The study will provide the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) a better understanding of student-level outcomes associated with the Poetry Out Loud program. Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program supported by the NEA, the Poetry Foundation, and state and jurisdictional arts agencies, which encourages high school students to learn about poetry through memorization and recitation, helping students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about literary history. Now in its twelfth year, POL serves more than 3 million students and 50,000 teachers from 10,000 schools in every state plus Washington, DC, the US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. The current evaluation study will be the first since 2008. The study supports the Agencyâs FY 2018-2022 Strategic Plan, which seeks in part to âexpand and promote evidence of the value and impact of the arts for the benefit of the American peopleâ (Strategic Objective 3.2).
The study will focus on assessing student outcomes in poetry appreciation and engagement, as well as on social and emotional development, and academic achievement using a rigorous quasi-experimental design combined with qualitative data collection and analysis of program implementation in a purposive sample of 10 schools. The quasi-experimental design will include pre- and post-student surveys of POL program participants and non-participants, statistical analyses of student record data (e.g. test scores, attendance) for all students (treatment and comparison) in the 10 schools, coupled with qualitative data collection in 10 schools to help understand POL program implementation and the experiences of those in the comparison group.
Qualitative data collection at each of the 10 schools will include one 60-minute focus group with students, two 45-minute student interviews, two 45-minute teacher interviews, one 30-minute administrator interview (either a school principal or State Arts Agency administrator).
This study is a new data collection request, and the data to be collected are not available elsewhere unless collected through this information collection. The data collection activities are planned for July 2018 through June 2019. The study will provide the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) a better understanding of student-level outcomes associated with the Poetry Out Loud program. Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program supported by the NEA, the Poetry Foundation, and state and jurisdictional arts agencies, which encourages high school students to learn about poetry through memorization and recitation, helping students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about literary history. Now in its twelfth year, POL serves more than 3 million students and 50,000 teachers from 10,000 schools in every state plus Washington, DC, the US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. The current evaluation study will be the first since 2008. The study supports the Agencyâs FY 2018-2022 Strategic Plan, which seeks in part to âexpand and promote evidence of the value and impact of the arts for the benefit of the American peopleâ (Strategic Objective 3.2).
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.
Form H Poetry Out Loud Student Focus Group
POL Evaluation Plan_073018_FINAL.pdf
Poetry Out Loud Student Focus Group