NAEP 2022 Change Memo v24

U NITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

National Center for Education Statistics

August 26, 2021

MEMORANDUM

To: Robert Sivinski, OMB

From: Pat Etienne, NCES

Through: Carrie Clarady, NCES

Re: National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 2022 COVID Protocols Update Change Request (OMB# 1850-0928 v.24)

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), is a federally authorized survey of student achievement at grades 4, 8, and 12 in various subject areas, such as mathematics, reading, writing, science, U.S. history, civics, and technology and engineering literacy (TEL). The National Assessment of Educational Progress Authorization Act (Public Law 107-279 Title III, section 303) requires the assessment to collect data on specified student groups and characteristics, including information organized by race/ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status, disability, and limited English proficiency. It requires fair and accurate presentation of achievement data and permits the collection of background, noncognitive, or descriptive information that is related to academic achievement and aids in fair reporting of results. The intent of the law is to provide representative sample data on student achievement for the nation, the states, and subpopulations of students and to monitor progress over time. The nature of NAEP is that burden alternates from a relatively low burden in national-level administration years to a substantial burden increase in state-level administration years when the sample has to allow for estimates for individual states and some of the large urban districts.

The request to conduct NAEP 2022 was approved in May 2021 (OMB# 1850-0928 v.22), and a request to update Part A, Part B, Appendix D1, Appendix D2, Appendix H, Appendix H1, Appendix I, Appendix I3, as well as add the Questionnaires (Appendices J1-J-S) was approved in August 2021 (OMB# 1850-0928 v.23). Later in August we will submit a final 30D revision to the NAEP 2022 package that will finalize all communication and data collection materials, the Materials Update #2 (OMB# 1850-0928 v.25).

In response to changing conditions regarding the global coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) and the state and accessibility of vaccinations and requirements regarding vaccination, the NAEP team is currently updating its materials describing NAEP’s viral transmission prevention protocols. These materials need to be circulated immediately and cannot wait through the 30D public comment period associated with a revision, so this submission requests approval solely for these changes to this document. The NAEP 2022 COVID Protocols can be seen in full in the attached Appendix D1 pp. 94-101, and the specific changes are described on the following pages.

This change request is associated with no change in requested burden or cost to the federal government.

Appendix D1-9 NAEP COVID 19 Website Text and Protocols English (pp. 94-97)

Introductory material (p. 95)

2021 NAEP (NOTE: This page to be updated in Amendment #2)

The current NAEP 2021 schedule includes assessing fourth- and eighth-grade students in schools across the country in mathematics and reading. The National Center for Education Statistics is aware of the enormous challenges that our nation’s schools are facing due to the COVID-19 outbreak and the flexible approaches needed to assess students during this time.

NCES continues to monitor COVID-19 developments and will work closely with our state and district partners to determine how best to assess students in schools.

Please return to this page for updates related to NAEP in 2021.

To ensure NAEP is administered in accordance with CDC guidelines, NCES, in consultation with health officials, has developed a series of protocols for the 2021 NAEP administration.

In addition to receiving training on safety protocols and following the rules set by local health and school officials, NAEP field staff will be provided with personal protective equipment (e.g., masks, gloves) and sanitizing equipment (e.g., hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes and spray), as well as undergo increased health monitoring and COVID-19 testing.

Please find the complete list of NAEP COVID-19 protocols here.

COVID-19 Resources

See resources from NAEP, the Department of Education (DoED), and the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) on COVID-19. Under “Health Protocols for NAEP Representatives”

2022 NAEP

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to pose significant challenges for state agencies, districts, and schools, while also affecting us all personally. NAEP representatives’ top priority is to protect the health and safety of students and school staff.

Our COVID-19 mitigation protocol has been developed using CDC guidelines with the input of health professionals. These protocols are intended to be flexible to adapt to the changing landscape presented by COVID-19. NAEP representatives will work with districts and schools to ensure that their COVID-19 protocols are also followed.

Health Protocols for NAEP Representatives (p. 97)

Item 3 updated:

In jurisdictions that require it, NAEP representatives will provide proof that they are fully vaccinated. In other areas, NAEP representatives will be encouraged to get vaccinated.

NAEP field representatives are required to be fully vaccinated (subject to state and federal laws and regulations) and will provide proof of vaccination upon request, when entering schools.

New Item 4 added:

Field representatives will be tested weekly using an at-home COVID-19 PCR testing protocol.  NAEP will monitor compliance and results.  Field representatives testing positive will self-isolate until cleared to return to work.

Appendix D1-6-S NAEP COVID 19 Website Text and Protocols in Spanish (pp. 98-101)

Introductory material (p. 95)

NAEP DE 2021 (Note: This page to be updated in Amendment #2)

La programación actual de NAEP 2021 incluye el evaluar en matemáticas y lectura a los estudiantes de cuarto y octavo grado de las escuelas en todo el país. El Centro Nacional de Estadísticas de la Educación (NCES, por sus siglas en inglés) es consciente de los enormes retos a los que se enfrentan las escuelas de nuestra nación debido al brote de COVID-19 y la necesidad de estrategias flexibles para evaluar a los estudiantes durante este período.

NCES continúa monitoreando la evolución del COVID-19 y trabajará en estrecha colaboración con nuestros socios a nivel estatal y distrital para determinar la mejor manera de evaluar a los estudiantes en las escuelas.

Regrese a esta página para obtener actualizaciones relacionadas con NAEP en 2021.

Para garantizar que NAEP se administre conforme a las pautas de los CDC, NCES, en consulta con los funcionarios de salud, ha desarrollado una serie de protocolos para la administración de NAEP 2021.

Además de recibir capacitación sobre los protocolos de COVID-19 y de seguir las reglas establecidas por los funcionarios escolares y de salud locales, el personal de campo de NAEP recibirá equipo de protección personal (p. ej., mascarillas, guantes) y productos de desinfección (p. ej., desinfectante de manos, toallitas y spray desinfectantes) y también se someterá a mayores controles de la salud y pruebas de COVID-19.

Encuentre la lista completa de protocolos de NAEP en el documento “Protocolos para el COVID-19” aquí.

Recursos sobre el COVID-19

Consulte los recursos de NAEP, del Departamento de Educación (DoED, por sus siglas en inglés) y del Instituto de Ciencias de la Educación (IES, por sus siglas en inglés) sobre el COVID-19.

NAEP DE 2022

La pandemia del coronavirus (COVID-19) continúa planteando desafíos significativos para las agencias estatales, los distritos y las escuelas, al tiempo que nos afecta a todos personalmente. La principal prioridad de los representantes de NAEP es proteger la salud y la seguridad de los estudiantes y el personal escolar.

Nuestro protocolo de mitigación del COVID-19 se ha desarrollado utilizando las pautas de los CDC con el aporte de profesionales de la salud. Estos protocolos están destinados a ser flexibles para adaptarse al panorama cambiante que presenta el COVID-19. Los representantes de NAEP trabajarán con los distritos y las escuelas para garantizar que también se sigan sus protocolos relacionados con el COVID-19.

Encuentre la lista completa de protocolos de NAEP en el documento “Protocolos para el COVID-19”

“Protocolos de salud para los representantes de NAEP” (p. 101)

Item 3 updated:

En las jurisdicciones que lo requieran, los representantes de NAEP presentarán una prueba de que están completamente vacunados. En otras áreas, se alentará a los representantes de NAEP a que se vacunen.

Los representantes de campo de NAEP deben estar completamente vacunados (de acuerdo con las leyes y reglamentos estatales y federales) y proporcionarán una prueba de vacunación cuando se les solicite, al ingresar a las escuelas.

New Item 4 added:

Los representantes de campo se someterán a pruebas semanales utilizando un protocolo de pruebas PCR de COVID-19 en casa.  NAEP supervisará el cumplimiento y los resultados.  Los representantes de campo que den positivo se auto aislarán hasta que se les autorice a volver al trabajo.

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