Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS 2023) Field Test Sampling and Recruitment

The United States is participating in an important international study: Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study 2023 (TIMSS). TIMSS is a cornerstone assessment for measuring U.S. student achievement in an international context. The continuation of U.S. participation allows for the study of past and current education policies that have shaped science and mathematics achievement over the past 28 years. This high quality, internationally comparative trend data provides key information to inform education policy discussions while identifying existing educational inequalities across socioeconomic, racial/ethnic, and gender lines.

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Use of TIMSS data can help identify how students are misunderstanding key math and science principles. Findings can be used to enhance curriculum of foundational items to improve student understanding nationally.

Schools in your state have been selected to participate in the TIMSS 2023 field test which will occur in the spring of 2022.

Please partner with us by learning more about TIMSS and encouraging participation of your states’ districts and schools that are selected to represent the U.S. in this study. Your support can show how important this research is and increase participation and success of the study.

Next steps: Review the enclosed materials to learn more about TIMSS. Support TIMSS by providing a letter of support and sharing information about the study with your sampled districts and schools.

We are in contact with your state assessment director and NAEP State Coordinator to keep them informed about the TIMSS field test. You may contact RTI International project staff with questions at (XXX) XXX-XXX or <email address>. You may also contact TIMSS Project Officer Lydia Malley at the National Center for Educational Statistics at [email protected] or (202) 245-7266. We are confident that you will see the value and importance of this research and will want to partner with us to ensure that the United States has a representative sample of schools across the country.

Sincerely,

Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.

Associate Commissioner, National Center for Education Statistics

cc: [State assessment director]

[NAEP State Coordinator]

Enclosures: TIMSS Brochure and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) sheet

In the United States TIMSS is sponsored by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). NCES is a division within the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), a part of the U.S. Department of Education. IES is the nation's leading source for rigorous, independent education research, evaluation and statistics. School and student participation are voluntary. Learn more about TIMSS by visiting: https://nces.ed.gov/timss/

NCES is authorized to conduct this study under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). All of the information provided by school staff and students may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151).

Appendix A1a State TIMSS Field Test Letter (Option B - recruiting while schools are virtual)

<City, State Zip>

Dear <Name>:

The United States is participating in an important international study: Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study 2023 (TIMSS). TIMSS is a cornerstone assessment for measuring U.S. student achievement in an internationalcontext. The continuation of U.S. participation allows for the study of past and current education policies that have shaped science and mathematics achievement over the past 28 years. This high quality, internationally comparative trend data provides key information to inform education policy discussions while identifying existing educational inequalities across socioeconomic, racial/ethnic, and gender lines.

Schools in your state have been selected to participate in the TIMSS 2023 field test which will occur in the spring of 2022. We realize these are unprecedented times, and we are very aware of the strain the coronavirus pandemic has put on schools’ plans to deliver meaningful learning experiences to students while operating in a virtual environment. We are reaching out to you now with the expectation TIMSS will take place in on-campus classroom settings in spring 2022.

Next steps:

Review the enclosed materials to learn more about TIMSS.
Support TIMSS by providing a letter of support and sharing information about the study with your sampled districts and schools.

Sincerely,

Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.

Associate Commissioner, National Center for Education Statistics

Enclosures: TIMSS Brochure and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) sheet

Appendix A2 Endorsement Letter Template TIMSS Field Test

State Department of Education/ National Education Organization Letterhead

[Date]

[Superintendent or Principal’s Name] [Executive Director/CEO Name]

[Title]

[School] [Organization Name]

[Address]

[City, State Zip]

Dear [School District and School Administrators] [Organization Members]:

On behalf of the [INSERT STATE EDUCATION AGENCY] [NATIONAL EDUCATION ORGANIZATION] we are pleased to support; Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study 2023 (TIMSS) being conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) within the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) of the U.S. Department of Education (ED). We understand it is the NCES’ goal in conducting this study to provide valuable comparative information about the U.S. population’s educational performance, competencies, and skills in an international context.

This study compliments our [vision/mission/goal] of ______________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________.

TIMSS assesses mathematics and science knowledge and skills at grades 4 and 8 and is designed to align broadly with curricula in the participating countries. The results, therefore, suggest the degree to which students have learned concepts and skills likely to have been taught in school. Data compiled and collected from TIMSS 2023 allows for evidence-based decisions to be made for the purposes of educational improvement.

Collection of these data is not possible without the participation of selected school districts and schools. By participating in the study, you are providing trend information about student achievement in mathematics and science relative to other countries, as well as indicators that show how this achievement relates to demographic and curricular, school, teacher, and student factors that provide the educational context for achievement.

We strongly encourage your participation in TIMSS 2023. [STATE ED AGENCY: We are confident that schools in our state will understand the importance of this international study and will accept the invitation to participate if selected.] [NATIONAL ED ORGANIZATION: We are confident that our members and partners, and state and local education leadership will understand the importance of this national study and will accept the invitation to participate if selected.

Should you have any questions, please call the TIMSS information number, (xxx) xxx-xxxx, or send an email to <email address>. You may also contact Lydia Malley at NCES at [email protected] (202) 245-7266 for more information.

Thank you for your dedication to education research and your help in making TIMSS 2023 a success.

Sincerely,

<Name>

Education Commissioner/Superintendent/Executive Director

State Education Agency/ Organization Name

Appendix A3 Request for Letter of Support from Endorsing Organizations

Date

Dear Executive Director:

We are writing to request support from your organization for the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study 2023 (TIMSS), which in the United States is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) within the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) of the U.S. Department of Education (ED).

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Use of TIMSS data can help identify how students are misunderstanding key math and science principals. Findings can be used to enhance curriculum of foundational items to improve student understanding nationally.

TIMSS is a cornerstone assessment for measuring U.S. student achievement in an international context. The continuation of U.S. participation allows for the study of past and current education policies that have shaped science and mathematics achievement over the past 28 years. This high quality, internationally comparative trend data provides key information to inform education policy discussions while identifying existing educational inequalities across socioeconomic, racial/ethnic, and gender lines.

We are hoping you will partner with us by learning more about TIMSS and encouraging participation of schools that are selected to represent the U.S. educational experience in this study. Your support and a letter of endorsement can show how important this study is and increase participation and success of the study. Without school participation, the validity of national estimates is at risk.

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Results from TIMSS will give policymakers, researchers, and educators information they need to chart national progress against international standards and inform national discussions about international competitiveness.

Next steps: Support TIMSS by lending your logo and name, providing a letter of endorsement, and sharing information about the study with your members and partners.

Should you have any questions please call the TIMSS information number, (xxx) xxx-xxxx, or send an email to <email address>. You may also contact Lydia Malley at NCES at [email protected] (202) 245-7266. We are confident that you will see the value and importance of this research and will want to partner with us to advance the quality of education for all our students.

Sincerely,

Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.

Associate Commissioner, National Center for Education Statistics

Enclosures: TIMSS Brochure and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) sheet

Appendix A4a School District TIMSS Field Test Letter (Option A - in-school)

[Date]

[DistrictName]

[Address]

Shape5 [CitySTZip]

Dear <Superintendent>,

One or more schools in your district <diocese> has been selected to participate in the TIMSS 2023 field test to occur in spring 2022 (see enclosure for school list). TIMSS is an important, and the longest running, international student assessment and measures trends in academic achievement at grades 4 and 8 in countries around the world, including the United States, since 1995.

Benefits of TIMSS 2023 include:

Schools will receive <$200> <$800> or nonmonetary equivalent value
If allowed, teachers will receive monetary compensation for completing a web-based survey
Eligible district <diocese> and school staff may register for a no-cost interactive, webinar on timely topics such as social and emotional learning, project-based learning, or STEM.
Participating students and staff also receive a service certificate from the U.S. Department of Education.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call (XXX)-XXX-XXXX or send an email to <email address>.

Sincerely,

[State CCSSO]

Enclosures: TIMSS Brochure, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) sheet, State Letter of Endorsement (if provided), List of Sampled Schools

Please partner with us by encouraging participation of your schools that are selected to represent the U.S. in TIMSS. Your support can show the importance of this mission critical research.

Within the next few days, a representative of RTI International will contact the following school or schools in your district <diocese> that have been selected for the field test.

School name

School name

*list of selected schools as enclosure*

Appendix A4b School TIMSS Field Test Letter (Option A - in-school)

<Principal name> [Date]

Dear <Principal Name>,

Your school has been selected to participate in the TIMSS 2023 field test to occur in spring 2022. Please put this assessment window date on your 2021-2022 school calendar. TIMSS measures trends in academic achievement at grades 4 and 8 in countries around the world. The purpose of the field test is to determine whether TIMSS questions are valid and fair for U.S. students and to help ensure that the TIMSS field operations will be effective for the main study in 2023. Students will take the assessment digitally on equipment supplied by the TIMSS 2023 Field Test Team.

To meet the rigorous standard of TIMSS data, each selected school needs to do their part and participate. Your district has been notified of your selection. Within the next few weeks, I will reach out to send you your school’s assessment date, answer any questions and obtain the name of your school coordinator (SC). Should there be a conflict on that date, a TIMSS representative will work with you to identify an alternate.

Next Steps:

Review the enclosed study materials
Write down the name and email address of your school coordinator (SC)
You will receive a call in the next few days to discuss the study and provide the name of your SC
If you prefer to contact us first, we can be reached at XXX-XXX-XXXX or <email address>

While it may never be the best time for research, we feel it is always important to find time for valuable research that can impact improvements in our nation’s educational outcomes. Thank you for your time and for supporting this important international study.

Sincerely,

[NAEP State Coordinator] or Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D., Associate Commissioner, National Center for Education Statistics

cc: [District Test Coordinator]

Enclosures: TIMSS Brochure, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) sheet, State Letter of Endorsement (if provided)

Appendix A4c TIMSS Field Test School Reminder Email – Grade 4 (Option A- in-school)

Dear Principal:

Earlier this year, [NSC] from [SEA] communicated with you regarding your participation in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) field test. TIMSS assesses mathematics and science knowledge and skills at grades 4 and 8 and is designed to align broadly with curricula in the participating countries. This is a friendly reminder that RTI International will be contacting you in the coming weeks to coordinate your school’s data collection logistics.

If you have already identified who will serve as your school coordinator (SC), and communicated the information to us, thank you very much. If you have not chosen someone to serve as the study SC, please identify someone in the next few days to work with us. You may send an email to <email address> with the name of your school and the SC’s name and contact information. RTI will do all that they can to minimize the burden on school staff and resources.

We realize these are unprecedented times, and we are very aware of the strain the coronavirus pandemic has put on schools’ plans to deliver meaningful learning experiences. We are reaching out to you now with the expectation that TIMSS will take place in on-campus classroom settings in spring 2022. We have multiple ways to conduct the student assessment in order to be responsive to each school’s unique instruction schedule.

Students in one or two of your 4th grade math classes will be selected to participate, with the TIMSS field test scheduled to take place on <Date>. If these dates are not convenient for your school, RTI will work with you to find an alternate date. Also, one school administrator and the math teacher(s) of the selected classroom(s) will be asked to complete a web-based questionnaire.

As a token of appreciation for participating in TIMSS, your school will receive <$200><$800>. Students who participate in TIMSS will receive a small gift as a token of appreciation. Your school’s TIMSS SC, (the staff person you designate to liaise with TIMSS project staff) will receive $100 for his or her time and effort coordinating TIMSS activities. Selected teachers will receive $25 for completing a brief questionnaire.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the TIMSS Help Desk at xxx-xxx-xxxx or email: <email address>. Further information about TIMSS may be found by visiting the TIMSS website at https://nces.ed.gov/timss/.

Thank you for your time and for supporting this important international study.

Sincerely,

Debbie Herget

TIMSS 2023 Project Director, RTI International

Appendix A4d TIMSS Field Test School Email – Grade 8 (Option A – in-school)

Dear Principal:

Students in one or two of your 8th grade math classes will be selected to participate, with the TIMSS field test scheduled to take place on <Date>. If these dates are not convenient for your school, RTI will work with you to find an alternate date. The math teacher(s) of the selected classroom(s) will be asked to complete a web-based questionnaire. TIMSS also needs a complete and current list of all of your school’s eighth-grade science teachers in order to link information about science teachers to the assessed students. One school administrator and science teachers of participating students will also be asked to complete online questionnaires.

Thank you for your time and for supporting this important international study.

Sincerely,

Debbie Herget

TIMSS 2023 Project Director, RTI International

Appendix A5a District TIMSS Field Test Letter (Option B -recruiting while schools are virtual)

Dear <Superintendent>,

We realize these are unprecedented times, and we are very aware of the strain the coronavirus pandemic has put on schools’ plans to deliver meaningful learning experiences to students while operating in a virtual environment. We are reaching out to you now with the expectation that TIMSS will take place in on-campus classroom settings in spring 2022. We have multiple ways to conduct the student assessment in order to be responsive to each school’s unique instruction schedule.

Benefits of TIMSS 2023 include:

Schools will receive <$200><$800> or nonmonetary equivalent value
If allowed, teachers will receive monetary compensation for completing a web-based survey
Eligible district <diocese> and school staff may register for a no-cost interactive, webinar on timely topics such as social and emotional learning, project-based learning, or STEM.
Participating students and staff also receive a service certificate from the U.S. Department of Education.

Within a few days study materials will be sent to selected schools in your district <diocese>, and our contractor RTI International will contact them to participate. [Name], your NAEP State Coordinator, may contact your staff with additional information. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call (XXX)-XXX-XXXX or send an email to <email address>. You may also contact Lydia Malley at NCES at [email protected] or (202) 245-7266.

Sincerely,

[State CCSSO]

Enclosures: TIMSS Brochure, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) sheet, State Letter of Endorsement (if provided), List of Sampled Schools

Please partner with us by encouraging participation of your schools that are selected to represent the U.S. in TIMSS. Your support can show the importance of this mission critical research.

Within the next few days, a representative of RTI International will contact the following school or schools in your district <diocese> that have been selected for the field test.

School name

School name

*list of selected schools as enclosure*

Appendix A5b School TIMSS Field Test Letter (Option B - recruiting while schools are virtual)

<Principal name> [Date]

Dear <Principal Name>,

Your school has been selected to participate in the TIMSS 2023 field test to occur in spring 2022. TIMSS measures trends in academic achievement at grades 4 and 8 in countries around the world. The purpose of the field test is to determine whether TIMSS questions are valid and fair for U.S. students and to help ensure that the TIMSS field operations will be effective for the main study in 2023.

To meet the rigorous standard of TIMSS data, each selected school needs to do their part and participate. Your district has been notified of your selection and we will reach out to you in the next few days to answer any questions and obtain the name of your school coordinator (SC) for the study.

Next Steps:

Review the enclosed study materials
Write down the name and email address of your school coordinator (SC)
You will receive a call in the next few days to discuss the study and provide the name of your SC
If you prefer to contact us first, we can be reached at XXX-XXX-XXXX or <email address>

Sincerely,

NAEP State Coordinator or Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D., Associate Commissioner, National Center for Education Statistics

cc: [District Test Coordinator]

Enclosures: TIMSS Brochure, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) sheet, State Letter of Endorsement (if provided)

Appendix A5c TIMSS Field Test School Reminder Email – Grade 4 (Option B - recruiting while schools are virtual)

Dear Principal:

Thank you for your time and for supporting this important international study.

Sincerely,

Debbie Herget

TIMSS 2023 Project Director, RTI International

Appendix A5d TIMSS Field Test School Reminder Email – Grade 8 (Option B - recruiting while schools are virtual)

Dear Principal:

Thank you for your time and for supporting this important international study.

Sincerely,

Debbie Herget

TIMSS 2023 Project Director, RTI International

Appendix A6 School Web-Enabled Agreement Emails

Web Enabled Agreement Email 1

Dear Principal,

We hope this email finds you well! Your school was selected to participate in Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) field test taking place in spring of 2022. We haven’t been able to reach you by phone and would like to learn the name of your selected school coordinator (SC). Please follow the link below to add your SC and we will follow up with them in the next few days.

Incentives are available for your school as a thank you for participating. If you have any questions, please give us a call at <phone> or <email>. We look forward to working with your students!

Sincerely,

TIMSS Field Test Team

Web Enabled Agreement Email 2

Dear Principal,

Did you know that the U.S. is one of approximately 65 countries participating in Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS)? Your school was selected for the field test taking place in spring 2022. The field test is essential to determine fairness in the assessment questions that will be used in the main study. Efforts in the field test help ensure that our nation’s achievement in grades 4 and 8 can be fairly reported.

Please follow the link below to reserve your space in the field test and designate your school coordinator (SC). Incentives are available to your school as a thank you. If you have any questions, please reach out to us at <phone> and <email>.

Thanks again,

TIMSS Field Test Team

Web Enabled Agreement Email 3

Dear Principal,

Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) occurs only once every four years; our continual participation has opened a window onto the educational systems of other countries and revealed new possibilities for U.S. education. The participation of your school is critical in the field test taking place in spring 2022.

Please follow the link below to register your school in the TIMSS field test and designate your school coordinator (SC). Our team will reach out to your SC in the next few days; you may also contact us if you have any questions at <phone> or <email>. Thank you for your partnership!

With appreciation,

TIMSS Field Test Team

Source: https://www.nap.edu/read/9605/chapter/3#10

Web Enabled Agreement Email 4

Dear Principal,

Thank you for all that you do for students! We know how busy you are, so we are reaching out with a simplified way to communicate with the Trends in International Mathematics and Science (TIMSS) Study Team. As you know, your school was selected to represent the U.S. in the field test taking place in spring 2022. Please follow the link below to designate your school coordinator (SC).

We will contact your SC in the next few days; if you have any questions, we are available at <phone> or <email>. We look forward to working with your students!

With sincere thanks,

TIMSS Field Test Team

Appendix A7 Teacher TIMSS Field Test Letter

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Your login information:

Website: <insert URL>

Study ID: <ID>

Password: <Password>

<DATE>

<ADDR1>

<ADDR2>

Dear <TEACHER NAME>,

[School Name] is participating in the field test for the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study 2023 (TIMSS), conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences. The purpose of the field test is both to try out new questions and to help ensure that operational procedures will be effective in the 2023 main assessment. TIMSS is the longest ongoing international research study designed to measure trends in academic achievement in math and science at grades 4 and 8 in approximately 65 countries around the world.

You are receiving this invitation to participate because one or more of your <Fill 4^th or 8^th> grade classes has been selected. <As a token of our appreciation, you will receive [incentive] for answering questions about your background and selected students.> We are asking you to complete a 30-minute questionnaire to provide insight into school and classroom contexts for mathematics and/or science learning, your teaching experience and available resources and instructional practices at your school. Your participation is voluntary and very important to the success of this study.

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To access the online questionnaire, use the web address and unique study ID and password provided at the top of this letter.

Should you have any questions, please call (XXX) XXX-XXXX or email <email address>.

Your participation in the TIMSS 2022 field test will help us prepare for TIMSS 2023 and is very important to its success. We need to ensure that students in schools like yours are represented in our evaluation of assessment items and questionnaires. We thank you in advance for your cooperation in making this important research study a success.

Sincerely,

[NCES Commissioner]

Enclosures: TIMSS Study Brochure and Frequently Asked Questions

NCES is authorized to conduct this study under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151).

Appendix A8 TIMSS 2023 Study Brochure Content: 8 ½ X 11in Tri-fold

Title page:

Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2023

Inside panels:

What is TIMSS?

The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2023 is an international assessment and research project designed to measure trends in mathematics and science achievement at the fourth- and eighth-grade levels as well as school and teacher practices related to instruction. Since 1995, TIMSS has been administered every 4 years. TIMSS 2023, the eighth study in the series, will involve students from approximately 65 countries, including the United States.

TIMSS is sponsored by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) and conducted in the United States by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), part of the U.S. Department of Education.

Why is TIMSS important?

TIMSS provides a unique opportunity to compare U.S. students’ math and science knowledge and skills at the fourth- and eighth-grade levels with that of their peers in countries around the world. TIMSS complements what we learn from national assessments by identifying the strengths and weaknesses of student performance relative to students around the world. The results inform national discussions about education as well as international competitiveness.

TIMSS provides valuable benchmark information on how U.S. students compare to students around the world, allows educators and policymakers to examine other educational systems for practices that could have application to the United States, and contributes to ongoing discussions of ways to improve the quality of education of all students.

What type of assessment is TIMSS?

The TIMSS mathematics and science assessment is developed through an international consensus building process involving input from U.S. and international experts in mathematics, science, and measurement. In a final step, the assessment is endorsed as suitable by all participating countries. The assessment contains a mix of questions: some require students to select appropriate responses, while others require that students solve problems and provide written answers. Examples of released TIMSS items are available at http://nces.ed.gov/timss/educators.asp. TIMSS 2023 will be a digitally-based assessment administered on supplied tablets.

How does the United States compare internationally? Results from TIMSS 2019

As the 2019 TIMSS results show, the United States had higher average scores than most participating countries in both mathematics and science at both the 4th and 8th grades. However, in 2019, the United States had relatively large score gaps between the top- and bottom-performing students in both TIMSS subjects and grades. In 8th-grade mathematics, only 1 of the 45 other education systems (Turkey) had a larger score gap between the top-performing (90th percentile) and bottom-performing (10th percentile) students than the United States. Moreover, except in grade 4 science, the U.S. score gaps increased from most prior administrations of TIMSS, related in part to drops in the 2019 performance of the bottom performers from the prior two administrations. Gender differences in the United States in 2019 were not consistent, and while boys outperformed girls at the 4th grade in both mathematics and science, there were no gender differences at the 8th grade in either subject.

Looking at changes over time in mathematics at both grades 4 and 8, U.S. average scores have increased over the long term—with higher average scores in 2019 than in 1995—but show no significant changes between 2015 and 2019. In science, U.S. average scores show no significant changes over the long term (from 1995 to 2019) or over the short term (from 2015 to 2019) at the 8th grade. However, at the 4th grade, the U.S. average score in science in 2019 has decreased since the last administration in 2015. The lack of change in 8th-graders’ average scores over the recent time period is related to the simultaneously rising scores of top performers and declining scores of bottom performers.

Additional TIMSS 2019 results can be found at https://nces.ed.gov/timss/results19.

Back panels:

Other information collected by TIMSS

TIMSS is more than an assessment of student knowledge in mathematics and science. TIMSS also considers the context in which learning occurs. Students, teachers, and schools are asked about a variety of aspects of the environments in which content is taught, learned, practiced, and applied. In this way, TIMSS provides each country with a rich source of information on the factors related to mathematics and science achievement.

Participating education systems in TIMSS 2019

Countries

North and South America

Canada

Chile

United States

Europe

Albania

Austria

Belgium (Flemish)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bulgaria

Croatia

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark

England

Finland

France

Georgia

Germany

Hungary

Ireland

Italy

Latvia

Lithuania

Macedonia

Malta

Montenegro, Rep. of

The Netherlands

Norway

Northern Ireland-GBR

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Russian Federation

Serbia

Slovak Republic

Spain

Sweden

Turkey

Asia and Middle East

Armenia

Azerbaijan

Bahrain

Chinese Taipei

Egypt

Hong Kong SAR

Iran, Islamic Rep. of

Israel

Japan

Jordan

Kazakhstan

Korea, Rep. of

Kosovo

Kuwait

Lebanon

Malaysia

Oman

Pakistan

Philippines

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

Singapore

United Arab Emirates

Africa

Morocco

South Africa

Australia and Oceania

Australia

New Zealand

Benchmarking participants

Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dubai, UAE

Gauteng- ZAF

Source: https://nces.ed.gov/timss/participation.asp

Madrid-ESP

Moscow City-RUS

Western Cape-ZAF

Ontario, Canada

Quebec, Canada

NCES is authorized to conduct TIMSS under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). Information collected will help the U.S. Department of Education’s ongoing efforts to benchmark student achievement in the United States. Participation is voluntary. All of the information provided by school staff and students may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The U.S. Office of Management and Budget has approved the data collection under OMB#1850-0695. Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.

IES logo

For questions about TIMSS 2023, contact the TIMSS Information Hotline at 1-XXX-XXX-XXXX or email <email address>.

Appendix A9 TIMSS 2023 Field Test FAQ (Option A - in-school)

Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study

Frequently Asked Questions

TIMSS 2023 field test will occur in the spring of 2022.

What is TIMSS?

The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) is an international assessment and research project designed to measure trends in mathematics and science achievement at the fourth- and eighth-grade levels as well as school and teacher practices related to instruction. Since 1995, TIMSS has been administered every 4 years. TIMSS 2023, the eighth study in the series, will involve students from approximately 65 countries, including the United States. TIMSS 2023 will be administered digitally.

What is the field test for?

Field tests are a critical part of the development of assessments like TIMSS. Field tests (small-scale, trial runs of an assessment) allow assessment developers to try out new questions to determine their performance when administered to students around the world. The results of the U.S. field test will help assessment developers to determine specific wording or content that may put U.S. students at a disadvantage relative to students in other countries. It will also allow the United States to fine tune operational procedures for the 2023 assessment.

Why was my school selected for participation?

Your school was randomly selected so that the overall U.S. field test sample will be representative of the overall U.S. school population. Field-testing on a diverse sample of students from a variety of schools, locations, and backgrounds ensures that the assessment wording and concepts are not regionally, culturally, or socially biased, and to evaluate performance among students with a variety of digital skills.

Why should my school and students participate?

TIMSS informs national discussions about education policy as well as international competitiveness. By participating, students ensure fairness in the questions that will be used in the main study in 2023. Field-testing the assessment questions will identify specific wording and content that could disadvantage U.S. students in the main study. Their participation helps ensure that students in schools like theirs are represented in our evaluation of assessment content. Students’ efforts in the field test help ensure that the achievement of our nation’s grade 4 and 8 students can be accurately and fairly reported.

Will all our fourth- or eighth-grade students be asked to participate?

It depends on the number of fourth- or eighth-grade classrooms in the school. In schools with only one or two such classrooms, all students will be asked to participate. In schools with more than two such classrooms, only students in two randomly selected classrooms will be asked to participate. In addition, some students with special needs or limited English proficiency may be excused from the assessment.

Who conducts the TIMSS assessment?

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education, is authorized to conduct this study under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543), and approval of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget under OMB# 1850-0695. The entire assessment process will be administered on behalf of NCES by trained staff from RTI International, a research organization under contract with NCES.

How are the school and teacher questionnaires administered?

The teacher, school, and parent/guardian questionnaires are administered online from a secure website. Teacher questionnaires take about 30 minutes to complete, and ask teachers questions about their experience, available resources, and instructional practices. School questionnaires take about 20 minutes to complete and ask about school practices and resources.

Do teachers need to help administer the assessment?

No, RTI International field staff will visit the school on the day of the assessment, bringing with them all the materials required. These field staff will administer the assessments to students.

Do schools need to provide computer equipment for the field test?

No, RTI International field staff will bring all the equipment needed for the field test, including tablets and keyboards.

When will the field test be conducted?

The field test will be conducted in March and April 2022. RTI International will work with schools to identify an assessment date convenient for the school in that time period.

Where will the field test be conducted?

The assessment will be conducted in the schools that are selected to participate.

How long does the field test take?

The field test will take approximately 2 ½ hours to complete. This includes time for directions, the assessment, and a brief questionnaire that students complete about themselves.

What will happen with the collected data?

The field test data will be used to evaluate whether the assessment fairly and accurately measures students’ knowledge and skills in all participating countries. All of the information provided by school staff and students may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). Reports of the findings from the field test will not identify participating districts, schools, students, parent/guardians, or individual staff. Individual responses will be combined with those of other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.

Where can I find more information about TIMSS?

Visit the TIMSS website at http://nces.ed.gov/timss.

For additional information about TIMSS 2023, contact the TIMSS U.S. home office at 1-(XXX)-XXX-XXXX or email <email address>

Appendix A9a TIMSS 2023 Field Test FAQ (Option B - recruiting while schools are virtual)

Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study

Frequently Asked Questions

TIMSS 2023 field test will occur in the spring of 2022

What is TIMSS?

What is the field test for?

Why was my school selected for participation?

Why should my school and students participate?

Will all our fourth- or eighth-grade students be asked to participate?

Who conducts the TIMSS assessment?

How are the school and teacher questionnaires administered?

Do teachers need to help administer the assessment?

No, RTI International field staff will visit the school on the day of the assessment, bringing with them all the materials required. These field staff will administer the assessments to students.

Do schools need to provide computer equipment for the field test?

No, RTI International field staff will bring all the equipment needed for the field test, including tablets and keyboards.

When will the field test be conducted?

The field test will be conducted in March and April 2022. RTI International will work with schools to identify an assessment date convenient for the school in that time period.

Where will the field test be conducted?

The assessment will be conducted in the schools that are selected to participate. We have multiple ways to conduct the student assessment in order to be responsive to each school’s unique instruction schedule.

How long does the field test take?

The field test will take approximately 2 ½ hours to complete. This includes time for directions, the assessment, and a brief questionnaire that students complete about themselves.

What will happen with the collected data?

Where can I find more information about TIMSS?

Visit the TIMSS website at http://nces.ed.gov/timss.

For additional information about TIMSS 2023, contact the TIMSS U.S. home office at 1-(XXX)-XXX-XXXX or email <email address>

Appendix A10 Summary of School Activities: TIMSS 2023 Field Test

Summary of School Activities: TIMSS 2023 Field Test
	May 2021- March 2022	January-February 2022 Prior to assessment day	March-April 2022 Assessment day	Benefits
Principal	Designate a school coordinator		Support assessment day activities Encourage students to participate and do their best on the assessment Complete a brief web-based School Questionnaire on the characteristics of the school, its enrollment, resources, policies, and learning environment. Share the importance of participation in the study with school staff	Represent other similar U.S. schools Receive <$200> <$800> check for the school Eligible staff may register for a no-cost webinar on timely topics project-based learning, social and emotional learning, or STEM
School coordinator	Confirm an assessment date convenient for your school	Arrange assessment day location Confirm date and location with TIMSS assessment staff Provide class lists and student lists through the TIMSS 2023 website portal Notify teachers, selected students, and students’ parents of the study and benefit of participating Work with study staff to identify students with special needs Coordinate the principal’s completion of the school questionnaire and teacher’s completion of teacher questionnaires (online) Collect parental consent forms where required and submit to TIMSS staff	Confirm space for assessment is problem-free Ensure all sampled students attend the assessment session Meet with assessment staff and provide feedback about the assessment process	If permitted, receive a $100 check or gift card for school supplies
Selected Math & Science Teachers		Distribute parental permission forms and track permission status	Complete a brief web-based survey on teacher classroom mathematics, science topics taught practices, use of technology, TIMSS	If permitted, receive a $25 or gift card for school supplies
Selected Students			Attend the assessment sessions, complete the assessment and student questionnaire	Receive a small thank-you gift Represent the United States in preparations for the international study
RTI International assessment staff	Work with the school to set an assessment date Help school coordinator with assessment details and logistics Protect school and student information	Call the school coordinator to discuss assessment day location and student participation Select classroom sample and notify school of selected classes	Administer student session from start to finish Furnish all equipment Administer a brief debriefing interview with the school coordinator at the end of the session Maintain security of all materials	Ensure quality and uniformity of data collected across the United States

For additional information, go to http://nces.ed.gov/timss.

Appendix A11 Email reminders to districts and schools

District and School Engagement Email 1

Did you know that changes in TIMSS evolve gradually? More than half the items are maintained in common from cycle to cycle to monitor trends in students’ achievement, but no items are kept for more than three assessments, so that the entire assessment is being refreshed continually¹. Visit the TIMSS 2023 Frameworks <insert URL> to see what’s new.

Be sure to check current U.S. participation status for the TIMSS 2023 field test on the study website <insert URL>. We look forward to working with your students and will be in touch with you soon!

TIMSS 2023 Field Test Team

<phone>

<email>

District and School Engagement Email 2 (Grade 4)

We are writing to say THANK YOU! By participating in research studies like Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) you are contributing information that will help our country understand how students are learning to apply math and science. This knowledge will inform policymakers, researchers, and educators at all levels to improve outcomes for youth today and for years to come.

Did you know…

U.S. fourth-grade students have, on average, shown long-term improvement on the TIMSS mathematics assessments. At the fourth grade, U.S. students’ average mathematics scores was 17 points higher in 2019 than 1995 (initial administration) but was not significantly different from the score in 2015.²

Here are some math resources you may be interested in. Check out https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/Math/ and https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/Docs/ReferenceResources/RemoteMath_Elementary.pdf

District and School Engagement Email 3 (Grade 8)

Did you know…

At the eighth grade, U.S. students’ average TIMSS mathematics score in 2019 was 23 points higher than in 1995, but was not significantly different from the score in 2015. Over 24 years, U.S. eighth-graders’ mathematics scores increased from 492 points in 1995 to 515 points in 2019³.

Here are some math resources you may be interested in. Check out https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/Math/ and https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/Docs/ReferenceResources/RemoteMath_Secondary.pdf.

TIMSS 2023 Field Test Team

<phone>

<email>

District and School Engagement Email 4

This is just a quick email to say THANK YOU! By participating in research like Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) field test in the spring of 2022, you are helping to improve the condition of education for students today and years to come. To learn more about the current condition of education, check out the link below.

Here is “The Condition of Education” 2020 report:

https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/

We look forward to talking to you again soon!

TIMSS 2023 Field Test Team

<phone>

<email>

District and School Engagement Email 5

We are writing to say THANK YOU! By participating in international research like Trends in International Mathematics and Science (TIMSS), our country can continue to take part and learn about emerging issues in content and the contexts for learning.

Be sure to check current U.S. participation status for the TIMSS field test on the study website <insert URL>. We look forward to working with your students for the field test in spring of 2022.

Thank you for your time and contribution.

TIMSS 2023 Field Test Team

<phone>

<email>

AppendixA12a Email to School Coordinator (SC) for TIMSS 2023 Field Test Registration and to Provide School Information (PSI)

(red font for customization)

Dear <School Coordinator Name>,

We hope that this finds you well and enjoying another terrific school year! We are following up with you to remind you to put the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2023 Field Test assessment date, [date], on your school calendar at [school name]. We appreciate your commitment to TIMSS, and we know your students will be excited and proud to represent U.S. students in this important international assessment. The TIMSS 2023 team looks forward to working with you to coordinate TIMSS in your school.

A sample of your grade [grade 4 or 8] classes will be taking TIMSS. In most schools, TIMSS will randomly select about two [math classes if grade 8] classes to participate in the assessment.

You will have a number of responsibilities critical to making TIMSS a success. Please review the attached Summary of School Activities: TIMSS 2023 for an overview of these responsibilities. The TIMSS website <TIMSS URL> will assist you with these responsibilities and provide information about the assessment. You can refer to the attached TIMSS Registration and Provide School Information (PSI) Guide to assist you through the immediate next steps. Please register on TIMSS using this registration ID: [TIMSS school registration ID].

Once you have registered, please make sure to complete the questions on the Provide School Information page on the TIMSS website.

The timeline below provides an overview of these activities:

• Today – Register on TIMSS and answer the questions on the TIMSS Provide School Information page.

• January – Prepare and submit a list of classes on the Submit Class List. Once classes are submitted, TIMSS staff will inform you of the selected classes and will email you to submit the list of students in selected classes on the Student List page of TIMSS. The TIMSS 2023 team will contact you in January with directions for submitting the class and student lists.

• January through March –

Receive a packet of TIMSS materials, including a TIMSS 2023 Parent FAQ, sample parent/guardian notification letters, and student appointment cards [student appt cards for grade 8 only]. These materials will also be available on the TIMSS website.
Review lists of students and teachers.
An assigned TIMSS representative will contact you to discuss assessment logistics and accommodations for students with disabilities or English language learners.
Notify parents/guardians that their children have been selected for the assessment. A sample parent/guardian notification letter will be available on the TIMSS website for you to customize and print on your school letterhead.

One week before the assessment – Distribute student appointment cards [student appt cards for grade 8 only] (mailed to you prior to assessment) and notify teachers in advance so they know when to release students and remind them to complete an online TIMSS Teacher Questionnaire, which should have been emailed to them by the TIMSS Team. Request that the school principal complete the TIMSS School Questionnaire as well.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation and effort in helping to coordinate this important assessment. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the TIMSS information hotline at 1-(XXX)-XXX-XXXX or <email>. You may also get more information about this study by visiting the TIMSS website at https://nces.ed.gov/timss/.

Sincerely,

[NAEP State Coordinator]

Attachment: Summary of School Activities: TIMSS 2023

TIMSS Registration and PSI Guide

NCES is authorized to conduct TIMSS under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). All of the information provided by school staff and students may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The U.S. Office of Management and Budget has approved the data collection under OMB# 1850-0695. Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.

AppendixA12b TIMSS 2023 Field Test Registration and Provide School Information (PSI) Guide

Registration + Username/Password

In order to prepare for the TIMSS 2023 Field Test in grades 4 or 8, you must log in to the TIMSS website <TIMSS Website URL>. If you have never logged in to the website for the 2023 field test and cannot find the registration ID number provided to you by your state coordinator, please contact your state coordinator or the TIMSS hotline at <email address> / 1-XXX-XXX-XXXX.

Once you have your registration ID number, go to the <TIMSS Website URL> website and click “Please register.”
Enter your registration ID and click “Continue.”
Make sure to confirm the district and school name shown at the top of the page are correct. Then follow the instructions to enter your name and other contact info. If you will be handling most of the TIMSS tasks at your school, make sure to click “Are you the school coordinator for?”

Then create a password that meets the password criteria and click Register.
Once created, your username will be emailed to you. Your username is not your email address.
If you check the “Are you the school coordinator for?” box, you will get an additional email with a Summary of upcoming activities.
When you first log in, you will see your school name, grade, and assessment date at the top banner. Please make sure those fields are accurate. If not, contact us at <email>.

Site Home Page

Provide School Information (PSI)

The first step in TIMSS is to complete the Provide School Information page. Click the Provide School Information link at the left-hand menu to access this page.

On the PSI page, the information on the left is the current information available for your school. Please make updates in the fields on the right if the current information on the left is blank or incorrect. Make sure to complete both the “School Contact Information” and “School Characteristics” sections. Then click Save.

Note: You will see this red text banner below until all required fields are filled out completely:

**If you are selected for grade 8, then the last two fields will ask about grade 8 (see pic above). For grade 8 schools, count all math classes with at least one 8^th-grade student.

If you are selected for grade 4, then the last two fields will ask about grade 4. (see pic below).

Once complete, you will see this blue text bar shown below at the top of the page.

In January 2022, we will email you instructions for submitting class and student lists.

Thank you for you school’s participation in TIMSS 2023 Field Test!

The TIMSS 2023 Field Test Team

xxx-xxx-xxxx

<email>

AppendixA12c Automated Email for all TIMSS 2023 Field Test registrants

(Yellow highlight for merge data fields)

Thank you for creating a TIMSS account for the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study:2023 (TIMSS) Field Test. To access TIMSS, go to <TIMSS Website URL> and enter your username and password.

Username: [username]

Password information: You created your own password upon registering. Use the "Forgot Password" links on TIMSS login page if needed. You will be prompted to change your password after 120 days.

TIMSS is a secure site that contains confidential information, so it is important to remember your username and password. If you choose to write down this information, store it in a secure place.

If you have questions or need help accessing the website, please contact the TIMSS hotline at <email> or at xxx-xxx-xxxx Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET.

Sincerely,

The TIMSS 2023 Field Test Team

AppendixA12d Automated Email for TIMSS 2023 Field Test School Coordinator registrant

(Yellow highlight for merge data fields; red font for customization)

Dear [school coordinator],

Thank you for creating a TIMSS account for the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) Field Test on <TIMSS Website URL>. TIMSS is a secure website for sharing information and files related to your school’s participation in the TIMSS 2023 Field Test. The website’s "What You Need to Do" menu will guide you through the upcoming TIMSS Field Test activities.

The first step is to complete the Provide School Information page. If you have not already done so, please go to <TIMSS Website URL>/ProvideSchoolInformation.aspx.

In January, you will need to provide a complete and current list of all of your school’s fourth-grade/eighth-grade mathematics classes for the TIMSS team to randomly select two classes to participate in the TIMSS 2023 Field Test. You will then be asked to submit lists of all students in the selected classes. TIMSS also needs a list of all of your school’s eighth-grade science teachers and the courses they teach to assign teacher questionnaires that will be used to link information about science teachers to the assessed students. We will email you in early January with instructions about how to submit the class list, student list, and teacher list through <TIMSS Website URL>.

Please see the attached Summary of School Activities for a complete list of activities associated with your school’s participation in the TIMSS 2023 Field Test.

Thank you very much for participating in TIMSS, and for playing a key role in making the assessment a success in [school name]!

Sincerely,

The TIMSS 2023 Field Test Team

NCES is authorized to conduct TIMSS under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). All of the information provided by school staff and students may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). The U.S. Office of Management and Budget has approved the data collection under OMB# 1850-0695. Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.

AppendixA13a TIMSS 2023 Field Test Login Page

TIMSS USA LOGO

TIMSS 2023 Field Test

Login

TIMSS 2023 Field Test is a restricted-use website that contains information on the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS).

Existing User Login First time visiting the TIMSS 2023 Field test site?

Schools can register now!

User Name: Please register

Password:

Forgot Password | Having trouble logging in?

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education, conducts TIMSS in the United States as authorized by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151).

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this voluntary information collection is 1850-0695. The time required to complete this information collection and participate in study activities is estimated to average 240 minutes per school coordinator, including the time to review instructions, search existing data resources, gather the data needed, and complete and review the information collection. If you have any comments or concerns regarding the accuracy of the time estimate(s), suggestions for improving the form, or questions about the status of your individual submission of this form, write directly to: Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), National Center for Education Statistics, Potomac Center Plaza (PCP), 550 12th St., SW, 4th floor, Washington, DC 20202.

OMB No. 1850-0695, Approval Expires xx/xx/xxxx.

Notice: You are accessing a U.S. Government information system.

This warning banner provides privacy and security notices consistent with applicable federal laws, directives, and other federal guidance for accessing this Government system, which includes all devices/storage media attached to this system. This system is provided for Government-authorized use only. Unauthorized or improper use of this system is prohibited and may result in disciplinary action and/or civil and criminal penalties.

(TIMSS 2023 Field Test Login page screenshot)

AppendixA13b TIMSS 2023 Field Test Home Page

Welcome to the TIMSS 2023 Field Test!

Your school is participating in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) Field Test, which will be conducted in 2023 at grades 4 and 8. [One/both] of your selected classes will take a digitally-based assessment of mathematics and science.

This website will help school coordinators prepare for the upcoming TIMSS Field Test. Each assessment will be administered by trained TIMSS representatives. Thank you for helping your school participate in this important assessment.

The "What You Need to Do" menu on the left will guide you through these activities. You will need to visit this website several times throughout the next few months, so remember your TIMSS username and password. You will be asked to update your password every 120 days. Use the left-hand menu to complete the tasks listed below.

Provide School Information—Late Fall, 2021
Submit Class List—Late January 2022
Submit Student List—Late January 2022
Prepare for Assessment—Mid-February 2022

(TIMSS Home Page screenshot)

AppendixA13c TIMSS 2023 Field Test Provide School Information (PSI) Page

(screenshot)

[Grade 4 schools]

[Grade 8 schools]

AppendixA13d TIMSS 2023 Field Test Prepare for Assessment Page

(red font is customized depending on grade the school was selected for)

Prepare For Assessment

Thank you for providing information about all the fourth-grade classes / eighth-grade math classes in your school! After submitting both class and student lists, you will receive an email telling you that your sample of classes has been selected. Return to this webpage when you receive the email from <email>: “The list of students selected to participate in TIMSS is available in the Student-Teacher Linkage Form (STLF)”

Student Tracking Linkage Form (download both if more than one link is shown)

Student-Teacher Linkage Forms (STLF) – The forms list the selected students and their teachers. Please make sure students and teachers are linked correctly on the form. Instructions on how to access and review the forms were emailed to you and are in the Documents section on this website.

Please note the following:

If the students and teacher linkages appear fine in the STLF, no need to contact the TIMSS E-Filing Help Desk. Three business days later, please return to this page. Two new links will be shown here to download STF1 and STF2 (Student Tracking Forms). This is the form you can review to see if any student names, information, new enrollees, no longer enrolled students, should be updated. Your Test Administrator will contact you to discuss this. Do not contact the TIMSS E-Filing Help Desk unless there are major updates needed on this form. You can discuss the minor updates with your Test Administrator when they call you in the pre-assessment call.

Student Tracking Form (download both if more than one link is shown)

Student Tracking Form (STF)–The forms list the students who have been selected to participate in the assessment at your school. Instructions on how to access and review the forms are in the Documents section on this website. The STF will become available about a week after the STLF has been posted.

Sample Parent Notification Letter and Facts for Parents about TIMSS. You will receive a packet of TIMSS materials including a sample parent/guardian notification letter and a TIMSS Parent FAQ

A sample parent/guardian notification letter is in the Documents section for you to customize and print on your school letterhead. Please distribute the parent notification letter and the Parent FAQ (from our FedEx mailing to you) to the parents of the selected students prior to the assessment. Additionally, a Spanish version of the letter is available in the Documents page. You can also share the Parent FAQ link available here: https://nces.ed.gov/timss/parents/.

As your assessment date approaches, your Test Administrator will be contacting you to finalize the assessment day activities.

Prepare for Assessment page (screenshot)

(Grade 8 example below)

AppendixA14a TIMSS 2023 Field Test Student-Teacher Linkage Form (STLF) Email

(yellow highlight for mail merge)

Dear [school coordinator],

The list of students selected to participate in TIMSS 2023 Field Test is available in the Student-Teacher Linkage Form (STLF)!

The Student-Teacher Linkage Form (STLF) lists the students who have been selected to participate in the assessment at your school. This list is based on the class and student information you submitted. To access the STLF, please login at <TIMSS Website URL>, then go to Prepare for Assessment and select “Click here to download the STLF.” In the two STLF excel files, there is a worksheet for each set of classes or students selected, so please make sure to review each STLF excel file. Most schools will have two excel files, one for each class.

For the Student-Teacher Linkage Form (STLF), you will only need to make sure the students on that list match the teachers to the selected students in the header of Column 6. If you see any errors, please contact the TIMSS E-Filing Help Desk at <email> or xxx-xxx-xxxx. Please do not email the list back to us.

In a week of the STLF posting, you will receive an email informing you that the final list of selected students and teachers are available. These lists, called the Student Tracking Forms (STF) will be posted on this same Prepare for Assessment page.

Thank you very much for participating in the TIMSS 2023 Field Test, and for submitting your school's class and student lists!

Sincerely,

The TIMSS 2023 Field Test Team

AppendixA14b TIMSS 2023 Field Test Student Tracking Form (STF) Email

(yellow highlight for mail merge; red for customization)

Dear [School Coordinator],

Thank you for providing information about all the fourth-grade/eighth-grade classes in your school! The list of students and teachers selected to participate in TIMSS 2023 Field Test is now available in the Student Tracking Forms (STF) available on the TIMSS website. Please see below for more details about the forms and parent notification.

Student Tracking Form (STF) –The forms list the students who have been selected to participate in the assessment at your school. Instructions on how to access and review the forms are attached.

Sample Parent Notification Letter and Facts for Parents about TIMSS 2023 Field Test (Parent FAQ) – A sample parent/guardian notification letter is attached for you to customize and print on your school letterhead. Please distribute the parent notification letter and the Facts for Parents about TIMSS 2023 Field Test to the parents of the selected students prior to the assessment. A Spanish version of the letter is available on the TIMSS site under Documents.
FedEx Shipment

Within a week, a FedEx shipment of hard-copies of the Facts for Parents about TIMSS 2023 Field Test (Parent FAQ) will be delivered to you. You can also distribute them electronically or share the Parent FAQ link available here: https://nces.ed.gov/timss/parents/
Student Appointment/invitations cards to give to selected students will be sent to you as well.

As your assessment date approaches, your Test Administrator will be contacting you to finalize the assessment day activities and discuss accommodations, if necessary.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call xxx-xxx-xxxx or send an email to <email>You may also get more information about this study by visiting the TIMSS website at http://nces.ed.gov/timss.

Thank you for your assistance with this study!

Sincerely,

The TIMSS 2023 Field Test Team

Attachments:

Sample Parent Notification Letter

Facts for Parents about TIMSS 2023 Field Test (Parent FAQ)

STF Instructions

AppendixA14c Instructions for TIMSS 2023 Field Test Student Tracking Form (STF)

Reviewing the Student Tracking Form (STF)

The two Student Tracking Form (STF) lists the students who have been selected to participate in the assessment at your school. This list is based on the student information you submitted. You can take notes on this form in preparation for the pre-assessment call in which the Test Administrator will ask you about any updates to this form over the phone. To access the STF, please login at www.<website URL>, then go to Prepare for Assessment and select “Click here to download the STF.” Student Appointment/invitations cards to give to selected students will be sent to you in a FedEx delivery.

As the first step in reviewing the Student Tracking Form, please verify the student information for accuracy after you open the excel file you just downloaded. See below for what should be reviewed. Please also make sure the school name and students match what you expect.

Student’s name is listed in Column 1.
Date of birth is listed in Column 4.
Gender (using codes—1 for female and 2 for male) is listed in Column 5.
Exclusion status in Column 6.
Participation status in Column 7.

Student Exclusions and Accommodations

If a student is to be excluded from the assessment because he or she requires an accommodation, please make a note in column 6 using the codes at the bottom of the STF.

Participation Status + Newly-enrolled or no-longer-enrolled students

If many of the students listed in the STF are not enrolled in the school, please contact <email> ASAP, but you do not need to contact <email> if only 1 to 3 students are no longer enrolled or are newly enrolled. These new or no-longer-enrolled students can be discussed with your Test Administrator when they call you for the pre-assessment call (usually 1-2 weeks before assessment date). You can make a note on the form regarding these students in the first column in column 7 using the status codes shown at the bottom of the STF. You can also use status codes 1 through 4 to provide more information about a student.

Updates and Questions

If you have updates to the STF, please have the form ready for the pre-assessment call. You can also provide the hardcopy to the Test Administrator when they come to your school on assessment day. If you have any questions about completing this form, please address them with your Test Administrator when they contact you. For urgent questions on the STF, you can also contact the TIMSS E-Filing Help Desk <email>. The STF is just for you to take notes on in preparation for the pre-assessment call so you know parents of which students should be notified. Please do not send the STF back to us. You can however give it to the Test Administrator in person, if you would like, when they come on the assessment day.

AppendixA14d Student-Teacher Linkage Form (STLF) Template (Grade 4 vs. Grade 8)

Grade 4 STLF

Grade 8 STLF

AppendixA14e TIMSS 2023 Field Test Documents Page

Note: this screenshot will be replaced by an updated screenshot, reflecting the appropriate study year, in subsequent packages.

(Grade 4 example below)

AppendixA14f TIMSS 2023 Field Test Important Websites and Contact Us Pages

AppendixA15a School Principal Questionnaire Login Card/Email

Front of Card:

Welcome to TIMSS 2023 Field Test!

Your school is participating in the Field Test for Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2023. This online questionnaire seeks information about schools and provides important context to understanding the achievement of students taking the assessment.

Please go to the web address (URL) given below and log in to the online questionnaire with your “School ID” and “Password”, which are printed on the label attached below. Please contact the TIMSS hotline (<email>) if you have problems logging on.

The website link is: <TIMSS Website URL>

[Insert Label]

The online questionnaire does NOT require JavaScript or cookies to work. Responses are saved automatically as you go from question to question. The “Table of Contents” link on the bottom of each page provides an overview of all questions and whether you have completed them. You may leave the questionnaire at any time and log in again later. See notes on the back of this card.

OMB# 1850-0695 (expires XX/XX/XXXX).

Back of Card:

NOTES

Please use the Previous and Next buttons to navigate backward and forward
You may exit the questionnaire at any time and log in again later— all of your responses will be saved automatically.
The Table of Contents provides an overview of all questions and shows whether you have completed all questions.
To exit the Table of Contents, click on any question link or section header.
If you would like a printed copy of the online questionnaire, click on the “Prepare Printer Version” link on the Table of Contents page.
It is estimated that it will take approximately 30 minutes to complete the questionnaire.
If you have problems accessing the online questionnaire or need assistance, please contact the TIMSS hotline at 1-xxx-xxx-xxxx or email <email>.

Thank you for the thought, time, and effort you have put into completing the questionnaire!

AppendixA15b Teacher Questionnaire Selection Email

Welcome to TIMSS 2023 Field Test!

Your school is participating in the Field Test for the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2023. This online questionnaire seeks information about teachers’ academic and professional backgrounds, classroom resources, instructional practices, and attitudes toward teaching.

Please go to the web address (URL) given below and log in to the online questionnaire with your “User ID” and “Password”, which are below. Please contact the TIMSS hotline (<email>) if you have problems logging on. The website link is: [hyperlink]

User ID: [User ID]

Password: [Password]

Subject code: [Subject code]

Responses are saved automatically as you go from question to question. The “Table of Contents” link on the bottom of each page provides an overview of all questions and whether you have completed them. You may leave the questionnaire at any time and log in again later. You must click “Finish” at the last page for us to receive your submission. See notes below.

NOTES

 Please use the Previous and Next buttons to navigate backward and forward

 You may exit the questionnaire at any time and log in again later— all of your responses will be saved automatically.

 The Table of Contents provides an overview of all questions and shows whether you have completed all questions.

 To exit the Table of Contents, click on any question link.

 If you would like a printed copy of the online questionnaire, click on the “Prepare Printer Version” link on the Table of Contents page.

 It is estimated that it will take approximately 30 minutes to complete the questionnaire.

 You must click “Finish” at the last page for us to receive your submission.

 If you have problems accessing the online questionnaire or need assistance, please contact the TIMSS hotline at 1-xxx-xxx-xxxx or email <email>.

 If you would prefer to complete a paper questionnaire, please contact your TIMSS School Coordinator.

 After you have completed the questionnaire and within a few days, you will receive a $20 Amazon gift card code from this email address as a token of appreciation for your participation.

Thank you for the thought, time, and effort you have put into completing the questionnaire!

Sincerely,

The U.S. TIMSS 2023 Field Test Team

AppendixA15c Teacher Questionnaire Reminder Email

Hello,

This is a gentle reminder to please complete the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2023 Field Test online teacher questionnaire. This online questionnaire seeks information about teachers’ academic and professional backgrounds, classroom resources, instructional practices, and attitudes toward teaching.

Please go to the web address (URL) given below and log in to the online questionnaire with your “User ID” and “Password”, which are below. Please contact the TIMSS Hotline (<email>) if you have problems logging on. The website link is: [hyperlink]