Change Request Memo

July 21, 2022

MEMORANDUM

To: Bob Sivinski, OMB

From: Rachel Hansen, NCES

Through: Carrie Clarady, NCES

Re: School Pulse Panel 2022 August and September Questionnaire Items Change Request (OMB# 1850-0969 v.5)

The School Pulse Panel (SPP) is a monthly data collection originally designed to collect voluntary responses from a nationally representative sample of public schools to better understand how schools, students, and educators are responding to the ongoing stressors of the coronavirus pandemic, along with other priority items for the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Department of Education program offices. This collection allows NCES to comply with the January 21, 2021 EO 14000 Executive Order on Supporting the Reopening and Continuing Operation of Schools and Early Childhood Education Providers. The SPP study is extremely important particularly now that COVID-19 has not waned, and the pulse model is one that the agency will need after the pandemic subsides for other quick-turnaround data needs. It is one of the nation’s few sources of reliable data on a wealth of information focused on school reopening efforts, virus spread mitigation strategies, services offered for students and staff, and technology use, as reported by school district staff and principals in U.S. public schools. Initially cleared as an emergency (OMB# 1850-0963), the SPP monthly data collection (OMB #1850-0969) was formally cleared in April 2022, with change requests (OMB# 1850-0969 v.2-3) clearing the May and June 2022 Questionnaires in April and May, respectively, and a revision (complete with public comment period) containing projected questionnaire items for August and September 2022 was cleared in July 2022.

The purpose of this memo is to outline modifications to previously approved items and to add new items (within the scope of research domains previously established) for the August and September instruments. Modifications to these items reflect feedback from minimal cognitive testing with school personnel that examined any comprehension concerns with item wording.

The costs to the government have not changed as a result of this amendment, nor has the projected respondent burden. All changes to the materials that are part of this submission are detailed below.

Changes to Appendix B

After-School Programs (August)

ASP1a. For the 2022-23 school year, iIs your school planning to offering any after-school programs during the 2022-23 school year?

• Yes

• No

• Don’t know

ASP1b. Which of the following after-school programs is your school offering? {Display if ASP1a=yes}

Do NOT include athletics, performing arts (e.g., band, choir), spirit groups (ex., dance team, cheerleading), academic clubs (ex., debate, math club), student government, or community service clubs in your definition of after-school programs.

	Yes	No	Not applicable for our student population
After-school programs held at and run by the school
After-school programs held at the school but run by a community-based organization
After-school programs held at school but run by a commercial organization (e.g., contracted service, private business)
Work-based learning opportunities
Other after-school learning experience not listed above, please specify:

ASP1cb. Do these after-school programs you selected incorporate tutoring?

High-dosage tutoring is tutoring that takes place one-on-one or small group instruction, offered three or more times per week and is also known as evidence-based or high-quality tutoring).

{Answers populate based on selections to ASP1ba}	Yes, high-dosage tutoring is incorporated	Yes, other tutoring is incorporated	No tutoring is incorporated	Don’t Know
After-school programs held at and run by the school
After-school programs held at the school but run by a community-based organization
After-school programs held at school but run by a commercial organization (e.g., contracted service, private business)
Work-based learning opportunities
Other after-school learning experience not listed above

ASP21c. You indicated your school is planning to offer the following after-school programs. Are any of these programs being offered specifically to address pandemic-related learning recovery? Select those programs that are specifically designed to address pandemic-related learning recovery. Select all that apply.

• {Answers populate based on selected responses to ASP1b}

  {Answers populate based on selected responses to ASP1a}	Yes	No	Don’t Know
  After-school programs held at and run by the school
  After-school programs held at the school but run by a community-based organization
  After-school programs held at school but run by a commercial organization (e.g., contracted service, private business)
  Work-based learning opportunities
  Other after-school learning experience not listed above

ASP41d. To the best of your knowledge, what percentage of your student body will participate in after-school programs during the 2022-23 school year and what was the typical percentage of students who participated in these programs prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic?

Please enter ‘0’ in the “Typical percentage…” column if the program was not offered prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

{Answers populate based on selections to ASP1ba}	Percentage of students in 2022-23	Typical percentage of students in years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic	Don’t Know percentage for 2022-23 after-school programs	Don’t Know for prior to pandemic
After-school programs held at and run by the school
After-school programs held at the school but run by a community-based organization
After-school programs held at school but run by a commercial organization (e.g., contracted service, private business)
Work-based learning opportunities
Other after-school learning experience not listed above

ASP2. What is the focus of the after-school programs at your school? Select all that apply. {Display if at least one “Yes” in ASP1a = yes}

• Academic

• Enrichment

• Socioemotional learning

• Childcare

• Other, please specify: ______________

• None of the above

• Don’t know

ASP3. We’d like to learn more about what schools are experiencing while continuing to respond to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the space below, please share any other information you would like us to know about how you have dealt with administering after-school programs.

This item is optional.

Hiring Process (August)

HP1. How easy or difficult was it for you to fill each of the following teaching positions with a fully certified teacher over the summer of 2022 for the 2022-23 school year?

	Very Easy	Somewhat easy	Somewhat difficult	Very difficult	Not Applicable – we did not have vacancies in this area	Not Applicable – our school does not offer this position	Don’t Know
General Elementary
Special Education
English or language arts
Social Studies
Computer science
Mathematics
Biology or life sciences
Physical sciences (e.g., chemistry, physics)
English as a Second Language (ESL) or bilingual education
Foreign languages
Music or arts
Career or technical education
Physical education or health
Other, please specify

HP2. What, if any, challenges did you experience filling vacant teaching positions over the summer of 2022 for the 2022-23 school year? Select all that apply.

• Too few candidates applying for open teaching positions

• A lack of qualified candidates applying for open teaching positions

• Candidates felt the salary and benefits for teaching positions were not enough

• Applicants turned down teaching positions once offered for reasons other than salary and benefits

• Other, please specify: ______________

• We did not experience any challenges filling teacher vacancies

• We did not have any teacher vacancies to fill

• Don’t know

HP3. How easy or difficult was it for you to fill each of the following non-teaching staff positions with a fully certified staff member over the summer of 2022 for the 2022-23 school year?

	Very Easy	Somewhat easy	Somewhat difficult	Very difficult	Not Applicable – we did not have vacancies in this area	Not Applicable – our school does not offer this position	Don’t Know
Mental health professional (e.g., psychologist, social worker)
Medical professional (e.g., nurse, nurse’s aide)
Administrative staff
Technology specialist
Transportation staff
Custodial staff
Nutrition staff (e.g., food preparation, cafeteria worker)
Academic counselor
Academic interventionist
Tutor
Instructional coach
Other, please specify

HP4. What, if any, challenges did you experience filling vacant non-teaching staff positions over the summer of 2022 for the 2022-23 school year? Select all that apply.

• Too few candidates applying for open staff positions

• A lack of qualified candidates applying for open staff positions

• Candidates felt the salary and benefits for staff positions were not enough

• Applicants turned down staff positions once offered for reasons other than salary and benefits

• Other, please specify: _______________

• We did not experience any challenges filling staff vacancies

• We did not have any staff vacancies to fill

• Don’t know

HP6. In which of the following areas do you feel that your school are is understaffed? {Display if HP45 = Yes}

	Yes, we are understaffed in this area	No, we are not understaffed in this area	Not applicable
General Elementary
Special Education
English or Language Arts
Social Studies
Computer Science
Mathematics
Biology or life sciences
Physical sciences (e.g., chemistry, physics)
English as a Second Language (ESL) or bilingual education
Foreign languages
Music or arts
Career or technical education
Physical education or health
Mental health (e.g., psychologist, social worker)
Medical (e.g., nurse, nurse’s aide)
Administrative staff
Technology
Transportation
Custodial
Nutrition (e.g., food preparation, cafeteria worker)
Academic counseling
Academic interventionist
Tutor
Instructional coach
Other, please specify

HP7. Which of the following have contributed to your school being understaffed for the 2022-23 school year? Select all that apply. {Display if HP5 = Yes}

• We have lost full-time equivalent (FTE) teaching positions since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic

• We have lost FTE non-teaching staff positions since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic

• We have not been able to fill vacant teaching positions since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic

• We have not been able to fill vacant non-teaching staff positions since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic

• We were already understaffed prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Other, please specify: ____________

HP8. Which of the following positions, if any, has your school created for the 2022-23 school year using American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds? Select all that apply. Please include positions that were fully or partially funded by the ARP funds.

• My school has not created any new positions for the 2022-23 school year using ARP funds

• General Elementary

• Special Education

• English or Language Arts

• Social Studies

• Computer Science

• Mathematics

• Biology or life sciences

• Physical sciences (e.g., chemistry, physics)

• English as a Second Language (ESL) or bilingual education

• Foreign languages

• Music or arts

• Career or technical education

• Physical education or health

• Mental health professional (e.g., psychologist, social worker)

• Medical professional (e.g., nurse, nurse’s aide)

• Administrative staff

• Technology specialist

• Transportation staff

• Custodial staff

• Nutrition staff (e.g., food preparation, cafeteria worker)

• Academic counselor

• Academic interventionist

• Tutor

• Instructional coach

• Other staff please specify

• My school has not created any new positions for the 2022-23 school year using ARP funds

• I do not know if any positions were created for the 2022-23 school year using ARP funds

HP9. We’d like to learn more about what schools are experiencing while continuing to respond to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the space below, please share any other information you would like us to know about how you have dealt with filling teacher and staff vacancies.

This item is optional.

Community Partnerships (August)

CSP2a1b. For the 2022-23 school year, which of the following services are available through your school’s existing partnerships? Select all that apply. {Display if CSP1a = YES}

• Physical health care

• Mental health care

• Dental care

• Vision care

• Housing assistance

• Nutrition/food assistance

• Employment assistance

• Childcare

• Social work

• Adult education classes

• Family support and parenting Parenting and family support

• Mentoring and tutoring programs

• Migrant and refugee support

• Volunteering opportunities

• Community resource fairs

• Other, please specify: _________

• None of the above

CSP2b. Were these services added to address challenges or difficulties related to the COVID-19 pandemic?

{Display based on responses to CSP1b2a}	Yes	No	Don’t Know
Physical health care
Mental health care
Dental care
Vision care
Housing assistance
Nutrition/food assistance
Employment assistance
Childcare
Social work
Adult education classes
Family support and parenting Parenting and family support
Mentoring and tutoring programs
Migrant and refugee support
Volunteering opportunities
Community resource fairs
Other, please specify

CSP2c. To the best of your knowledge, what percentage of your students and their families will participate in these programs during the 2022-23 school year and what was the typical percentage of students and their families who participated in these programs prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic?

{Answers populate based on selections to CSP2a}	Percentage of students and their families in 2022-23	Typical percentage of students and their families in years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic	Don’t Know percentage for 2022-23 after-school programs	Don’t Know for prior to pandemic
Physical health care
Mental health care
Dental care
Vision care
Housing assistance
Nutrition/food assistance
Employment assistance
Childcare
Social work
Adult education classes
Family support and Parenting and family support
Mentoring and tutoring programs
Migrant and refugee support
Volunteering opportunities
Community resource fairs

CSP3. We’d like to learn more about what schools are experiencing while continuing to respond to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the space below, please share any other information you would like us to know about how you have dealt with administering the community or wraparound services at your school.

This item is optional.

Mitigation (September)

ALTMITIGATION40. To the best of your knowledge, what percentage of your school's teaching and non-teaching STAFF are fully vaccinated against COVID-19?

_______ percentage of staff

• Don't Know

NewAltMitigation40. To the best of your knowledge, what percentage of your school’s teaching and non-teaching STAFF are up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines?

Being up to date means that an individual has received all does in their primary vaccination series and one booster when eligible

• ______ percentage of staff

• Don’t Know

NewAltMitigation41. To the best of your knowledge, what percentage of your school’s STUDENTS are up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines?

Being up to date means that an individual has received all does in their primary vaccination series and one booster when eligible

• ______ percentage of students

• Don’t Know

ALTMITIGATION40. To the best of your knowledge, what percentage of your school's STUDENTS are fully vaccinated against COVID-19?

_______ percentage of students

• Don't Know

Mitigation48. Does your school have COVID-19 vaccination requirements for teaching and non-teaching STAFF to be in the building for the 2022-23 school year?

Fully vaccinated means that an individual has received all doses in their primary COVID-19 vaccination series.

• Yes, teaching and non-teaching staff are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to be in the school building

• Yes, teaching and non-teaching staff are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 AND have received at least one booster shot in order to be in the school building

• No, teaching and non-teaching staff are NOT required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to be in the school building

• Other COVID-19 vaccination-related requirement, please explain: ________________

• Don’t Know

Mitigation49. Does your school have COVID-19 vaccination requirements for STUDENTS to be in the building for the 2022-23 school year?

Fully vaccinated means that an individual has received all doses in their primary COVID-19 vaccination series.

• Yes, students are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to be in the school building

• Yes, students are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 AND have received at least one booster shot in order to be in the school building

• No, students are NOT required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to be in the school building

• Other COVID-19 vaccination-related requirement, please explain: ________________

• Don’t Know

Mitigation46. For the 2022-23 school year, has your school taken any of the following steps to increase ventilation or filter/clean air in school?

	Yes	No	Don’t Know
Inspected and validated existing HVAC systems for cleanliness, function, and code-compliant operation
Replaced/upgraded HVAC systems
Installed ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) in high-risk areas, where students eat, or where options for ventilation are limited
Deactivated/turned off demand-controlled ventilation (DCV) controls (e.g., thermostats, central controls) that reduce air supply or exhaust based on occupancy, temperature, or energy conservation, so that air supply will remain constant throughout the day Maintained continuous HVAC air supply during occupied building hours by adjusting thermostat fan controls, central controls, or deactivating other demand-controlled ventilation (DCV) controls that may reduce air supply based on room occupancy, temperature, or energy conservation
Installed or used high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration systems in areas where students eat
Installed or used HEPA filtration systems in classrooms

MITIGATION45. We’d like to learn more about what schools are experiencing while continuing to respond to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the space below, please share any other information you would like us to know about how you have dealt with mitigating the spread of COVID-19 in your school.

Technology/Digital Literacy (September)

INTERNET2. For the 2022-23 school year, are students who need internet access provided internet access at a location other than their home (e.g., library, parking lot, or other location)?

• Yes

• No

• Don’t Know

INTERNET3. For the 2022-23 school year, is your school providing digital devices (e.g., laptops, tablets, Chromebooks, etc.) to students who need it are students who need them provided with digital devices (e.g., laptops, tables, Chromebooks, etc.)?

• Yes

• No

• Don’t Know

INTERNET4. For the 2022-23 school year, is your school providing IT or technical support for problems with students’ internet or computers are students provided IT or technical support for problems with their internet or computers? Include formal support or staff who are dedicated to help with IT. Do not include teachers who may help during lessons.

• Yes

• No

• Don’t Know

INTERNET5. For the 2022-23 school year, is your school providing IT or technical support for problems with staff’s internet or computers are teachers or non-teaching staff provided IT or technical support for problems with their internet or computers? Include formal support or staff who are dedicated to help with IT. Do not include teachers who may help during lessons.

• Yes

• No

• Don’t Know

DL1b2. Does your school provide additional target training for any of the following subgroups beyond what all students are offered? Select all that apply. {Display if DL1a = YES}

• All students are offered digital literacy training

• Migrant students

• English Learner (EL) or English as a Second Language (ESL) students

• Students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or 504 plans

• Economically disadvantaged students (such as those that qualify for free or reduced-price lunch)

• Students experiencing homelessness

• Other, please specify: _____________

DL3. Does your school offer training on digital literacy for your students’ families?

• Yes

• No

• Don’t Know

INTERNET6. We’d like to learn more about what schools are experiencing while continuing to respond to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the space below, please share any other information you would like us to know about how you have dealt with ensuring internet access for students and developing their digital literacy.