SDRP_SupportingStatementPartB_07062021

SUPPORTING STATEMENT B

U.S. Department of Commerce

U.S. Census Bureau

School District Review Program (SDRP)

OMB Control No. 0607-0987

B. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods

The SDRP invites state education officials from the 50 states and the District of Columbia to provide school district boundary and attribute updates to support poverty and Title I estimates. There are no statistical methods involved in the collection of this information.

1. Describe (including a numerical estimate) the potential respondent universe and any sampling or other respondent selection method to be used. Data on the number of entities (e.g., establishments, State and local government units, households, or persons) in the universe covered by the collection and in the corresponding sample are to be provided in tabular form for the universe as a whole and for each of the strata in the proposed sample. Indicate expected response rates for the collection as a whole. If the collection had been conducted previously, include the actual response rate achieved during the last collection.

The potential respondent universe for SDRP is one state education official from each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia for a total universe of 51 potential respondents. The table below shows the response rate for the past 3 SDRP cycles.

SDRP cycle year	Total number of responses	Response rate
2021	48	94%
2020	46	90%
2019	45	88%

If the SDRP team has not heard from the appointed state official within about one month of the submission due date, email reminders are sent to the participant. The SDRP team also attempts to reach the participant by phone if we do not receive a response to the email.

2. Describe the procedures for the collection of information including:

   • Statistical methodology for stratification and sample selection,

   • Estimation procedure,

   • Degree of accuracy needed for the purpose described in the justification,

   • Unusual problems requiring specialized sampling procedures, and

   • Any use of periodic (less frequent than annual) data collection cycles to reduce burden.

• Statistical methodology for stratification and sample selection is not applicable,

• Estimation procedure is not applicable,

• Degree of accuracy needed for the purpose described in the justification is not applicable,

• Unusual problems requiring specialized sampling procedures is not applicable, and

• Any use of periodic (less frequent than annual) data collection cycles to reduce burden is not applicable.

The SDRP has been conducted previously and is planned to continue for the foreseeable future. The only significant changes to current procedures are the removal of a data disc and the installation disc (paper participant materials). These participant materials will now be provided digitally.

3. Describe methods to maximize response rates and to deal with issues of non-response. The accuracy and reliability of information collected must be shown to be adequate for intended uses. For collections based on sampling, a special justification must be provided for any collection that will not yield "reliable" data that can be generalized to the universe studied.

Methods to maximize response rates and to deal with issues of non-response:

The SDRP collection is designed to make updates for participants easy by providing free custom mapping software to participants. The SDRP team also provides a webinar at the beginning of the collection period to discuss the purpose of the program, the response procedures, and to answer questions. The SDRP team reaches out to new participants to help them get started and address any questions. The SDRP team also sends email reminders followed by phone calls at the end of the submission period to remind participants to respond and help with any issues that the participants may have. The SDRP team is available to assist participants with procedural and technical questions.

Practical utility for the collection:

The school district information obtained through this program will assist in forming the Census Bureau’s estimates of the number of children age five through seventeen, of families in poverty, for each school district. State officials will provide the Census Bureau with updates and corrections to the Federal School District Local Education Agency identification numbers, school district boundaries, school names, grade ranges, and levels for which each school district is financially responsible. These Census Bureau estimates are the basis of the Title I allocation for each school district. The SDRP is of vital importance for each state’s allocation under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act as amended by Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015, Public Law
114– 95. The U.S. Department of Education uses these estimates to allocate more than $14 billion in Title I funding annually.

4. Describe any tests of procedures or methods to be undertaken. Testing is encouraged as an effective means of refining collections of information to minimize burden and improve utility. Tests must be approved if they call for answers to identical questions from 10 or more respondents. A proposed test or set of tests may be submitted for approval separately or in combination with the main collection of information.

The SDRP does not conduct a test phase or test sampling.

5. Provide the name and telephone number of individuals consulted on statistical aspects of the design and the name of the agency unit, contractor(s), grantee(s), or other person(s) who will actually collect and/or analyze the information for the agency.

The SDRP Collection is performed by the Spatial Data Collection and Products Branch, Geography Division at the Census Bureau.

Project Lead: Lauren Kirsch 301-763-1083

Branch Chief: Ryan Short 301-763-9047

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