The Middle Grades Longitudinal Study of 2017-18 (MGLS:2017) is the first study conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) 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. Main Study Base-year 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. In preparation for the national data collection, referred to as the Main Study, the data collection instruments and procedures must be field tested. This request is to conduct three components of the study: (1) the MGLS:2017 Operational Field Test (OFT) data collection from January to June 2017; (2) the recruitment of schools for the Main Study Base-year beginning in January 2017; and (3) the tracking of OFT students and associated recruitment of schools beginning in summer 2017 in preparation for the first follow-up OFT data collection. An Item Validation Field Test (IVFT) was conducted in the winter/spring of 2016 to determine the psychometric properties of assessment and survey items and the predictive potential of items so that valid, reliable, and useful assessment and survey instruments can be composed for the Main Study. The primary purpose of the OFT is to: obtain information on recruiting, particularly for students in three focal IDEA-defined disability groups; obtain a tracking sample that can be used to study mobility patterns in subsequent years; and test protocols and administrative procedures. The OFT will inform the materials and procedures for the main study base year and follow-up data collections. Because the OFT recruitment will still be ongoing at the time this request is approved, the burden and materials from the MGLS:2017 Recruitment for the 2017 OFT request (OMB# 1850-0911 v. 6,9,10) are being carried over in this submission.
US Code:
20 USC 9573
Name of Law: Education Sciences Reform Act (ESRA) of 2002
The increase in burden from the last approved package is due to the fact that the total burden requested in this submission is a sum of burden estimates for OFT recruitment, OFT data collection, OFT tracking, and Main Study recruitment. The last approved burden was for OFT recruitment and the IVFT only.
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.
Appendix OFT1-W MGLS 2017 OFT & Recruitment for MS Base-year Respondent Materials.docx
Middle Grades Longitudinal Study of 2017-18 (MGLS:2017) Operational Field Test (OFT) and Recruitment for Main Study Base-year