Appendix D.5 NASS Comments

APPENDIX D-5 NASS COMMENT

REVIEW OF EVALUATION OF THE SCHOOL MEAL DATA COLLECTION PROCESS by FNS

Reviewer:

Brent Farley, Mathematical Statistician

Summary, Estimation, and Disclosure Methodology Branch

National Agricultural Statistics Service

United States Department of Agriculture

General Comments:

This docket is well described and documented. One item that seems to not be discussed much is what methodology will be used to summarize the data and create the recommended guidelines and pinpoint errors. The responses to the interview questions are mostly open-ended ones. Other than compiling the text responses, I would like to see discussion on how these responses will be quantified and summarized.

Appendices

In Part A and Part B Table of Contents, Appendix E is noted with 4 items. These four items were not included in the Appendices folder that accompanied this package. If items are to be noted, then I recommend making sure they’re included in the docket package.

Part A: Justification

Well documented and nothing to note.

Part B: Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods

1. B-1: The respondent universe is listed as the respondents in this study, which is problematic. The universe would be all schools in the U.S. that meet criteria of having a meal plan program. The sample for this survey would consist of 4 states and all parties noted in the section.
   
   In constructing the sample, the sampling methodology is discussed generically, providing more detail behind the selection would be beneficial.
   
   
   

2. B-3: The text states an expected 190/197 ~ 96% response rate. The guideline is referenced that cooperation is mandatory, but an expectation of 96% is quite high. On top of the high response rate, nothing is of note on how non-response will be handled. It is stated that 7 respondents from the SFA Directors will be non-response, how is their non-response going to be adjusted?