picture of the academic experiences and development of students during these critical years and will allow researchers to examine associations between contextual factors and student outcomes. The study will focus on student achievement in mathematics and literacy along with measures of student socioemotional wellbeing and other outcomes. The study will also include a special sample of students with different types of disabilities that will provide descriptive information on their outcomes, educational experiences, and special education services. Baseline data for the MGLS:2017 will be collected from a nationally-representative sample of 6th grade students beginning in January 2018, with annual follow-ups beginning in January 2019 and in January 2020 when most of the students in the sample will be in grades 7 and 8, respectively. This request is to contact and recruit public school districts and public and private schools, beginning in August 2015, to participate in the MGLS:2017 Item Validation Field Test (IVFT) which will take place from January to June 2016. The primary purpose of the IVFT is to determine the psychometric properties of items and the predictive potential of assessment and survey items so that valid, reliable, and useful assessment and survey instruments can be composed for the main study. The IVFT will inform the materials and procedures for the Operational Field Test that will begin in January 2017 and the subsequent national base year and follow-up data collections. This submission requests approval to (1) increase the school sample size; (2) to include a tier 2 sample, if needed, to achieve the necessary student response targets; (3) to adjust the burden table accordingly; (4) to simplify the collection of student roster information to a single step process; (5) to include outreach efforts by relevant organizations as part of the recruitment process; and (6) to update the recruitment materials.
US Code:
20 USC 9573
Name of Law: Education Sciences Reform Act (ESRA) of 2002
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.
MGLS 2017 IV Field Test 2016 Recruitment Change Memo.docx
MGLS 2017 IV Field Test 2016 Recruitment Change Sheet 2015-09-08.pdf
Middle Grades Longitudinal Study of 2017–18 (MGLS:2017) Recruitment for 2016 Item Validation Field Test