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 January 2016, to participate in the MGLS:2017
Operational Field Test (OFT) which will take place from January to
June 2017. The primary purpose of the OFT is to obtain information
on recruiting, particularly for the targeted disability groups;
obtaining a tracking sample that can be used to study mobility
patterns in subsequent years; and testing protocols and
administrative procedures. The OFT will inform the materials and
procedures for the main study base year and follow-up data
collections. The base year data collection will begin in January
2018. Because the MGLS:2017 Item Validation Field Test (IVFT)
recruitment and data collection will still be ongoing at the time
this request is approved, the burden and materials from the
MGLS:2017 Recruitment for 2016 IVFT request (OMB# 1850-0911 v.3, 5,
and 7) and from the MGLS:2017 IVFT Data Collection (OMB# 1850-0911
v.4) are being carried over in this submission.
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.