Appendix A-1 SPP 2023-24 - Aug 2023-Jan 2024 Communication v4

Appendix A1 SPP 2023-24 - Aug 2023 - Jan 2024 Communications v6.docx

School Pulse Panel 2023-24 Quarter 3 Revision

Appendix A-1 SPP 2023-24 - Aug 2023-Jan 2024 Communication v4

OMB: 1850-0975

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School Pulse Panel

(SPP 2023-24)





OMB# 1850-0975 v.6

(no changes since v.4)



Supporting Statement

Appendix A1

Communication Materials

August 2023 – January 2024



National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education

March 2023

revised June 2023

revised July 2023

revised August 2023



Contents

August Communication Materials 6

August 2023 Initial Letter (Reimbursement Schools) 6

August 2023 Initial Letter (No Debit Card Schools) 8

August 2023 Initial Email (Reimbursement Schools) 10

August 2023 Initial Email (No Debit Card Schools) 11

August 2023 Reminder Email 1 (Reimbursement Schools) 12

August 2023 Reminder Email 1 (No Debit Card Schools) 13

August 2023 Reminder Email 2 (Reimbursement Schools) 14

August 2023 Reminder Email 2 (No Debit Card Schools) 15

August 2023 Reminder Email 3 (Reimbursement Schools) 16

August 2023 Reminder Email 3 (No Debit Card Schools) 17

September 2023 Initial Letter (Reimbursement Schools) 17

September Communication Materials 20

September 2023 Initial Letter (No Debit Card Schools) 20

September 2023 Initial Letter (No Email Schools, Accepts Reimbursement) 22

September 2023 Initial Email – August 2023 Respondents (Reimbursement Schools) 24

September 2023 Initial Email – August 2023 Respondents (No Debit Card Schools) 25

September 2023 Initial Email – August 2023 Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools) 26

September 2023 Initial Email – August 2023 Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools) 27

September 2023 Reminder Email 1 – September Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools) 28

September 2023 Reminder Email 1 – September Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools) 29

September 2023 Reminder Email 2 – September Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools) 30

September 2023 Reminder Email 2- September Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools) 31

September 2023 Reminder Email 3 – September Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools) 32

September 2023 Reminder Email 3 – September Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools) 33

October Communication Materials 34

October 2023 Initial Letter – August 2023 Respondents (Reimbursement Schools) 34

October 2023 Initial Letter – August 2023 Respondents (No Debit Card Schools) 36

October 2023 Initial Letter – August 2023 Nonrespondents (Accepts Reimbursement) 38

October 2023 Initial Letter – August 2023 Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools) 40

October 2023 Initial Letter – August 2023 Respondents (No Email Schools, Accepts Reimbursement) 42

October 2023 Initial Letter – August 2023 Nonrespondents (No Email Schools, Accepts Reimbursement) 44

October 2023 Initial Email – September 2023 Respondents (Reimbursement Schools) 46

October 2023 Initial Email – September 2023 Respondents (No Debit Card Schools) 47

October 2023 Initial Email – September 2023 Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools) 48

October 2023 Initial Email – September 2023 Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools) 49

October 2023 Reminder Email 1 – October Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools) 50

October 2023 Reminder Email 1 – October Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools) 51

October 2023 Reminder Email 2 – October Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools) 52

October 2023 Reminder Email 2- October Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools) 53

October 2023 Reminder Email 3 – October Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools) 54

October 2023 Reminder Email 3 – October Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools) 55

November Communication Materials 56

November 2023 Initial Letter – September 2023 Respondents (Reimbursement Schools) 56

November 2023 Initial Letter – September 2023 Respondents (No Debit Card Schools) 58

November 2023 Initial Letter – September 2023 Nonrespondents (Accepts Reimbursement) 60

November 2023 Initial Letter – September 2023 Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools) 62

November 2023 Initial Letter – September 2023 Respondents (No Email Schools, Accepts Reimbursement) 64

November 2023 Initial Letter – September 2023 Nonrespondents (No Email Schools, Accepts Reimbursement) 66

November 2023 Initial Email – October 2023 Respondents (Reimbursement Schools) 68

November 2023 Initial Email – October 2023 Respondents (No Debit Card Schools) 69

November 2023 Initial Email – October 2023 Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools) 70

November 2023 Initial Email – October 2023 Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools) 71

November 2023 Reminder Email 1 – November Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools) 72

November 2023 Reminder Email 1 – November Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools) 73

November 2023 Reminder Email 2 – November Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools) 74

November 2023 Reminder Email 2- November Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools) 75

November 2023 Reminder Email 3 – November Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools) 75

November 2023 Reminder Email 3 – November Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools) 76

December Communication Materials 77

December 2023 Initial Letter – October 2023 Respondents (Reimbursement Schools) 77

December 2023 Initial Letter – October 2023 Respondents (No Debit Card Schools) 80

December 2023 Initial Letter – October 2023 Nonrespondents (Accepts Reimbursement) 82

December 2023 Initial Letter – October 2023 Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools) 84

December 2023 Initial Letter – October 2023 Respondents (No Email Schools, Accepts Reimbursement) 86

December 2023 Initial Letter – October 2023 Nonrespondents (No Email Schools, Accepts Reimbursement) 88

December 2023 Initial Email – November 2023 Respondents (Reimbursement Schools) 90

December 2023 Initial Email – November 2023 Respondents (No Debit Card Schools) 91

December 2023 Initial Email – November 2023 Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools) 92

December 2023 Initial Email – November 2023 Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools) 93

December 2023 Reminder Email 1 – December Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools) 94

December 2023 Reminder Email 1 – December Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools) 95

December 2023 Reminder Email 2 – December Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools) 96

December 2023 Reminder Email 2- December Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools) 97

December 2023 Reminder Email 3 – December Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools) 98

December 2023 Reminder Email 3 – December Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools) 99

January Communication Materials 100

January 2024 Initial Letter – November 2023 Respondents (Reimbursement Schools) 100

January 2024 Initial Letter – November 2023 Respondents (No Debit Card Schools) 102

January 2024 Initial Letter – November 2023 Nonrespondents (Accepts Reimbursement) 104

January 2024 Initial Letter – November 2023 Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools) 106

January 2024 Initial Letter – November 2023 Respondents (No Email Schools, Accepts Reimbursement) 108

January 2024 Initial Letter – November 2023 Nonrespondents (No Email Schools, Accepts Reimbursement) 110

January 2024 Initial Email – December 2023 Respondents (Reimbursement Schools) 112

January 2024 Initial Email – December 2023 Respondents (No Debit Card Schools) 113

January 2024 Initial Email – December 2023 Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools) 114

January 2024 Initial Email – December 2023 Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools) 115

January 2024 Reminder Email 1 – January Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools) 116

January 2024 Reminder Email 1 – January Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools) 117

January 2024 Reminder Email 2 – January Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools) 118

January 2024 Reminder Email 2- January Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools) 119

January 2024 Reminder Email 3 – January Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools) 120

January 2024 Reminder Email 3 – January Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools) 121

Communication Materials - Templates 122

<MONTH> Initial Letter – <TWO MONTHS’ PRIOR> Respondents (Reimbursement Schools) 122

<MONTH> Initial Letter – <TWO MONTHS’ PRIOR> Respondents (No Debit Card Schools) 124

<MONTH> Initial Letter – <TWO MONTHS’ PRIOR> Nonrespondents (Accepts Reimbursement) 126

<MONTH> Initial Letter – <TWO MONTHS’ PRIOR> Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools) 129

<MONTH> Initial Letter – <TWO MONTHS’ PRIOR> Respondents (No Email Schools, Accepts Reimbursement) 131

<MONTH> Initial Letter – <TWO MONTHS’ PRIOR> Nonrespondents (No Email Schools, Accepts Reimbursement) 133

<MONTH YEAR> Initial Email – <ONE MONTH PRIOR> Respondents (Reimbursement Schools) 135

<MONTH YEAR> Initial Email – <ONE MONTH PRIOR> Respondents (No Debit Card Schools) 136

<MONTH YEAR> Initial Email – <ONE MONTH PRIOR> Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools) 137

<MONTH YEAR> Initial Email – <ONE MONTH PRIOR> Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools) 138

<CURRENT MONTH> Reminder Email 1 – <CURRENT MONTH> Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools) 139

<CURRENT MONTH> Reminder Email 1 – <CURRENT MONTH> Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools) 140

<CURRENT MONTH> Reminder Email 2 – <CURRENT MONTH> Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools) 141

<CURRENT MONTH> Reminder Email 2- <CURRENT MONTH> Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools) 142

<CURRENT MONTH> Reminder Email 3 – <CURRENT MONTH> Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools) 143

<CURRENT MONTH> Reminder Email 3 – <CURRENT MONTH> Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools) 144

Advance Secretary Letter Communications 145

Summer 2023 Advance Letter from Education Secretary Miguel Cardona (Accepts Reimbursement) 145

Summer 2023 Advance Letter from Education Secretary Miguel Cardona (No Debit Card Schools) 146

Other Communications 147

School Pulse Panel FAQ/Brochure 147

Web Instrument Log-In Screenshots 149













(Communication materials should be considered drafts – minor changes to phrasing may be implemented to improve clarity, formatting, or to match changes in monthly topics)

August Communication Materials

August 2023 Initial Letter (Reimbursement Schools)

DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

The National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to participate in the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. The 2023-24 SPP is a unique opportunity to provide your school’s perspective directly to the Department on a range of high-priority, education-related topics on a monthly basis.

  • This month, we would like to know more about your school’s experiences with teacher and staff hiring, internet and technology availability and usage, and community partnerships.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

Please complete the 30-minute August 2023 SPP survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

Shape1

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]








You should have also received an email invitation that contains this same link and User ID. Please submit your response no later than Tuesday, August 22, 2023. If you have already responded to the August 2023 SPP survey, thank you! Please disregard this letter.


The information you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about their experiences with teacher and staff hiring. We found that 53 percent of public schools felt that their school was understaffed entering the 2022-23 school year.

  • Through your participation in the August 2023 SPP, we will learn more about public schools’ experiences filling vacant teaching and non-teaching positions as we begin the 2023-24 school year, which will inform federal decisions regarding how best to provide resources to address hiring concerns.


If you would like to preview the August 2023 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics.


We look forward to hearing from you!

Sincerely,

Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education

School Pulse Panel: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a monthly data collection designed to measure a rotating collection of high-priority, education-related topics, as determined by federal stakeholders, interest groups, and school administrators like you.

How is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel different from other education surveys?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a unique study. While surveys like the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the National Teacher and Principal Survey produce benchmark statistics critical to monitoring progress over time, they are only conducted once every few years. The SPP surveys schools each month, providing the U.S. Department of Education and federal policymakers with crucial, real-time information that can quickly inform policies and funding decisions at the federal level.

Why should my school participate?

Your school’s responses provide national, state, and local education leaders with the information needed to make evidence-based decisions about education policy and resource allocation. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all schools inform better policies.

What does it look like to participate on a monthly basis?

Each month’s survey will take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. When surveyed at the conclusion of the 2021-22 School Pulse Panel, 98 percent of participating schools said they felt that the time necessary to complete each monthly survey was reasonable. However, we understand that, as an educator, you are very busy; to show our appreciation for your time and effort for completing the survey, your school will receive $200 for each completed survey you submit. These reimbursements will be mailed five to six weeks after the end of data collection.

How do I participate?

This is the first monthly collection of the 2023-24 school year. Monthly collections will continue through June 2024. Each school will designate a point of contact that will be responsible for completing the survey. Your school’s designated point of contact will receive an invitation to complete the School Pulse Panel survey via regular mail and email. Both will include a link to the survey, which should take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. The person completing the survey can share the link with a colleague if they need help completing the survey. On behalf of NCES, the Census Bureau is collecting the information. A new survey invitation will be issued each month from the email address [email protected]. All participation is voluntary.

Does the person completing the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel for the school have to be the principal?

No. You are welcome to delegate completion of the survey to another staff member who is knowledgeable about programs at the school.

Will you ask the same questions every month?

Some questions may remain on the survey from month to month to learn how schools are experiencing and adapting to change. Other questions may rotate in and out. Topic areas will change monthly and will reflect high-priority, education-related topics that NCES and federal policymakers lack timely data on. You will also help shape content for surveys.

Other important information

By federal law, we are required to protect the responses of all schools included in our survey (see citations at the end of the FAQ). Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports. No teacher or student time is required to complete the survey. Send comments regarding the 30-minute survey burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Institute of Education Sciences (IES) PCP, 550 12th Street, SW, 4th floor, Room  4036, Washington, D.C. 20202. According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number is 1850-0975 (expires 07/31/2026).

NCES is authorized to conduct this survey by the American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARP2021; Sec. 2010) and the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). All of the information schools 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). Reports of the findings from the survey will not identify participating Local Education Agencies (LEAs), schools, or staff. Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.

August 2023 Initial Letter (No Debit Card Schools)

DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

The National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to participate in the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. The 2023-24 SPP is a unique opportunity to provide your school’s perspective directly to the Department on a range of high-priority, education-related topics on a monthly basis.

  • This month, we would like to know more about your school’s experiences with teacher and staff hiring, internet and technology availability and usage, and community partnerships.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less.

Please complete the 30-minute August 2023 SPP survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

Shape2

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]








You should have also received an email invitation that contains this same link and User ID. Please submit your response no later than Tuesday, August 22, 2023. If you have already responded to the August 2023 SPP survey, thank you! Please disregard this letter.


The information you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about their experiences with teacher and staff hiring. We found that 53 percent of public schools felt that their school was understaffed entering the 2022-23 school year.

  • Through your participation in the August 2023 SPP, we will learn more about public schools’ experiences filling vacant teaching and non-teaching positions as we begin the 2023-24 school year, which will inform federal decisions regarding how best to provide resources to address hiring concerns.


If you would like to preview the August 2023 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of NCES.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,





Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education

School Pulse Panel: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a monthly data collection designed to measure a rotating collection of high-priority, education-related topics, as determined by federal stakeholders, interest groups, and school administrators like you.

How is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel different from other education surveys?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a unique study. While surveys like the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the National Teacher and Principal Survey produce benchmark statistics critical to monitoring progress over time, they are only conducted once every few years. The SPP surveys schools each month, providing the U.S. Department of Education and federal policymakers with crucial, real-time information that can quickly inform policies and funding decisions at the federal level.

Why should my school participate?

Your school’s responses provide national, state, and local education leaders with the information needed to make evidence-based decisions about education policy and resource allocation. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all schools inform better policies.

What does it look like to participate on a monthly basis?

Each month’s survey will take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. When surveyed at the conclusion of the 2021-22 School Pulse Panel, 98 percent of participating schools said they felt that the time necessary to complete each monthly survey was reasonable.

How do I participate?

This is the first monthly collection of the 2023-24 school year. Monthly collections will continue through June 2024. Each school will designate a point of contact that will be responsible for completing the survey. Your school’s designated point of contact will receive an invitation to complete the School Pulse Panel survey via regular mail and email. Both will include a link to the survey, which should take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. The person completing the survey can share the link with a colleague if they need help completing the survey. On behalf of NCES, the Census Bureau is collecting the information. A new survey invitation will be issued each month from the email address [email protected]. All participation is voluntary.

Does the person completing the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel for the school have to be the principal?

No. You are welcome to delegate completion of the survey to another staff member who is knowledgeable about programs at the school.

Will you ask the same questions every month?

Some questions may remain on the survey from month to month to learn how schools are experiencing and adapting to change. Other questions may rotate in and out. Topic areas will change monthly and will reflect high-priority, education-related topics that NCES and federal policymakers lack timely data on. You will also help shape content for surveys.

Other important information

By federal law, we are required to protect the responses of all schools included in our survey (see citations at the end of the FAQ). Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports. No teacher or student time is required to complete the survey. Send comments regarding the 30-minute survey burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Institute of Education Sciences (IES) PCP, 550 12th Street, SW, 4th floor, Room  4036, Washington, D.C. 20202. According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number is 1850-0975 (expires 07/31/2026).

NCES is authorized to conduct this survey by the American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARP2021; Sec. 2010) and the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). All of the information schools 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). Reports of the findings from the survey will not identify participating Local Education Agencies (LEAs), schools, or staff. Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.



August 2023 Initial Email (Reimbursement Schools)

[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: August Survey Invitation]

DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

The National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking for you to participate in the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. The 2023-24 SPP is a unique opportunity to provide your school’s perspective directly to the Department on a range of high-priority, education-related topics on a monthly basis.

  • This month, we would like to know more about your school’s experiences with teacher and staff hiring, internet and technology availability and usage, and community partnerships.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

Please complete the August 2023 SPP survey no later than Tuesday, August 22, 2023, by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

The information you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about their experiences with teacher and staff hiring. We found that, of the 53 percent of public schools that felt their school was understaffed entering the 2022-23 school year, 49 percent reported that not being able to fill vacant teaching positions since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic had contributed to their school being understaffed during the 2022-23 school year.

  • Through your participation in the August 2023 SPP, we will learn more about public schools’ experiences filling vacant teaching and non-teaching positions as we begin the 2023-24 school year, which will inform federal decisions regarding how best to provide resources to address hiring concerns.


If you would like to preview the August 2023 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education

August 2023 Initial Email (No Debit Card Schools)

[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: August Survey Invitation]

DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

The National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking for you to participate in the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. The 2023-24 SPP is a unique opportunity to provide your school’s perspective directly to the Department on a range of high-priority, education-related topics on a monthly basis.

  • This month, we would like to know more about your school’s experiences with teacher and staff hiring, internet and technology availability and usage, and community partnerships.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less.

Please complete the August 2023 SPP survey no later than Tuesday, August 22, 2023, by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

The information you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about their experiences with teacher and staff hiring. We found that, of the 53 percent of public schools that felt their school was understaffed entering the 2022-23 school year, 49 percent reported that not being able to fill vacant teaching positions since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic had contributed to their school being understaffed during the 2022-23 school year.

  • Through your participation in the August 2023 SPP, we will learn more about public schools’ experiences filling vacant teaching and non-teaching positions as we begin the 2023-24 school year, which will inform federal decisions regarding how best to provide resources to address hiring concerns.


If you would like to preview the August 2023 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education

August 2023 Reminder Email 1 (Reimbursement Schools)


[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: August Survey Reminder]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL NAME]:

Did you know that 70 percent of public schools said that too few candidates applying for open teaching positions was a challenge they experienced with filling vacant teaching positions for the 2022-23 school year? Through your participation in the August 2023 School Pulse Panel (SPP), we will learn more about public schools’ experiences filling vacant teaching and non-teaching positions as we begin the 2023-24 school year, which will inform federal decisions regarding how best to provide resources to address hiring concerns.

This is a reminder to complete the August 2023 SPP survey by Tuesday, August 22, 2023. To thank you for your time and effort in providing this information, your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

  • This month’s survey will ask you to reflect on your school’s experiences with teacher and staff hiring, internet and technology availability and usage, and community partnerships.

  • The survey will take approximately 30 minutes or less to complete. You can access the survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

  • Your school is among a small number of schools selected to participate in the Panel. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all public schools inform better policies.

  • By participating in the 2023-24 SPP, you will ensure that information about your school and others like it is included in policy and funding decisions.


If you need help or have questions, you may visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse, call 1-844-868-3661, or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative. We look forward to your school’s participation in this month’s collection!



Sincerely,





Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education










August 2023 Reminder Email 1 (No Debit Card Schools)


[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: August Survey Reminder]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL NAME]:

Did you know that 70 percent of public schools said that too few candidates applying for open teaching positions was a challenge they experienced with filling vacant teaching positions for the 2022-23 school year? Through your participation in the August 2023 School Pulse Panel (SPP), we will learn more about public schools’ experiences filling vacant teaching and non-teaching positions as we begin the 2023-24 school year, which will inform federal decisions regarding how best to provide resources to address hiring concerns.

This is a reminder to complete the August 2023 SPP survey by Tuesday, August 22, 2023.

  • This month’s survey will ask you to reflect on your school’s experiences with teacher and staff hiring, internet and technology availability and usage, and community partnerships.

  • The survey will take approximately 30 minutes or less to complete. You can access the survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

  • Your school is among a small number of schools selected to participate in the Panel. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all public schools inform better policies.

  • By participating in the 2023-24 SPP, you will ensure that information about your school and others like it is included in policy and funding decisions.


If you need help or have questions, you may visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse, call 1-844-868-3661, or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative. We look forward to your school’s participation in this month’s collection!



Sincerely,





Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education











August 2023 Reminder Email 2 (Reimbursement Schools)


[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: Your Response is Important]


Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]:


The National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to provide your school’s perspective on your experiences with teacher and staff hiring, internet and technology availability and usage, and community partnerships as a part of this month’s School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. Your participation in the August 2023 SPP survey will help ensure that information about your school and others like it is included in policy and funding decisions. We ask that you complete the SPP August survey by Tuesday, August 22, 2023.


The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey. You can access the survey online by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:


[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about their internet and technology availability and usage. We found that 72 percent of all public schools in the U.S. reported providing training on digital literacy for their students.

  • Through your participation, we can continue to understand how prevalent this kind of training is in U.S. public schools, which will inform federal decisions regarding digital literacy training.


To learn more about the School Pulse Panel and to preview the August 2023 questions, visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse. If you have questions, please call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative.



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education













August 2023 Reminder Email 2 (No Debit Card Schools)


[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: Your Response is Important]


Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]:


The National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to provide your school’s perspective on your experiences with teacher and staff hiring, internet and technology availability and usage, and community partnerships as a part of this month’s School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. Your participation in the August 2023 SPP survey will help ensure that information about your school and others like it is included in policy and funding decisions. We ask that you complete the SPP August survey by Tuesday, August 22, 2023.


The survey will take 30 minutes or less. You can access the survey online by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:


[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about their internet and technology availability and usage. We found that 72 percent of all public schools in the U.S. reported providing training on digital literacy for their students.

  • Through your participation, we can continue to understand how prevalent this kind of training is in U.S. public schools, which will inform federal decisions regarding digital literacy training.


To learn more about the School Pulse Panel and to preview the August 2023 questions, visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse. If you have questions, please call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative.



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education













August 2023 Reminder Email 3 (Reimbursement Schools)


[Subject line: School Pulse Panel: Last Day to Respond to August 2023 Survey is Today]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]:


This is a final reminder to complete the August 2023 School Pulse Panel survey by today, August 22. We are looking forward to hearing about your school’s experiences with teacher and staff hiring, internet and technology availability and usage, and community partnerships. If you have already responded for August 2023, thank you! Please disregard this notice.


The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and to thank you for your time and effort in completing the entire survey, your school will receive $200. Please complete the August 2023 SPP survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:


[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

To learn more about the School Pulse Panel and to preview the August 2023 questions, visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse. If you have questions, please call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative.



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education




















August 2023 Reminder Email 3 (No Debit Card Schools)


[Subject line: School Pulse Panel: Last Day to Respond to August 2023 Survey is Today]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]:


This is a final reminder to complete the August 2023 School Pulse Panel survey by today, August 22. We are looking forward to hearing about your school’s experiences with teacher and staff hiring, internet and technology availability and usage, and community partnerships. If you have already responded for August 2023, thank you! Please disregard this notice.


The survey will take 30 minutes or less. Please complete the August 2023 SPP survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:


[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

To learn more about the School Pulse Panel and to preview the August 2023 questions, visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse. If you have questions, please call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative.



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education




















September 2023 Initial Letter (Reimbursement Schools)

DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

The National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to participate in the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. The 2023-24 SPP is a unique opportunity to provide your school’s perspective directly to the Department on a range of high-priority, education-related topics on a monthly basis.

  • This month, we would like to know more about the summer programs your school offered this past summer and the after-school programs your school is offering during the 2023-24 school year.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

Please complete the 30-minute September 2023 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

Shape3

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]








You should have also received an email invitation that contains this same link and User ID. Please submit your response no later than Tuesday, September 26, 2023. If you have already responded to the September 2023 SPP survey, thank you! Please disregard this letter.


The information you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about the after-school programs they planned to offer their students during the 2022-23 school year. We found that 56 percent of public schools offered after-school programs or services whose primary purpose was to provide instruction to students who needed academic assistance.

  • Through your participation in the September 2023 SPP, we will learn more about the summer programs public schools offered this past summer and the after-school programs public schools plan to offer during the 2023-24 school year. This information will inform federal decisions regarding the provision of these programs.


If you would like to preview the September 2023 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,


Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education

School Pulse Panel: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a monthly data collection designed to measure a rotating collection of high-priority, education-related topics, as determined by federal stakeholders, interest groups, and school administrators like you.

How is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel different from other education surveys?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a unique study. While surveys like the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the National Teacher and Principal Survey produce benchmark statistics critical to monitoring progress over time, they are only conducted once every few years. The SPP surveys schools each month, providing the U.S. Department of Education and federal policymakers with crucial, real-time information that can quickly inform policies and funding decisions at the federal level.

Why should my school participate?

Your school’s responses provide national, state, and local education leaders with the information needed to make evidence-based decisions about education policy and resource allocation. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all schools inform better policies.

What does it look like to participate on a monthly basis?

Each month’s survey will take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. When surveyed at the conclusion of the 2021-22 School Pulse Panel, 98 percent of participating schools said they felt that the time necessary to complete each monthly survey was reasonable. However, we understand that, as an educator, you are very busy; to show our appreciation for your time and effort for completing the survey, your school will receive $200 for each completed survey you submit. These reimbursements will be mailed five to six weeks after the end of data collection.

How do I participate?

This is the second monthly collection of the 2023-24 school year. Monthly collections will continue through June 2024. Each school will designate a point of contact that will be responsible for completing the survey. Your school’s designated point of contact will receive an invitation to complete the School Pulse Panel survey via regular mail and email. Both will include a link to the survey, which should take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. The person completing the survey can share the link with a colleague if they need help completing the survey. On behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the Census Bureau is collecting the information. A new survey invitation will be issued each month from the email address [email protected]. All participation is voluntary.

Does the person completing the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel for the school have to be the principal?

No. You are welcome to delegate completion of the survey to another staff member who is knowledgeable about programs at the school.

Will you ask the same questions every month?

Some questions may remain on the survey from month to month to learn how schools are experiencing and adapting to change. Other questions may rotate in and out. Topic areas will change monthly and will reflect high-priority, education-related topics that NCES and federal policymakers lack timely data on. You will also help shape content for surveys.

Other important information

By federal law, we are required to protect the responses of all schools included in our survey (see citations at the end of the FAQ). Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports. No teacher or student time is required to complete the survey. Send comments regarding the 30-minute survey burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the National Center for Education Statistics Institute of Education Sciences (IES) PCP, 550 12th Street, SW, 4th floor, Room  4036, Washington, D.C. 20202. According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number is 1850-0975 (expires 07/31/2026).

NCES is authorized to conduct this survey by the American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARP2021; Sec. 2010) and the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). All of the information schools 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). Reports of the findings from the survey will not identify participating Local Education Agencies (LEAs), schools, or staff. Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.

September Communication Materials

September 2023 Initial Letter (No Debit Card Schools)

DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

The National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to participate in the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. The 2023-24 SPP is a unique opportunity to provide your school’s perspective directly to the Department on a range of high-priority, education-related topics on a monthly basis.

  • This month, we would like to know more about the summer programs your school offered this past summer and the after-school programs your school is offering during the 2023-24 school year.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less.

Please complete the 30-minute September 2023 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

Shape4

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]








You should have also received an email invitation that contains this same link and User ID. Please submit your response no later than Tuesday, September 26, 2023. If you have already responded to the September 2023 SPP survey, thank you! Please disregard this letter.


The information you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about the after-school programs they planned to offer their students during the 2022-23 school year. We found that 56 percent of public schools offered after-school programs or services whose primary purpose was to provide instruction to students who needed academic assistance.

  • Through your participation in the September 2023 SPP, we will learn more about the summer programs public schools offered this past summer and the after-school programs public schools plan to offer during the 2023-24 school year. This information will inform federal decisions regarding the provision of these programs.

If you would like to preview the September 2023 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of NCES.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,



Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education

School Pulse Panel: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a monthly data collection designed to measure a rotating collection of high-priority, education-related topics, as determined by federal stakeholders, interest groups, and school administrators like you.

How is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel different from other education surveys?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a unique study. While surveys like the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the National Teacher and Principal Survey produce benchmark statistics critical to monitoring progress over time, they are only conducted once every few years. The SPP surveys schools each month, providing the U.S. Department of Education and federal policymakers with crucial, real-time information that can quickly inform policies and funding decisions at the federal level.

Why should my school participate?

Your school’s responses provide national, state, and local education leaders with the information needed to make evidence-based decisions about education policy and resource allocation. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all schools inform better policies.

What does it look like to participate on a monthly basis?

Each month’s survey will take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. When surveyed at the conclusion of the 2021-22 School Pulse Panel, 98 percent of participating schools said they felt that the time necessary to complete each monthly survey was reasonable.

How do I participate?

This is the second monthly collection of the 2023-24 school year. Monthly collections will continue through June 2024. Each school will designate a point of contact that will be responsible for completing the survey. Your school’s designated point of contact will receive an invitation to complete the School Pulse Panel survey via regular mail and email. Both will include a link to the survey, which should take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. The person completing the survey can share the link with a colleague if they need help completing the survey. On behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the Census Bureau is collecting the information. A new survey invitation will be issued each month from the email address [email protected]. All participation is voluntary.

Does the person completing the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel for the school have to be the principal?

No. You are welcome to delegate completion of the survey to another staff member who is knowledgeable about programs at the school.

Will you ask the same questions every month?

Some questions may remain on the survey from month to month to learn how schools are experiencing and adapting to change. Other questions may rotate in and out. Topic areas will change monthly and will reflect high-priority, education-related topics that NCES and federal policymakers lack timely data on. You will also help shape content for surveys.

Other important information

By federal law, we are required to protect the responses of all schools included in our survey (see citations at the end of the FAQ). Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports. No teacher or student time is required to complete the survey. Send comments regarding the 30-minute survey burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the National Center for Education Statistics Institute of Education Sciences (IES) PCP, 550 12th Street, SW, 4th floor, Room  4036, Washington, D.C. 20202. According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number is 1850-0975 (expires 07/31/2026).

NCES is authorized to conduct this survey by the American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARP2021; Sec. 2010) and the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). All of the information schools 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). Reports of the findings from the survey will not identify participating Local Education Agencies (LEAs), schools, or staff. Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.



September 2023 Initial Letter (No Email Schools, Accepts Reimbursement)

DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

The National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to participate in the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. The 2023-24 SPP is a unique opportunity to provide your school’s perspective directly to the Department on a range of high-priority, education-related topics on a monthly basis.

  • This month, we would like to know more about the summer programs your school offered this past summer and the after-school programs your school is offering during the 2023-24 school year.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

Please complete the 30-minute September 2023 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

Shape5

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]









Please submit your response no later than Tuesday, September 26, 2023. The information you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about the after-school programs they planned to offer their students during the 2022-23 school year. We found that 56 percent of public schools offered after-school programs or services whose primary purpose was to provide instruction to students who needed academic assistance.

  • Through your participation in the September 2023 SPP, we will learn more about the summer programs public schools offered this past summer and the after-school programs public schools plan to offer during the 2023-24 school year. This information will inform federal decisions regarding the provision of these programs.


If you would like to preview the September 2023 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. Unfortunately, we do not have a valid email address on file for you or your school. To receive an electronic link to the survey, please email [email protected] or call 1-844-868-3661 and provide the name and a valid email address for the best point of contact for this study. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics.


We look forward to hearing from you!


Sincerely,



Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education



School Pulse Panel: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a monthly data collection designed to measure a rotating collection of high-priority, education-related topics, as determined by federal stakeholders, interest groups, and school administrators like you.

How is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel different from other education surveys?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a unique study. While surveys like the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the National Teacher and Principal Survey produce benchmark statistics critical to monitoring progress over time, they are only conducted once every few years. The SPP surveys schools each month, providing the U.S. Department of Education and federal policymakers with crucial, real-time information that can quickly inform policies and funding decisions at the federal level.

Why should my school participate?

Your school’s responses provide national, state, and local education leaders with the information needed to make evidence-based decisions about education policy and resource allocation. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all schools inform better policies.

What does it look like to participate on a monthly basis?

Each month’s survey will take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. When surveyed at the conclusion of the 2021-22 School Pulse Panel, 98 percent of participating schools said they felt that the time necessary to complete each monthly survey was reasonable. However, we understand that, as an educator, you are very busy; to show our appreciation for your time and effort for completing the survey, your school will receive $200 for each completed survey you submit. These reimbursements will be mailed five to six weeks after the end of data collection.

How do I participate?

This is the second monthly collection of the 2023-24 school year. Monthly collections will continue through June 2024. We currently do not have an email on file for your school. Please contact [email protected] or call 1-844-868-3661 and provide a valid email address for a designated point of contact for this study. Your school’s designated point of contact will receive an invitation to complete the School Pulse Panel survey via regular mail and email, which will include a link to the survey. The person completing the survey can share the link with a colleague if they need help completing the survey. On behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the Census Bureau is collecting the information. A new survey invitation will be issued each month from the email address [email protected]. All participation is voluntary.

Does the person completing the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel for the school have to be the principal?

No. You are welcome to delegate completion of the survey to another staff member who is knowledgeable about programs at the school.

Will you ask the same questions every month?

Some questions may remain on the survey from month to month to learn how schools are experiencing and adapting to change. Other questions may rotate in and out. Topic areas will change monthly and will reflect high-priority, education-related topics that NCES and federal policymakers lack timely data on. You will also help shape content for surveys.

Other important information

By federal law, we are required to protect the responses of all schools included in our survey (see citations at the end of the FAQ). Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports. No teacher or student time is required to complete the survey. Send comments regarding the 30-minute survey burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the National Center for Education Statistics Institute of Education Sciences (IES) PCP, 550 12th Street, SW, 4th floor, Room  4036, Washington, D.C. 20202. According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number is 1850-0975 (expires 07/31/2026).

NCES is authorized to conduct this survey by the American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARP2021; Sec. 2010) and the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). All of the information schools 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). Reports of the findings from the survey will not identify participating Local Education Agencies (LEAs), schools, or staff. Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.


September 2023 Initial Email – August 2023 Respondents (Reimbursement Schools)

[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: September Survey Invitation]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

Thank you for participating in the August 2023 School Pulse Panel (SPP) data collection. This email contains your September survey invitation. Please complete the survey by Tuesday, September 26, 2023.

  • The September survey collects data on summer programs your school offered this past summer and the after-school programs your school is offering during the 2023-24 school year.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less.

  • Your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

  • Please complete the September survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

The information you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about their summer program offerings. We found that 70 percent of public schools offered summer school programs that were required for certain students.

  • Through your participation in the September 2023 SPP, we will learn more about the summer programs public schools offered this past summer and the after-school programs public schools plan to offer during the 2023-24 school year. This information will inform federal decisions regarding the provision of these programs.


If you would like to preview the September 2023 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education







September 2023 Initial Email – August 2023 Respondents (No Debit Card Schools)

[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: September Survey Invitation]

DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

Thank you for participating in the August 2023 School Pulse Panel (SPP) data collection. This email contains your September survey invitation. Please complete the survey by Tuesday, September 26, 2023.

  • The September survey collects data on summer programs your school offered this past summer and the after-school programs your school is offering during the 2023-24 school year.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less.

  • Please complete the September survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

The information you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about their summer program offerings. We found that 70 percent of public schools offered summer school programs that were required for certain students.

  • Through your participation in the September 2023 SPP, we will learn more about the summer programs public schools offered this past summer and the after-school programs public schools plan to offer during the 2023-24 school year. This information will inform federal decisions regarding the provision of these programs.


If you would like to preview the September 2023 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education






September 2023 Initial Email – August 2023 Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools)

[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: September Survey Invitation]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

The National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to participate in the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. The 2023-24 SPP is a unique opportunity to provide your school’s perspective directly to the Department on a range of high-priority, education-related topics on a monthly basis.

  • This month, we would like to know more about the summer programs your school offered this past summer and the after-school programs your school is offering during the 2023-24 school year.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

Please complete the 30-minute September 2023 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

The information you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about their summer program offerings. We found that 70 percent of public schools offered summer school programs that were required for certain students.

  • Through your participation in the September 2023 SPP, we will learn more about the summer programs public schools offered this past summer and the after-school programs public schools plan to offer during the 2023-24 school year. This information will inform federal decisions regarding the provision of these programs.


If you would like to preview the September 2023 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education







September 2023 Initial Email – August 2023 Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools)

[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: September Survey Invitation]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

The National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to participate in the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. The 2023-24 SPP is a unique opportunity to provide your school’s perspective directly to the Department on a range of high-priority, education-related topics on a monthly basis.

  • This month, we would like to know more about the summer programs your school offered this past summer and the after-school programs your school is offering during the 2023-24 school year.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less.

Please complete the 30-minute September 2023 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

The information you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about their summer program offerings. We found that 70 percent of public schools offered summer school programs that were required for certain students.

  • Through your participation in the September 2023 SPP, we will learn more about the summer programs public schools offered this past summer and the after-school programs public schools plan to offer during the 2023-24 school year. This information will inform federal decisions regarding the provision of these programs.


If you would like to preview the September 2023 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education







September 2023 Reminder Email 1 – September Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools)


[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: September Survey Reminder]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL NAME]:

Did you know that 66 percent of public schools offered any learning-related after-school programs during the 2022-23 school year? Through your participation in the September 2023 School Pulse Panel (SPP), we will learn more about public schools’ after-school program offerings during the 2023-24 school year, which will inform federal decisions regarding the provision of these programs.

This is a reminder to complete the September 2023 survey by Tuesday, September 26, 2023. To thank you for your time and effort in providing this information, your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

  • This month’s survey will ask you to reflect on your school’s experiences with summer 2023 and after-school programs.

  • The survey will take approximately 30 minutes or less to complete. You can access the survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

  • Your school is among a small number of schools selected to participate in the Panel. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all public schools inform better policies.

  • By participating in the 2023-24 SPP, you will ensure that information about your school and others like it is included in policy and funding decisions.


If you need help or have questions, you may visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse, call 1-844-868-3661, or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative. We look forward to your school’s participation in this month’s collection!



Sincerely,





Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education










September 2023 Reminder Email 1 – September Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools)


[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: September Survey Reminder]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL NAME]:

Did you know that 66 percent of public schools offered any learning-related after-school programs during the 2022-23 school year? Through your participation in the September 2023 School Pulse Panel (SPP), we will learn more about public schools’ after-school program offerings during the 2023-24 school year, which will inform federal decisions regarding the provision of these programs.

This is a reminder to complete the September 2023 survey by Tuesday, September 26, 2023.

  • This month’s survey will ask you to reflect on your school’s experiences with summer 2023 and after-school programs.

  • The survey will take approximately 30 minutes or less to complete. You can access the survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

  • Your school is among a small number of schools selected to participate in the Panel. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all public schools inform better policies.

  • By participating in the 2023-24 SPP, you will ensure that information about your school and others like it is included in policy and funding decisions.


If you need help or have questions, you may visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse, call 1-844-868-3661, or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative. We look forward to your school’s participation in this month’s collection!



Sincerely,





Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education











September 2023 Reminder Email 2 – September Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools)


[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: Your Response is Important]


Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]:


This is a reminder that the National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to provide your school’s perspective on your experiences with summer 2023 and after-school programs as a part of this month’s School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. Your participation in the September 2023 SPP survey will help ensure that information about your school and others like it is included in policy and funding decisions. We ask that you complete the SPP September survey by Tuesday, September 26, 2023.


The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey. You can access the survey online by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:


[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about the programs they offered during summer 2022. We found that 44 percent of public schools offered summer learning/enrichment programs hosted by partner organizations.

  • Through your participation, we will learn more about public schools’ summer and after-school program offerings during the 2023-24 school year, which will inform federal decisions regarding the provision of these programs.


To learn more about the School Pulse Panel and to preview the September 2023 questions, visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse. If you have questions, please call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative.



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education












September 2023 Reminder Email 2- September Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools)


[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: Your Response is Important]


Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]:


This is a reminder that the National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to provide your school’s perspective on your experiences with summer 2023 and after-school programs as a part of this month’s School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. Your participation in the September 2023 SPP survey will help ensure that information about your school and others like it is included in policy and funding decisions. We ask that you complete the SPP September survey by Tuesday, September 26, 2023.


The survey will take 30 minutes or less. You can access the survey online by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:


[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about the programs they offered during summer 2022. We found that 44 percent of public schools offered summer learning/enrichment programs hosted by partner organizations.

  • Through your participation, we will learn more about public schools’ summer and after-school program offerings during the 2023-24 school year, which will inform federal decisions regarding the provision of these programs.


To learn more about the School Pulse Panel and to preview the September 2023 questions, visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse. If you have questions, please call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative.



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education











September 2023 Reminder Email 3 – September Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools)


[Subject line: School Pulse Panel: Last Day to Respond to September 2023 Survey is Today]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]:


This is a final reminder to complete the September 2023 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey by today, September 26. We are looking forward to hearing about your school’s experiences with summer 2023 and after-school programs. If you have already responded for September 2023, thank you! Please disregard this notice.


The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and to thank you for your time and effort in completing the entire survey, your school will receive $200. Please complete the September 2023 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:


[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

To learn more about the School Pulse Panel and to preview the September 2023 questions, visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse. If you have questions, please call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative.



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education






















September 2023 Reminder Email 3 – September Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools)


[Subject line: School Pulse Panel: Last Day to Respond to September 2023 Survey is Today]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]:


This is a final reminder to complete the September 2023 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey by today, September 26. We are looking forward to hearing about your school’s experiences with summer 2023 and after-school programs. If you have already responded for September 2023, thank you! Please disregard this notice.


The survey will take 30 minutes or less. Please complete the September 2023 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:


[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

To learn more about the School Pulse Panel and to preview the September 2023 questions, visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse. If you have questions, please call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative.



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education
























October Communication Materials

October 2023 Initial Letter – August 2023 Respondents (Reimbursement Schools)

DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

Thank you for your prior participation in the School Pulse Panel (SPP) data collection. This letter contains your October 2023 SPP survey invitation.

  • This month, we would like to know more about your school’s experiences with staffing vacancies and the tutoring programs currently offered at your school.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

Please complete the 30-minute October 2023 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

Shape6

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]








You should have also received an email invitation that contains this same link and User ID. Please submit your response no later than Tuesday, October 24, 2023. If you have already responded to the October 2023 SPP survey, thank you! Please disregard this letter.


The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about their staffing vacancies. We found that 76 percent of public schools with general elementary positions were fully staffed at this time last year.

  • Through your participation in the October 2023 SPP, we will learn more about staffing vacancies and tutoring programs offered in public schools during the 2023-24 school year. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding staffing vacancies and tutoring programs at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the October 2023 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,



Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education

School Pulse Panel: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a monthly data collection designed to measure a rotating collection of high-priority, education-related topics, as determined by federal stakeholders, interest groups, and school administrators like you.

How is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel different from other education surveys?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a unique study. While surveys like the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the National Teacher and Principal Survey produce benchmark statistics critical to monitoring progress over time, they are only conducted once every few years. The SPP surveys schools each month, providing the U.S. Department of Education and federal policymakers with crucial, real-time information that can quickly inform policies and funding decisions at the federal level.

Why should my school participate?

Your school’s responses provide national, state, and local education leaders with the information needed to make evidence-based decisions about education policy and resource allocation. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all schools inform better policies.

What does it look like to participate on a monthly basis?

Each month’s survey will take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. When surveyed at the conclusion of the 2021-22 School Pulse Panel, 98 percent of participating schools said they felt that the time necessary to complete each monthly survey was reasonable. However, we understand that, as an educator, you are very busy; to show our appreciation for your time and effort for completing the survey, your school will receive $200 for each completed survey you submit. These reimbursements will be mailed five to six weeks after the end of data collection.

How do I participate?

This is the third monthly collection of the 2023-24 school year. Monthly collections will continue through June 2024. Each school will designate a point of contact that will be responsible for completing the survey. Your school’s designated point of contact will receive an invitation to complete the School Pulse Panel survey via regular mail and email. Both will include a link to the survey, which should take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. The person completing the survey can share the link with a colleague if they need help completing the survey. On behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the Census Bureau is collecting the information. A new survey invitation will be issued each month from the email address [email protected]. All participation is voluntary.

Does the person completing the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel for the school have to be the principal?

No. You are welcome to delegate completion of the survey to another staff member who is knowledgeable about programs at the school.

Will you ask the same questions every month?

Some questions may remain on the survey from month to month to learn how schools are experiencing and adapting to change. Other questions may rotate in and out. Topic areas will change monthly and will reflect high-priority, education-related topics that NCES and federal policymakers lack timely data on. You will also help shape content for surveys.

Other important information

By federal law, we are required to protect the responses of all schools included in our survey (see citations at the end of the FAQ). Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports. No teacher or student time is required to complete the survey. Send comments regarding the 30-minute survey burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the National Center for Education Statistics Institute of Education Sciences (IES) PCP, 550 12th Street, SW, 4th floor, Room  4036, Washington, D.C. 20202. According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number is 1850-0975 (expires 07/31/2026).

NCES is authorized to conduct this survey by the American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARP2021; Sec. 2010) and the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). All of the information schools 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). Reports of the findings from the survey will not identify participating Local Education Agencies (LEAs), schools, or staff. Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.

October 2023 Initial Letter – August 2023 Respondents (No Debit Card Schools)

DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

Thank you for your prior participation in the School Pulse Panel (SPP) data collection. This letter contains your October 2023 SPP survey invitation.

  • This month, we would like to know more about your school’s experiences with staffing vacancies and the tutoring programs currently offered at your school.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less.

Please complete the 30-minute October 2023 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

Shape7

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]








You should have also received an email invitation that contains this same link and User ID. Please submit your response no later than Tuesday, October 24, 2023. If you have already responded to the October 2023 SPP survey, thank you! Please disregard this letter.


The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about their staffing vacancies. We found that 76 percent of public schools with general elementary positions were fully staffed at this time last year.

  • Through your participation in the October 2023 SPP, we will learn more about staffing vacancies and tutoring programs offered in public schools during the 2023-24 school year. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding staffing vacancies and tutoring programs at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the October 2023 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,



Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education







School Pulse Panel: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a monthly data collection designed to measure a rotating collection of high-priority, education-related topics, as determined by federal stakeholders, interest groups, and school administrators like you.

How is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel different from other education surveys?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a unique study. While surveys like the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the National Teacher and Principal Survey produce benchmark statistics critical to monitoring progress over time, they are only conducted once every few years. The SPP surveys schools each month, providing the U.S. Department of Education and federal policymakers with crucial, real-time information that can quickly inform policies and funding decisions at the federal level.

Why should my school participate?

Your school’s responses provide national, state, and local education leaders with the information needed to make evidence-based decisions about education policy and resource allocation. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all schools inform better policies.

What does it look like to participate on a monthly basis?

Each month’s survey will take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. When surveyed at the conclusion of the 2021-22 School Pulse Panel, 98 percent of participating schools said they felt that the time necessary to complete each monthly survey was reasonable.

How do I participate?

This is the third monthly collection of the 2023-24 school year. Monthly collections will continue through June 2024. Each school will designate a point of contact that will be responsible for completing the survey. Your school’s designated point of contact will receive an invitation to complete the School Pulse Panel survey via regular mail and email. Both will include a link to the survey, which should take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. The person completing the survey can share the link with a colleague if they need help completing the survey. On behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the Census Bureau is collecting the information. A new survey invitation will be issued each month from the email address [email protected]. All participation is voluntary.

Does the person completing the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel for the school have to be the principal?

No. You are welcome to delegate completion of the survey to another staff member who is knowledgeable about programs at the school.

Will you ask the same questions every month?

Some questions may remain on the survey from month to month to learn how schools are experiencing and adapting to change. Other questions may rotate in and out. Topic areas will change monthly and will reflect high-priority, education-related topics that NCES and federal policymakers lack timely data on. You will also help shape content for surveys.

Other important information

By federal law, we are required to protect the responses of all schools included in our survey (see citations at the end of the FAQ). Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports. No teacher or student time is required to complete the survey. Send comments regarding the 30-minute survey burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the National Center for Education Statistics Institute of Education Sciences (IES) PCP, 550 12th Street, SW, 4th floor, Room  4036, Washington, D.C. 20202. According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number is 1850-0975 (expires 07/31/2026).

NCES is authorized to conduct this survey by the American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARP2021; Sec. 2010) and the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). All of the information schools 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). Reports of the findings from the survey will not identify participating Local Education Agencies (LEAs), schools, or staff. Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.

October 2023 Initial Letter – August 2023 Nonrespondents (Accepts Reimbursement)



DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

The National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to participate in the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. The 2023-24 SPP is a unique opportunity to provide your school’s perspective directly to the Department on a range of high-priority, education-related topics on a monthly basis.

  • This month, we would like to know more about your school’s experiences with staffing vacancies and the tutoring programs currently offered at your school.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

Please complete the 30-minute October 2023 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

Shape8

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]








You should have also received an email invitation that contains this same link and User ID. Please submit your response no later than Tuesday, October 24, 2023. If you have already responded to the October 2023 SPP survey, thank you! Please disregard this letter.


The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about their staffing vacancies. We found that 76 percent of public schools with general elementary positions were fully staffed at this time last year.

  • Through your participation in the October 2023 SPP, we will learn more about staffing vacancies and tutoring programs offered in public schools during the 2023-24 school year. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding staffing vacancies and tutoring programs at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the October 2023 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,


Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education



School Pulse Panel: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a monthly data collection designed to measure a rotating collection of high-priority, education-related topics, as determined by federal stakeholders, interest groups, and school administrators like you.

How is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel different from other education surveys?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a unique study. While surveys like the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the National Teacher and Principal Survey produce benchmark statistics critical to monitoring progress over time, they are only conducted once every few years. The SPP surveys schools each month, providing the U.S. Department of Education and federal policymakers with crucial, real-time information that can quickly inform policies and funding decisions at the federal level.

Why should my school participate?

Your school’s responses provide national, state, and local education leaders with the information needed to make evidence-based decisions about education policy and resource allocation. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all schools inform better policies.

What does it look like to participate on a monthly basis?

Each month’s survey will take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. When surveyed at the conclusion of the 2021-22 School Pulse Panel, 98 percent of participating schools said they felt that the time necessary to complete each monthly survey was reasonable. However, we understand that, as an educator, you are very busy; to show our appreciation for your time and effort for completing the survey, your school will receive $200 for each completed survey you submit. These reimbursements will be mailed five to six weeks after the end of data collection.

How do I participate?

This is the third monthly collection of the 2023-24 school year. Monthly collections will continue through June 2024. Each school will designate a point of contact that will be responsible for completing the survey. Your school’s designated point of contact will receive an invitation to complete the School Pulse Panel survey via regular mail and email. Both will include a link to the survey, which should take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. The person completing the survey can share the link with a colleague if they need help completing the survey. On behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the Census Bureau is collecting the information. A new survey invitation will be issued each month from the email address [email protected]. All participation is voluntary.

Does the person completing the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel for the school have to be the principal?

No. You are welcome to delegate completion of the survey to another staff member who is knowledgeable about programs at the school.

Will you ask the same questions every month?

Some questions may remain on the survey from month to month to learn how schools are experiencing and adapting to change. Other questions may rotate in and out. Topic areas will change monthly and will reflect high-priority, education-related topics that NCES and federal policymakers lack timely data on. You will also help shape content for surveys.

Other important information

By federal law, we are required to protect the responses of all schools included in our survey (see citations at the end of the FAQ). Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports. No teacher or student time is required to complete the survey. Send comments regarding the 30-minute survey burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the National Center for Education Statistics Institute of Education Sciences (IES) PCP, 550 12th Street, SW, 4th floor, Room  4036, Washington, D.C. 20202. According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number is 1850-0975 (expires 07/31/2026).

NCES is authorized to conduct this survey by the American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARP2021; Sec. 2010) and the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). All of the information schools 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). Reports of the findings from the survey will not identify participating Local Education Agencies (LEAs), schools, or staff. Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.

October 2023 Initial Letter – August 2023 Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools)

DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

The National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to participate in the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. The 2023-24 SPP is a unique opportunity to provide your school’s perspective directly to the Department on a range of high-priority, education-related topics on a monthly basis.

  • This month, we would like to know more about your school’s experiences with staffing vacancies and the tutoring programs currently offered at your school.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less.

Please complete the 30-minute October 2023 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

Shape9

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]








You should have also received an email invitation that contains this same link and User ID. Please submit your response no later than Tuesday, October 24, 2023. If you have already responded to the October 2023 SPP survey, thank you! Please disregard this letter.


The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about their staffing vacancies. We found that 76 percent of public schools with general elementary positions were fully staffed at this time last year.

  • Through your participation in the October 2023 SPP, we will learn more about staffing vacancies and tutoring programs offered in public schools during the 2023-24 school year. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding staffing vacancies and tutoring programs at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the October 2023 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,



Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education

School Pulse Panel: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a monthly data collection designed to measure a rotating collection of high-priority, education-related topics, as determined by federal stakeholders, interest groups, and school administrators like you.

How is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel different from other education surveys?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a unique study. While surveys like the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the National Teacher and Principal Survey produce benchmark statistics critical to monitoring progress over time, they are only conducted once every few years. The SPP surveys schools each month, providing the U.S. Department of Education and federal policymakers with crucial, real-time information that can quickly inform policies and funding decisions at the federal level.

Why should my school participate?

Your school’s responses provide national, state, and local education leaders with the information needed to make evidence-based decisions about education policy and resource allocation. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all schools inform better policies.

What does it look like to participate on a monthly basis?

Each month’s survey will take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. When surveyed at the conclusion of the 2021-22 School Pulse Panel, 98 percent of participating schools said they felt that the time necessary to complete each monthly survey was reasonable.

How do I participate?

This is the third monthly collection of the 2023-24 school year. Monthly collections will continue through June 2024. Each school will designate a point of contact that will be responsible for completing the survey. Your school’s designated point of contact will receive an invitation to complete the School Pulse Panel survey via regular mail and email. Both will include a link to the survey, which should take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. The person completing the survey can share the link with a colleague if they need help completing the survey. On behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the Census Bureau is collecting the information. A new survey invitation will be issued each month from the email address [email protected]. All participation is voluntary.

Does the person completing the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel for the school have to be the principal?

No. You are welcome to delegate completion of the survey to another staff member who is knowledgeable about programs at the school.

Will you ask the same questions every month?

Some questions may remain on the survey from month to month to learn how schools are experiencing and adapting to change. Other questions may rotate in and out. Topic areas will change monthly and will reflect high-priority, education-related topics that NCES and federal policymakers lack timely data on. You will also help shape content for surveys.

Other important information

By federal law, we are required to protect the responses of all schools included in our survey (see citations at the end of the FAQ). Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports. No teacher or student time is required to complete the survey. Send comments regarding the 30-minute survey burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the National Center for Education Statistics Institute of Education Sciences (IES) PCP, 550 12th Street, SW, 4th floor, Room  4036, Washington, D.C. 20202. According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number is 1850-0975 (expires 07/31/2026).

NCES is authorized to conduct this survey by the American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARP2021; Sec. 2010) and the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). All of the information schools 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). Reports of the findings from the survey will not identify participating Local Education Agencies (LEAs), schools, or staff. Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.


October 2023 Initial Letter – August 2023 Respondents (No Email Schools, Accepts Reimbursement)

DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

Thank you for your prior participation in the School Pulse Panel (SPP) data collection. This letter contains your October 2023 SPP survey invitation.

  • This month, we would like to know more about your school’s experiences with staffing vacancies and the tutoring programs currently offered at your school.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

Please complete the 30-minute October 2023 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

Shape10

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]











Please submit your response no later than Tuesday, October 24, 2023. The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about their staffing vacancies. We found that 76 percent of public schools with general elementary positions were fully staffed at this time last year.

  • Through your participation in the October 2023 SPP, we will learn more about staffing vacancies and tutoring programs offered in public schools during the 2023-24 school year. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding staffing vacancies and tutoring programs at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the October 2023 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. Unfortunately, we do not have a valid email address on file for you or your school. To receive an electronic link to the survey, please email [email protected] or call 1-844-868-3661 and provide the name and a valid email address for the best point of contact for this study. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics.


We look forward to hearing from you!


Sincerely,



Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education







School Pulse Panel: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a monthly data collection designed to measure a rotating collection of high-priority, education-related topics, as determined by federal stakeholders, interest groups, and school administrators like you.

How is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel different from other education surveys?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a unique study. While surveys like the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the National Teacher and Principal Survey produce benchmark statistics critical to monitoring progress over time, they are only conducted once every few years. The SPP surveys schools each month, providing the U.S. Department of Education and federal policymakers with crucial, real-time information that can quickly inform policies and funding decisions at the federal level.

Why should my school participate?

Your school’s responses provide national, state, and local education leaders with the information needed to make evidence-based decisions about education policy and resource allocation. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all schools inform better policies.

What does it look like to participate on a monthly basis?

Each month’s survey will take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. When surveyed at the conclusion of the 2021-22 School Pulse Panel, 98 percent of participating schools said they felt that the time necessary to complete each monthly survey was reasonable. However, we understand that, as an educator, you are very busy; to show our appreciation for your time and effort for completing the survey, your school will receive $200 for each completed survey you submit. These reimbursements will be mailed five to six weeks after the end of data collection.

How do I participate?

This is the third monthly collection of the 2023-24 school year. Monthly collections will continue through June 2024. We currently do not have an email on file for your school. Please contact [email protected] or call 1-844-868-3661 and provide a valid email address for a designated point of contact for this study. Your school’s designated point of contact will receive an invitation to complete the School Pulse Panel survey via regular mail and email, which will include a link to the survey. The person completing the survey can share the link with a colleague if they need help completing the survey. On behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the Census Bureau is collecting the information. A new survey invitation will be issued each month from the email address [email protected]. All participation is voluntary.

Does the person completing the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel for the school have to be the principal?

No. You are welcome to delegate completion of the survey to another staff member who is knowledgeable about programs at the school.

Will you ask the same questions every month?

Some questions may remain on the survey from month to month to learn how schools are experiencing and adapting to change. Other questions may rotate in and out. Topic areas will change monthly and will reflect high-priority, education-related topics that NCES and federal policymakers lack timely data on. You will also help shape content for surveys.

Other important information

By federal law, we are required to protect the responses of all schools included in our survey (see citations at the end of the FAQ). Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports. No teacher or student time is required to complete the survey. Send comments regarding the 30-minute survey burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the National Center for Education Statistics Institute of Education Sciences (IES) PCP, 550 12th Street, SW, 4th floor, Room  4036, Washington, D.C. 20202. According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number is 1850-0975 (expires 07/31/2026).

NCES is authorized to conduct this survey by the American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARP2021; Sec. 2010) and the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). All of the information schools 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). Reports of the findings from the survey will not identify participating Local Education Agencies (LEAs), schools, or staff. Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.

October 2023 Initial Letter – August 2023 Nonrespondents (No Email Schools, Accepts Reimbursement)

DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

The National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to participate in the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. The 2023-24 SPP is a unique opportunity to provide your school’s perspective directly to the Department on a range of high-priority, education-related topics on a monthly basis.

  • This month, we would like to know more about your school’s experiences with staffing vacancies and the tutoring programs currently offered at your school.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

Please complete the 30-minute October 2023 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

Shape11

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]











Please submit your response no later than Tuesday, October 24, 2023. The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about their staffing vacancies. We found that 76 percent of public schools with general elementary positions were fully staffed at this time last year.

  • Through your participation in the October 2023 SPP, we will learn more about staffing vacancies and tutoring programs offered in public schools during the 2023-24 school year. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding staffing vacancies and tutoring programs at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the October 2023 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. Unfortunately, we do not have a valid email address on file for you or your school. To receive an electronic link to the survey, please email [email protected] or call 1-844-868-3661 and provide the name and a valid email address for the best point of contact for this study. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics.


We look forward to hearing from you!


Sincerely,



Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education





School Pulse Panel: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a monthly data collection designed to measure a rotating collection of high-priority, education-related topics, as determined by federal stakeholders, interest groups, and school administrators like you.

How is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel different from other education surveys?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a unique study. While surveys like the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the National Teacher and Principal Survey produce benchmark statistics critical to monitoring progress over time, they are only conducted once every few years. The SPP surveys schools each month, providing the U.S. Department of Education and federal policymakers with crucial, real-time information that can quickly inform policies and funding decisions at the federal level.

Why should my school participate?

Your school’s responses provide national, state, and local education leaders with the information needed to make evidence-based decisions about education policy and resource allocation. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all schools inform better policies.

What does it look like to participate on a monthly basis?

Each month’s survey will take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. When surveyed at the conclusion of the 2021-22 School Pulse Panel, 98 percent of participating schools said they felt that the time necessary to complete each monthly survey was reasonable. However, we understand that, as an educator, you are very busy; to show our appreciation for your time and effort for completing the survey, your school will receive $200 for each completed survey you submit. These reimbursements will be mailed five to six weeks after the end of data collection.

How do I participate?

This is the third monthly collection of the 2023-24 school year. Monthly collections will continue through June 2024. We currently do not have an email on file for your school. Please contact [email protected] or call 1-844-868-3661 and provide a valid email address for a designated point of contact for this study. Your school’s designated point of contact will receive an invitation to complete the School Pulse Panel survey via regular mail and email, which will include a link to the survey. The person completing the survey can share the link with a colleague if they need help completing the survey. On behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the Census Bureau is collecting the information. A new survey invitation will be issued each month from the email address [email protected]. All participation is voluntary.

Does the person completing the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel for the school have to be the principal?

No. You are welcome to delegate completion of the survey to another staff member who is knowledgeable about programs at the school.

Will you ask the same questions every month?

Some questions may remain on the survey from month to month to learn how schools are experiencing and adapting to change. Other questions may rotate in and out. Topic areas will change monthly and will reflect high-priority, education-related topics that NCES and federal policymakers lack timely data on. You will also help shape content for surveys.

Other important information

By federal law, we are required to protect the responses of all schools included in our survey (see citations at the end of the FAQ). Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports. No teacher or student time is required to complete the survey. Send comments regarding the 30-minute survey burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the National Center for Education Statistics Institute of Education Sciences (IES) PCP, 550 12th Street, SW, 4th floor, Room  4036, Washington, D.C. 20202. According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number is 1850-0975 (expires 07/31/2026).

NCES is authorized to conduct this survey by the American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARP2021; Sec. 2010) and the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). All of the information schools 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). Reports of the findings from the survey will not identify participating Local Education Agencies (LEAs), schools, or staff. Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.

October 2023 Initial Email – September 2023 Respondents (Reimbursement Schools)

[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: October Survey Invitation]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

Thank you for participating in the September 2023 School Pulse Panel (SPP) data collection. This email contains your October survey invitation. Please complete the survey by Tuesday, October 24, 2023.

  • The October survey collects data on your school’s experiences with staffing vacancies and the tutoring programs currently offered at your school.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less.

  • Your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

  • Please complete the October survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about their tutoring offerings. We found that 59 percent of public schools offered standard tutoring at their school during the 2022-23 school year.

  • Through your participation in the October 2023 SPP, we will learn more about staffing vacancies and tutoring programs offered in public schools during the 2023-24 school year. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding staffing vacancies and tutoring programs at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the October 2023 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education








October 2023 Initial Email – September 2023 Respondents (No Debit Card Schools)

[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: October Survey Invitation]

DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

Thank you for participating in the September 2023 School Pulse Panel (SPP) data collection. This email contains your October survey invitation. Please complete the survey by Tuesday, October 24, 2023.

  • The October survey collects data your school’s experiences with staffing vacancies and the tutoring programs currently offered at your school.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less.

  • Please complete the October survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about their tutoring offerings. We found that 59 percent of public schools offered standard tutoring at their school during the 2022-23 school year.

  • Through your participation in the October 2023 SPP, we will learn more about staffing vacancies and tutoring programs offered in public schools during the 2023-24 school year. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding staffing vacancies and tutoring programs at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the October 2023 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education









October 2023 Initial Email – September 2023 Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools)

[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: October Survey Invitation]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

The National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to participate in the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. The 2023-24 SPP is a unique opportunity to provide your school’s perspective directly to the Department on a range of high-priority, education-related topics on a monthly basis.

  • The October survey collects data your school’s experiences with staffing vacancies and the tutoring programs currently offered at your school.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

Please complete the 30-minute October 2023 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about their tutoring offerings. We found that 59 percent of public schools offered standard tutoring at their school during the 2022-23 school year.

  • Through your participation in the October 2023 SPP, we will learn more about staffing vacancies and tutoring programs offered in public schools during the 2023-24 school year. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding staffing vacancies and tutoring programs at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the October 2023 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education







October 2023 Initial Email – September 2023 Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools)

[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: October Survey Invitation]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

The National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to participate in the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. The 2023-24 SPP is a unique opportunity to provide your school’s perspective directly to the Department on a range of high-priority, education-related topics on a monthly basis.

  • The October survey collects data your school’s experiences with staffing vacancies and the tutoring programs currently offered at your school.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less.

Please complete the 30-minute October 2023 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about their tutoring offerings. We found that 59 percent of public schools offered standard tutoring at their school during the 2022-23 school year.

  • Through your participation in the October 2023 SPP, we will learn more about staffing vacancies and tutoring programs offered in public schools during the 2023-24 school year. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding staffing vacancies and tutoring programs at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the October 2023 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education







October 2023 Reminder Email 1 – October Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools)


[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: October Survey Reminder]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL NAME]:

Did you know that, of the 59 percent of public schools that offered standard tutoring to their students during the 2022-23 school year, 39 percent of these schools indicated that a lack of funding to hire staff was a barrier to providing this type of tutoring to their students? Through your participation in the October 2023 School Pulse Panel (SPP), we will learn more about public schools’ tutoring program offerings during the 2023-24 school year, which will inform federal decisions regarding the provision of these programs.

This is a reminder to complete the October 2023 survey by Tuesday, October 24, 2023. To thank you for your time and effort in providing this information, your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

  • This month’s survey will ask you to reflect on your school’s experiences with staffing vacancies and the tutoring programs currently offered at your school.

  • The survey will take approximately 30 minutes or less to complete. You can access the survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

  • Your school is among a small number of schools selected to participate in the Panel. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all public schools inform better policies.

  • By participating in the 2023-24 SPP, you will ensure that information about your school and others like it is included in policy and funding decisions.


If you need help or have questions, you may visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse, call 1-844-868-3661, or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative. We look forward to your school’s participation in this month’s collection!



Sincerely,





Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education










October 2023 Reminder Email 1 – October Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools)


[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: October Survey Reminder]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL NAME]:

Did you know that, of the 59 percent of public schools that offered standard tutoring to their students during the 2022-23 school year, 39 percent of these schools indicated that a lack of funding to hire staff was a barrier to providing this type of tutoring to their students? Through your participation in the October 2023 School Pulse Panel (SPP), we will learn more about public schools’ tutoring program offerings during the 2023-24 school year, which will inform federal decisions regarding the provision of these programs.

This is a reminder to complete the October 2023 survey by Tuesday, October 24, 2023.

  • This month’s survey will ask you to reflect on your school’s experiences with staffing vacancies and the tutoring programs currently offered at your school.

  • The survey will take approximately 30 minutes or less to complete. You can access the survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

  • Your school is among a small number of schools selected to participate in the Panel. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all public schools inform better policies.

  • By participating in the 2023-24 SPP, you will ensure that information about your school and others like it is included in policy and funding decisions.


If you need help or have questions, you may visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse, call 1-844-868-3661, or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative. We look forward to your school’s participation in this month’s collection!



Sincerely,





Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education










October 2023 Reminder Email 2 – October Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools)


[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: Your Response is Important]


Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]:


This is a reminder that the National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to provide your school’s perspective on your experiences with staffing vacancies and the tutoring programs currently offered at your school as a part of this month’s School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. Your participation in the October 2023 survey will help ensure that information about your school and others like it is included in policy and funding decisions. We ask that you complete the SPP October survey by Tuesday, October 24, 2023.


The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey. You can access the survey online by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:



[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about their staffing vacancies. We found that 91 percent of public schools with mental health professional positions were fully staffed at this time last year.

  • Through your participation, we will learn more about public schools’ staffing vacancies and the tutoring programs currently offered during the 2023-24 school year, which will inform decisions and policy regarding staffing vacancies and tutoring programs at the federal level.


To learn more about the School Pulse Panel and to preview the October 2023 questions, visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse. If you have questions, please call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative.



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education












October 2023 Reminder Email 2- October Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools)


[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: Your Response is Important]


Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]:


This is a reminder that the National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to provide your school’s perspective on your experiences with staffing vacancies and the tutoring programs currently offered at your school as a part of this month’s School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. Your participation in the October 2023 survey will help ensure that information about your school and others like it is included in policy and funding decisions. We ask that you complete the SPP October survey by Tuesday, October 24, 2023.


The survey will take 30 minutes or less. You can access the survey online by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:



[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about their staffing vacancies. We found that 91 percent of public schools with mental health professional positions were fully staffed at this time last year.

  • Through your participation, we will learn more about public schools’ staffing vacancies and the tutoring programs currently offered during the 2023-24 school year, which will inform decisions and policy regarding staffing vacancies and tutoring programs at the federal level.


To learn more about the School Pulse Panel and to preview the October 2023 questions, visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse. If you have questions, please call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative.



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education









October 2023 Reminder Email 3 – October Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools)


[Subject line: School Pulse Panel: Last Day to Respond to October 2023 Survey is Today]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]:


This is a final reminder to complete the October 2023 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey by today, October 24. We are looking forward to hearing about your school’s experiences with staffing vacancies and the tutoring programs you offer. If you have already responded for October 2023, thank you! Please disregard this notice.


The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and to thank you for your time and effort in completing the entire survey, your school will receive $200. Please complete the October 2023 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:


[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

To learn more about the School Pulse Panel and to preview the October 2023 questions, visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse. If you have questions, please call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative.



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education






















October 2023 Reminder Email 3 – October Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools)


[Subject line: School Pulse Panel: Last Day to Respond to October 2023 Survey is Today]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]:


This is a final reminder to complete the October 2023 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey by today, October 24. We are looking forward to hearing about your school’s experiences with staffing vacancies and the tutoring programs you offer. If you have already responded for October 2023, thank you! Please disregard this notice.


The survey will take 30 minutes or less. Please complete the October 2023 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:


[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

To learn more about the School Pulse Panel and to preview the October 2023 questions, visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse. If you have questions, please call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative.



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education























November Communication Materials

November 2023 Initial Letter – September 2023 Respondents (Reimbursement Schools)

DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

Thank you for your prior participation in the School Pulse Panel (SPP) data collection. This letter contains your November 2023 SPP survey invitation.

  • This month, we would like to know more about your school’s experiences with attendance, food services and supply chains, and school improvement plans.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

Please complete the 30-minute November 2023 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

Shape12

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]








You should have also received an email invitation that contains this same link and User ID. Please submit your response no later than Tuesday, November 28, 2023. If you have already responded to the November 2023 SPP survey, thank you! Please disregard this letter.


The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about their school meal programs. We found that 73 percent of public schools collected household applications for free or reduced-price school meals during the 2022-23 school year.

  • Through your participation in the November 2023 SPP, we will learn more about food services offered in public schools during the 2023-24 school year, among other topics. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding school meal programs and other topics at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the November 2023 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,



Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education

School Pulse Panel: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a monthly data collection designed to measure a rotating collection of high-priority, education-related topics, as determined by federal stakeholders, interest groups, and school administrators like you.

How is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel different from other education surveys?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a unique study. While surveys like the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the National Teacher and Principal Survey produce benchmark statistics critical to monitoring progress over time, they are only conducted once every few years. The SPP surveys schools each month, providing the U.S. Department of Education and federal policymakers with crucial, real-time information that can quickly inform policies and funding decisions at the federal level.

Why should my school participate?

Your school’s responses provide national, state, and local education leaders with the information needed to make evidence-based decisions about education policy and resource allocation. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all schools inform better policies.

What does it look like to participate on a monthly basis?

Each month’s survey will take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. When surveyed at the conclusion of the 2021-22 School Pulse Panel, 98 percent of participating schools said they felt that the time necessary to complete each monthly survey was reasonable. However, we understand that, as an educator, you are very busy; to show our appreciation for your time and effort for completing the survey, your school will receive $200 for each completed survey you submit. These reimbursements will be mailed five to six weeks after the end of data collection.

How do I participate?

This is the fourth monthly collection of the 2023-24 school year. Monthly collections will continue through June 2024. Each school will designate a point of contact that will be responsible for completing the survey. Your school’s designated point of contact will receive an invitation to complete the School Pulse Panel survey via regular mail and email. Both will include a link to the survey, which should take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. The person completing the survey can share the link with a colleague if they need help completing the survey. On behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the Census Bureau is collecting the information. A new survey invitation will be issued each month from the email address [email protected]. All participation is voluntary.

Does the person completing the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel for the school have to be the principal?

No. You are welcome to delegate completion of the survey to another staff member who is knowledgeable about programs at the school.

Will you ask the same questions every month?

Some questions may remain on the survey from month to month to learn how schools are experiencing and adapting to change. Other questions may rotate in and out. Topic areas will change monthly and will reflect high-priority, education-related topics that NCES and federal policymakers lack timely data on. You will also help shape content for surveys.

Other important information

By federal law, we are required to protect the responses of all schools included in our survey (see citations at the end of the FAQ). Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports. No teacher or student time is required to complete the survey. Send comments regarding the 30-minute survey burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the National Center for Education Statistics Institute of Education Sciences (IES) PCP, 550 12th Street, SW, 4th floor, Room  4036, Washington, D.C. 20202. According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number is 1850-0975 (expires 07/31/2026).

NCES is authorized to conduct this survey by the American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARP2021; Sec. 2010) and the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). All of the information schools 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). Reports of the findings from the survey will not identify participating Local Education Agencies (LEAs), schools, or staff. Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.

November 2023 Initial Letter – September 2023 Respondents (No Debit Card Schools)

DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

Thank you for your prior participation in the School Pulse Panel (SPP) data collection. This letter contains your November 2023 SPP survey invitation.

  • This month, we would like to know more about your school’s experiences with attendance, food services and supply chains, and school improvement plans.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less.

Please complete the 30-minute November 2023 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

Shape13

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]








You should have also received an email invitation that contains this same link and User ID. Please submit your response no later than Tuesday, November 28, 2023. If you have already responded to the November 2023 SPP survey, thank you! Please disregard this letter.


The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about their school meal programs. We found that 73 percent of public schools collected household applications for free or reduced-price school meals during the 2022-23 school year.

  • Through your participation in the November 2023 SPP, we will learn more about food services offered in public schools during the 2023-24 school year, among other topics. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding school meal programs and other topics at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the November 2023 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,



Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education







School Pulse Panel: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a monthly data collection designed to measure a rotating collection of high-priority, education-related topics, as determined by federal stakeholders, interest groups, and school administrators like you.

How is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel different from other education surveys?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a unique study. While surveys like the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the National Teacher and Principal Survey produce benchmark statistics critical to monitoring progress over time, they are only conducted once every few years. The SPP surveys schools each month, providing the U.S. Department of Education and federal policymakers with crucial, real-time information that can quickly inform policies and funding decisions at the federal level.

Why should my school participate?

Your school’s responses provide national, state, and local education leaders with the information needed to make evidence-based decisions about education policy and resource allocation. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all schools inform better policies.

What does it look like to participate on a monthly basis?

Each month’s survey will take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. When surveyed at the conclusion of the 2021-22 School Pulse Panel, 98 percent of participating schools said they felt that the time necessary to complete each monthly survey was reasonable.

How do I participate?

This is the fourth monthly collection of the 2023-24 school year. Monthly collections will continue through June 2024. Each school will designate a point of contact that will be responsible for completing the survey. Your school’s designated point of contact will receive an invitation to complete the School Pulse Panel survey via regular mail and email. Both will include a link to the survey, which should take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. The person completing the survey can share the link with a colleague if they need help completing the survey. On behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the Census Bureau is collecting the information. A new survey invitation will be issued each month from the email address [email protected]. All participation is voluntary.

Does the person completing the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel for the school have to be the principal?

No. You are welcome to delegate completion of the survey to another staff member who is knowledgeable about programs at the school.

Will you ask the same questions every month?

Some questions may remain on the survey from month to month to learn how schools are experiencing and adapting to change. Other questions may rotate in and out. Topic areas will change monthly and will reflect high-priority, education-related topics that NCES and federal policymakers lack timely data on. You will also help shape content for surveys.

Other important information

By federal law, we are required to protect the responses of all schools included in our survey (see citations at the end of the FAQ). Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports. No teacher or student time is required to complete the survey. Send comments regarding the 30-minute survey burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the National Center for Education Statistics Institute of Education Sciences (IES) PCP, 550 12th Street, SW, 4th floor, Room  4036, Washington, D.C. 20202. According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number is 1850-0975 (expires 07/31/2026).

NCES is authorized to conduct this survey by the American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARP2021; Sec. 2010) and the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). All of the information schools 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). Reports of the findings from the survey will not identify participating Local Education Agencies (LEAs), schools, or staff. Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.

November 2023 Initial Letter – September 2023 Nonrespondents (Accepts Reimbursement)



DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

The National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to participate in the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. The 2023-24 SPP is a unique opportunity to provide your school’s perspective directly to the Department on a range of high-priority, education-related topics on a monthly basis.

  • This month, we would like to know more about your school’s experiences with attendance, food services and supply chains, and school improvement plans.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

Please complete the 30-minute November 2023 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

Shape14

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]








You should have also received an email invitation that contains this same link and User ID. Please submit your response no later than Tuesday, November 28, 2023. If you have already responded to the November 2023 SPP survey, thank you! Please disregard this letter.


The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about their school meal programs. We found that 73 percent of public schools collected household applications for free or reduced-price school meals during the 2022-23 school year.

  • Through your participation in the November 2023 SPP, we will learn more about food services offered in public schools during the 2023-24 school year, among other topics. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding school meal programs and other topics at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the November 2023 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,


Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education


School Pulse Panel: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a monthly data collection designed to measure a rotating collection of high-priority, education-related topics, as determined by federal stakeholders, interest groups, and school administrators like you.

How is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel different from other education surveys?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a unique study. While surveys like the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the National Teacher and Principal Survey produce benchmark statistics critical to monitoring progress over time, they are only conducted once every few years. The SPP surveys schools each month, providing the U.S. Department of Education and federal policymakers with crucial, real-time information that can quickly inform policies and funding decisions at the federal level.

Why should my school participate?

Your school’s responses provide national, state, and local education leaders with the information needed to make evidence-based decisions about education policy and resource allocation. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all schools inform better policies.

What does it look like to participate on a monthly basis?

Each month’s survey will take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. When surveyed at the conclusion of the 2021-22 School Pulse Panel, 98 percent of participating schools said they felt that the time necessary to complete each monthly survey was reasonable. However, we understand that, as an educator, you are very busy; to show our appreciation for your time and effort for completing the survey, your school will receive $200 for each completed survey you submit. These reimbursements will be mailed five to six weeks after the end of data collection.

How do I participate?

This is the fourth monthly collection of the 2023-24 school year. Monthly collections will continue through June 2024. Each school will designate a point of contact that will be responsible for completing the survey. Your school’s designated point of contact will receive an invitation to complete the School Pulse Panel survey via regular mail and email. Both will include a link to the survey, which should take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. The person completing the survey can share the link with a colleague if they need help completing the survey. On behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the Census Bureau is collecting the information. A new survey invitation will be issued each month from the email address [email protected]. All participation is voluntary.

Does the person completing the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel for the school have to be the principal?

No. You are welcome to delegate completion of the survey to another staff member who is knowledgeable about programs at the school.

Will you ask the same questions every month?

Some questions may remain on the survey from month to month to learn how schools are experiencing and adapting to change. Other questions may rotate in and out. Topic areas will change monthly and will reflect high-priority, education-related topics that NCES and federal policymakers lack timely data on. You will also help shape content for surveys.

Other important information

By federal law, we are required to protect the responses of all schools included in our survey (see citations at the end of the FAQ). Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports. No teacher or student time is required to complete the survey. Send comments regarding the 30-minute survey burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the National Center for Education Statistics Institute of Education Sciences (IES) PCP, 550 12th Street, SW, 4th floor, Room  4036, Washington, D.C. 20202. According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number is 1850-0975 (expires 07/31/2026).

NCES is authorized to conduct this survey by the American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARP2021; Sec. 2010) and the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). All of the information schools 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). Reports of the findings from the survey will not identify participating Local Education Agencies (LEAs), schools, or staff. Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.

November 2023 Initial Letter – September 2023 Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools)

DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

The National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to participate in the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. The 2023-24 SPP is a unique opportunity to provide your school’s perspective directly to the Department on a range of high-priority, education-related topics on a monthly basis.

  • This month, we would like to know more about your school’s experiences with attendance, food services and supply chains, and school improvement plans.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less.

Please complete the 30-minute November 2023 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

Shape15

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]








You should have also received an email invitation that contains this same link and User ID. Please submit your response no later than Tuesday, November 28, 2023. If you have already responded to the November 2023 SPP survey, thank you! Please disregard this letter.


The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about their school meal programs. We found that 73 percent of public schools collected household applications for free or reduced-price school meals during the 2022-23 school year.

  • Through your participation in the November 2023 SPP, we will learn more about food services offered in public schools during the 2023-24 school year, among other topics. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding school meal programs and other topics at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the November 2023 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,



Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education

School Pulse Panel: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a monthly data collection designed to measure a rotating collection of high-priority, education-related topics, as determined by federal stakeholders, interest groups, and school administrators like you.

How is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel different from other education surveys?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a unique study. While surveys like the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the National Teacher and Principal Survey produce benchmark statistics critical to monitoring progress over time, they are only conducted once every few years. The SPP surveys schools each month, providing the U.S. Department of Education and federal policymakers with crucial, real-time information that can quickly inform policies and funding decisions at the federal level.

Why should my school participate?

Your school’s responses provide national, state, and local education leaders with the information needed to make evidence-based decisions about education policy and resource allocation. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all schools inform better policies.

What does it look like to participate on a monthly basis?

Each month’s survey will take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. When surveyed at the conclusion of the 2021-22 School Pulse Panel, 98 percent of participating schools said they felt that the time necessary to complete each monthly survey was reasonable.

How do I participate?

This is the fourth monthly collection of the 2023-24 school year. Monthly collections will continue through June 2024. Each school will designate a point of contact that will be responsible for completing the survey. Your school’s designated point of contact will receive an invitation to complete the School Pulse Panel survey via regular mail and email. Both will include a link to the survey, which should take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. The person completing the survey can share the link with a colleague if they need help completing the survey. On behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the Census Bureau is collecting the information. A new survey invitation will be issued each month from the email address [email protected]. All participation is voluntary.

Does the person completing the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel for the school have to be the principal?

No. You are welcome to delegate completion of the survey to another staff member who is knowledgeable about programs at the school.

Will you ask the same questions every month?

Some questions may remain on the survey from month to month to learn how schools are experiencing and adapting to change. Other questions may rotate in and out. Topic areas will change monthly and will reflect high-priority, education-related topics that NCES and federal policymakers lack timely data on. You will also help shape content for surveys.

Other important information

By federal law, we are required to protect the responses of all schools included in our survey (see citations at the end of the FAQ). Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports. No teacher or student time is required to complete the survey. Send comments regarding the 30-minute survey burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the National Center for Education Statistics Institute of Education Sciences (IES) PCP, 550 12th Street, SW, 4th floor, Room  4036, Washington, D.C. 20202. According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number is 1850-0975 (expires 07/31/2026).

NCES is authorized to conduct this survey by the American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARP2021; Sec. 2010) and the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). All of the information schools 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). Reports of the findings from the survey will not identify participating Local Education Agencies (LEAs), schools, or staff. Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.


November 2023 Initial Letter – September 2023 Respondents (No Email Schools, Accepts Reimbursement)

DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

Thank you for your prior participation in the School Pulse Panel (SPP) data collection. This letter contains your November 2023 SPP survey invitation.

  • This month, we would like to know more about your school’s experiences with attendance, food services and supply chains, and school improvement plans.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

Please complete the 30-minute November 2023 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

Shape16

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]











Please submit your response no later than Tuesday, November 28, 2023. The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about their school meal programs. We found that 73 percent of public schools collected household applications for free or reduced-price school meals during the 2022-23 school year.

  • Through your participation in the November 2023 SPP, we will learn more about food services offered in public schools during the 2023-24 school year, among other topics. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding school meal programs and other topics at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the November 2023 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. Unfortunately, we do not have a valid email address on file for you or your school. To receive an electronic link to the survey, please email [email protected] or call 1-844-868-3661 and provide the name and a valid email address for the best point of contact for this study. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics.


We look forward to hearing from you!


Sincerely,



Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education







School Pulse Panel: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a monthly data collection designed to measure a rotating collection of high-priority, education-related topics, as determined by federal stakeholders, interest groups, and school administrators like you.

How is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel different from other education surveys?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a unique study. While surveys like the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the National Teacher and Principal Survey produce benchmark statistics critical to monitoring progress over time, they are only conducted once every few years. The SPP surveys schools each month, providing the U.S. Department of Education and federal policymakers with crucial, real-time information that can quickly inform policies and funding decisions at the federal level.

Why should my school participate?

Your school’s responses provide national, state, and local education leaders with the information needed to make evidence-based decisions about education policy and resource allocation. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all schools inform better policies.

What does it look like to participate on a monthly basis?

Each month’s survey will take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. When surveyed at the conclusion of the 2021-22 School Pulse Panel, 98 percent of participating schools said they felt that the time necessary to complete each monthly survey was reasonable. However, we understand that, as an educator, you are very busy; to show our appreciation for your time and effort for completing the survey, your school will receive $200 for each completed survey you submit. These reimbursements will be mailed five to six weeks after the end of data collection.

How do I participate?

This is the fourth monthly collection of the 2023-24 school year. Monthly collections will continue through June 2024. We currently do not have an email on file for your school. Please contact [email protected] or call 1-844-868-3661 and provide a valid email address for a designated point of contact for this study. Your school’s designated point of contact will receive an invitation to complete the School Pulse Panel survey via regular mail and email, which will include a link to the survey. The person completing the survey can share the link with a colleague if they need help completing the survey. On behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the Census Bureau is collecting the information. A new survey invitation will be issued each month from the email address [email protected]. All participation is voluntary.

Does the person completing the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel for the school have to be the principal?

No. You are welcome to delegate completion of the survey to another staff member who is knowledgeable about programs at the school.

Will you ask the same questions every month?

Some questions may remain on the survey from month to month to learn how schools are experiencing and adapting to change. Other questions may rotate in and out. Topic areas will change monthly and will reflect high-priority, education-related topics that NCES and federal policymakers lack timely data on. You will also help shape content for surveys.

Other important information

By federal law, we are required to protect the responses of all schools included in our survey (see citations at the end of the FAQ). Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports. No teacher or student time is required to complete the survey. Send comments regarding the 30-minute survey burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the National Center for Education Statistics Institute of Education Sciences (IES) PCP, 550 12th Street, SW, 4th floor, Room  4036, Washington, D.C. 20202. According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number is 1850-0975 (expires 07/31/2026).

NCES is authorized to conduct this survey by the American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARP2021; Sec. 2010) and the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). All of the information schools 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). Reports of the findings from the survey will not identify participating Local Education Agencies (LEAs), schools, or staff. Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.

November 2023 Initial Letter – September 2023 Nonrespondents (No Email Schools, Accepts Reimbursement)

DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

The National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to participate in the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. The 2023-24 SPP is a unique opportunity to provide your school’s perspective directly to the Department on a range of high-priority, education-related topics on a monthly basis.

  • This month, we would like to know more about your school’s experiences with attendance, food services and supply chains, and school improvement plans.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

Please complete the 30-minute November 2023 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

Shape17

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]











Please submit your response no later than Tuesday, November 28, 2023.

The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about their school meal programs. We found that 73 percent of public schools collected household applications for free or reduced-price school meals during the 2022-23 school year.

  • Through your participation in the November 2023 SPP, we will learn more about food services offered in public schools during the 2023-24 school year, among other topics. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding school meal programs and other topics at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the November 2023 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. Unfortunately, we do not have a valid email address on file for you or your school. To receive an electronic link to the survey, please email [email protected] or call 1-844-868-3661 and provide the name and a valid email address for the best point of contact for this study. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics.


We look forward to hearing from you!


Sincerely,



Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education



School Pulse Panel: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a monthly data collection designed to measure a rotating collection of high-priority, education-related topics, as determined by federal stakeholders, interest groups, and school administrators like you.

How is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel different from other education surveys?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a unique study. While surveys like the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the National Teacher and Principal Survey produce benchmark statistics critical to monitoring progress over time, they are only conducted once every few years. The SPP surveys schools each month, providing the U.S. Department of Education and federal policymakers with crucial, real-time information that can quickly inform policies and funding decisions at the federal level.

Why should my school participate?

Your school’s responses provide national, state, and local education leaders with the information needed to make evidence-based decisions about education policy and resource allocation. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all schools inform better policies.

What does it look like to participate on a monthly basis?

Each month’s survey will take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. When surveyed at the conclusion of the 2021-22 School Pulse Panel, 98 percent of participating schools said they felt that the time necessary to complete each monthly survey was reasonable. However, we understand that, as an educator, you are very busy; to show our appreciation for your time and effort for completing the survey, your school will receive $200 for each completed survey you submit. These reimbursements will be mailed five to six weeks after the end of data collection.

How do I participate?

This is the fourth monthly collection of the 2023-24 school year. Monthly collections will continue through June 2024. We currently do not have an email on file for your school. Please contact [email protected] or call 1-844-868-3661 and provide a valid email address for a designated point of contact for this study. Your school’s designated point of contact will receive an invitation to complete the School Pulse Panel survey via regular mail and email, which will include a link to the survey. The person completing the survey can share the link with a colleague if they need help completing the survey. On behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the Census Bureau is collecting the information. A new survey invitation will be issued each month from the email address [email protected]. All participation is voluntary.

Does the person completing the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel for the school have to be the principal?

No. You are welcome to delegate completion of the survey to another staff member who is knowledgeable about programs at the school.

Will you ask the same questions every month?

Some questions may remain on the survey from month to month to learn how schools are experiencing and adapting to change. Other questions may rotate in and out. Topic areas will change monthly and will reflect high-priority, education-related topics that NCES and federal policymakers lack timely data on. You will also help shape content for surveys.

Other important information

By federal law, we are required to protect the responses of all schools included in our survey (see citations at the end of the FAQ). Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports. No teacher or student time is required to complete the survey. Send comments regarding the 30-minute survey burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the National Center for Education Statistics Institute of Education Sciences (IES) PCP, 550 12th Street, SW, 4th floor, Room  4036, Washington, D.C. 20202. According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number is 1850-0975 (expires 07/31/2026).

NCES is authorized to conduct this survey by the American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARP2021; Sec. 2010) and the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). All of the information schools 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). Reports of the findings from the survey will not identify participating Local Education Agencies (LEAs), schools, or staff. Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.



November 2023 Initial Email – October 2023 Respondents (Reimbursement Schools)

[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: November Survey Invitation]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

Thank you for participating in the October 2023 School Pulse Panel (SPP) data collection. This email contains your November survey invitation. Please complete the survey by Tuesday, November 28, 2023.

  • The November survey collects data on your school’s experiences with attendance, food services and supply chains, and school improvement plans.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less.

  • Your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

  • Please complete the November survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about their school meal programs. We found that, of the 94 percent of public schools offering a school meal program at their school, 34 percent said they had experienced challenges convincing parents to submit applications for free or reduced-price meals during the 2022-23 school year.

  • Through your participation in the November 2023 SPP, we will learn more about food services offered in public schools during the 2023-24 school year, among other topics. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding school meal programs and other topics at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the November 2023 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education







November 2023 Initial Email – October 2023 Respondents (No Debit Card Schools)

[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: November Survey Invitation]

DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

Thank you for participating in the October 2023 School Pulse Panel (SPP) data collection. This email contains your November survey invitation. Please complete the survey by Tuesday, November 28, 2023.

  • The November survey collects data your school’s experiences with attendance, food services and supply chains, and school improvement plans.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less.

  • Please complete the November survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about their school meal programs. We found that, of the 94 percent of public schools offering a school meal program at their school, 34 percent said they had experienced challenges convincing parents to submit applications for free or reduced-price meals during the 2022-23 school year.

  • Through your participation in the November 2023 SPP, we will learn more about food services offered in public schools during the 2023-24 school year, among other topics. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding school meal programs and other topics at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the November 2023 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education









November 2023 Initial Email – October 2023 Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools)

[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: November Survey Invitation]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

The National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to participate in the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. The 2023-24 SPP is a unique opportunity to provide your school’s perspective directly to the Department on a range of high-priority, education-related topics on a monthly basis.

  • The November survey collects data your school’s experiences with attendance, food services and supply chains, and school improvement plans.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

Please complete the 30-minute November 2023 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about their school meal programs. We found that, of the 94 percent of public schools offering a school meal program at their school, 34 percent said they had experienced challenges convincing parents to submit applications for free or reduced-price meals during the 2022-23 school year.

  • Through your participation in the November 2023 SPP, we will learn more about food services offered in public schools during the 2023-24 school year, among other topics. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding school meal programs and other topics at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the November 2023 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education





November 2023 Initial Email – October 2023 Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools)

[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: November Survey Invitation]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

The National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to participate in the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. The 2023-24 SPP is a unique opportunity to provide your school’s perspective directly to the Department on a range of high-priority, education-related topics on a monthly basis.

  • The November survey collects data your school’s experiences with attendance, food services and supply chains, and school improvement plans.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less.

Please complete the 30-minute November 2023 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about their school meal programs. We found that, of the 94 percent of public schools offering a school meal program at their school, 34 percent said they had experienced challenges convincing parents to submit applications for free or reduced-price meals during the 2022-23 school year.

  • Through your participation in the November 2023 SPP, we will learn more about food services offered in public schools during the 2023-24 school year, among other topics. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding school meal programs and other topics at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the November 2023 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education







November 2023 Reminder Email 1 – November Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools)


[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: November Survey Reminder]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL NAME]:

Did you know that, of the 94 percent of public schools that offered a meal program at their school during the 2022-23 school year, 18 percent indicated they had not experienced any challenges with school meal program operations? Through your participation in the November 2023 School Pulse Panel (SPP), we will learn more about public schools’ meal programs during the 2023-24 school year, which will inform decisions and policy regarding school meal programs at the federal level.

This is a reminder to complete the November 2023 survey by Tuesday, November 28, 2023. To thank you for your time and effort in providing this information, your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

  • This month’s survey will ask you to reflect on your school’s experiences with attendance, food services and supply chains, and school improvement plans.

  • The survey will take approximately 30 minutes or less to complete. You can access the survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

  • Your school is among a small number of schools selected to participate in the Panel. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all public schools inform better policies.

  • By participating in the 2023-24 SPP, you will ensure that information about your school and others like it is included in policy and funding decisions.


If you need help or have questions, you may visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse, call 1-844-868-3661, or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative. We look forward to your school’s participation in this month’s collection!



Sincerely,





Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education










November 2023 Reminder Email 1 – November Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools)


[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: November Survey Reminder]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL NAME]:

Did you know that, of the 94 percent of public schools that offered a meal program at their school during the 2022-23 school year, 18 percent indicated they had not experienced any challenges with school meal program operations? Through your participation in the November 2023 School Pulse Panel (SPP), we will learn more about public schools’ meal programs during the 2023-24 school year, which will inform decisions and policy regarding school meal programs at the federal level.

This is a reminder to complete the November 2023 survey by Tuesday, November 28, 2023.

  • This month’s survey will ask you to reflect on your school’s experiences with attendance, food services and supply chains, and school improvement plans.

  • The survey will take approximately 30 minutes or less to complete. You can access the survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

  • Your school is among a small number of schools selected to participate in the Panel. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all public schools inform better policies.

  • By participating in the 2023-24 SPP, you will ensure that information about your school and others like it is included in policy and funding decisions.


If you need help or have questions, you may visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse, call 1-844-868-3661, or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative. We look forward to your school’s participation in this month’s collection!



Sincerely,





Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education











November 2023 Reminder Email 2 – November Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools)


[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: Your Response is Important]


Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]:


This is a reminder that the National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to provide your school’s perspective on your experiences with attendance, food services and supply chains, and school improvement plans as a part of this month’s School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. Your participation in the November 2023 survey will help ensure that information about your school and others like it is included in policy and funding decisions. We ask that you complete the SPP November survey by Tuesday, November 28, 2023.


The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey. You can access the survey online by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:



[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about their school meal programs. We found that, of the 88 percent of public schools offering the USDA School Meal Program as of October 2022, 26 percent said that all of their students participated in the program.

  • Through your participation, we will learn more about public schools’ meal program offerings during the 2023-24 school year, which will inform decisions and policy regarding school meal programs at the federal level.


To learn more about the School Pulse Panel and to preview the November 2023 questions, visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse. If you have questions, please call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative.



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education











November 2023 Reminder Email 2- November Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools)


[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: Your Response is Important]


Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]:


This is a reminder that the National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to provide your school’s perspective on your experiences with attendance, food services and supply chains, and school improvement plans as a part of this month’s School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. Your participation in the November 2023 survey will help ensure that information about your school and others like it is included in policy and funding decisions. We ask that you complete the SPP November survey by Tuesday, November 28, 2023.


The survey will take 30 minutes or less. You can access the survey online by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:



[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about their school meal programs. We found that, of the 88 percent of public schools offering the USDA School Meal Program as of October 2022, 26 percent said that all of their students participated in the program.

  • Through your participation, we will learn more about public schools’ meal program offerings during the 2023-24 school year, which will inform decisions and policy regarding school meal programs at the federal level.


To learn more about the School Pulse Panel and to preview the November 2023 questions, visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse. If you have questions, please call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative.



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education









November 2023 Reminder Email 3 – November Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools)


[Subject line: School Pulse Panel: Last Day to Respond to November 2023 Survey is Today]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]:


This is a final reminder to complete the November 2023 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey by today, November 28. We are looking forward to hearing about your school’s experiences with attendance, food services and supply chains, and school improvement plans. If you have already responded for November 2023, thank you! Please disregard this notice.


The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and to thank you for your time and effort in completing the entire survey, your school will receive $200. Please complete the November 2023 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:


[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

To learn more about the School Pulse Panel and to preview the November 2023 questions, visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse. If you have questions, please call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative.



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education



















November 2023 Reminder Email 3 – November Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools)


[Subject line: School Pulse Panel: Last Day to Respond to November 2023 Survey is Today]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]:


This is a final reminder to complete the November 2023 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey by today, November 28. We are looking forward to hearing about your school’s experiences with attendance, food services and supply chains, and school improvement plans. If you have already responded for November 2023, thank you! Please disregard this notice.


The survey will take 30 minutes or less. Please complete the November 2023 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:


[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

To learn more about the School Pulse Panel and to preview the November 2023 questions, visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse. If you have questions, please call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative.



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education


















December Communication Materials

December 2023 Initial Letter – October 2023 Respondents (Reimbursement Schools)

DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

Thank you for your prior participation in the School Pulse Panel (SPP) data collection. This letter contains your December 2023 SPP survey invitation.

  • This month, we would like to know more about the condition of your school’s building facilities and the learning recovery strategies that your school may be employing this school year.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

Please complete the 30-minute December 2023 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

Shape18

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]








You should have also received an email invitation that contains this same link and User ID. Please submit your response no later than Thursday, December 21, 2023. If you have already responded to the December 2023 SPP survey, thank you! Please disregard this letter.


The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about the learning recovery strategies they used that engaged students’ family members. We found that 42 percent of public schools utilized family engagement and outreach activities, such as making home visits and communicating via text apps and video conference meetings, to support pandemic-related learning recovery for students during the 2021-22 school year.

  • Through your participation in the December 2023 SPP, we will learn more about the state of public school facilities and the learning recovery strategies that public schools are using during the 2023-24 school year. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding school building facilities and learning recovery strategies at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the December 2023 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,


Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education

School Pulse Panel: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a monthly data collection designed to measure a rotating collection of high-priority, education-related topics, as determined by federal stakeholders, interest groups, and school administrators like you.

How is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel different from other education surveys?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a unique study. While surveys like the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the National Teacher and Principal Survey produce benchmark statistics critical to monitoring progress over time, they are only conducted once every few years. The SPP surveys schools each month, providing the U.S. Department of Education and federal policymakers with crucial, real-time information that can quickly inform policies and funding decisions at the federal level.

Why should my school participate?

Your school’s responses provide national, state, and local education leaders with the information needed to make evidence-based decisions about education policy and resource allocation. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all schools inform better policies.

What does it look like to participate on a monthly basis?

Each month’s survey will take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. When surveyed at the conclusion of the 2021-22 School Pulse Panel, 98 percent of participating schools said they felt that the time necessary to complete each monthly survey was reasonable. However, we understand that, as an educator, you are very busy; to show our appreciation for your time and effort for completing the survey, your school will receive $200 for each completed survey you submit. These reimbursements will be mailed five to six weeks after the end of data collection.

How do I participate?

This is the fifth monthly collection of the 2023-24 school year. Monthly collections will continue through June 2024. Each school will designate a point of contact that will be responsible for completing the survey. Your school’s designated point of contact will receive an invitation to complete the School Pulse Panel survey via regular mail and email. Both will include a link to the survey, which should take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. The person completing the survey can share the link with a colleague if they need help completing the survey. On behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the Census Bureau is collecting the information. A new survey invitation will be issued each month from the email address [email protected]. All participation is voluntary.

Does the person completing the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel for the school have to be the principal?

No. You are welcome to delegate completion of the survey to another staff member who is knowledgeable about programs at the school.

Will you ask the same questions every month?

Some questions may remain on the survey from month to month to learn how schools are experiencing and adapting to change. Other questions may rotate in and out. Topic areas will change monthly and will reflect high-priority, education-related topics that NCES and federal policymakers lack timely data on. You will also help shape content for surveys.

Other important information

By federal law, we are required to protect the responses of all schools included in our survey (see citations at the end of the FAQ). Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports. No teacher or student time is required to complete the survey. Send comments regarding the 30-minute survey burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the National Center for Education Statistics Institute of Education Sciences (IES) PCP, 550 12th Street, SW, 4th floor, Room  4036, Washington, D.C. 20202. According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number is 1850-0975 (expires 07/31/2026).

NCES is authorized to conduct this survey by the American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARP2021; Sec. 2010) and the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). All of the information schools 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). Reports of the findings from the survey will not identify participating Local Education Agencies (LEAs), schools, or staff. Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.

December 2023 Initial Letter – October 2023 Respondents (No Debit Card Schools)

DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

Thank you for your prior participation in the School Pulse Panel (SPP) data collection. This letter contains your December 2023 SPP survey invitation.

  • This month, we would like to know more about the condition of your school’s building facilities and the learning recovery strategies that your school may be employing this school year.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less.

Please complete the 30-minute December 2023 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

Shape19

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]








You should have also received an email invitation that contains this same link and User ID. Please submit your response no later than Thursday, December 21, 2023. If you have already responded to the December 2023 SPP survey, thank you! Please disregard this letter.


The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about the learning recovery strategies they used that engaged students’ family members. We found that 42 percent of public schools utilized family engagement and outreach activities, such as making home visits and communicating via text apps and video conference meetings, to support pandemic-related learning recovery for students during the 2021-22 school year.

  • Through your participation in the December 2023 SPP, we will learn more about the state of public school facilities and the learning recovery strategies that public schools are using during the 2023-24 school year. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding school building facilities and learning recovery strategies at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the December 2023 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,



Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education





School Pulse Panel: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a monthly data collection designed to measure a rotating collection of high-priority, education-related topics, as determined by federal stakeholders, interest groups, and school administrators like you.

How is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel different from other education surveys?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a unique study. While surveys like the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the National Teacher and Principal Survey produce benchmark statistics critical to monitoring progress over time, they are only conducted once every few years. The SPP surveys schools each month, providing the U.S. Department of Education and federal policymakers with crucial, real-time information that can quickly inform policies and funding decisions at the federal level.

Why should my school participate?

Your school’s responses provide national, state, and local education leaders with the information needed to make evidence-based decisions about education policy and resource allocation. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all schools inform better policies.

What does it look like to participate on a monthly basis?

Each month’s survey will take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. When surveyed at the conclusion of the 2021-22 School Pulse Panel, 98 percent of participating schools said they felt that the time necessary to complete each monthly survey was reasonable.

How do I participate?

This is the fifth monthly collection of the 2023-24 school year. Monthly collections will continue through June 2024. Each school will designate a point of contact that will be responsible for completing the survey. Your school’s designated point of contact will receive an invitation to complete the School Pulse Panel survey via regular mail and email. Both will include a link to the survey, which should take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. The person completing the survey can share the link with a colleague if they need help completing the survey. On behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the Census Bureau is collecting the information. A new survey invitation will be issued each month from the email address [email protected]. All participation is voluntary.

Does the person completing the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel for the school have to be the principal?

No. You are welcome to delegate completion of the survey to another staff member who is knowledgeable about programs at the school.

Will you ask the same questions every month?

Some questions may remain on the survey from month to month to learn how schools are experiencing and adapting to change. Other questions may rotate in and out. Topic areas will change monthly and will reflect high-priority, education-related topics that NCES and federal policymakers lack timely data on. You will also help shape content for surveys.

Other important information

By federal law, we are required to protect the responses of all schools included in our survey (see citations at the end of the FAQ). Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports. No teacher or student time is required to complete the survey. Send comments regarding the 30-minute survey burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the National Center for Education Statistics Institute of Education Sciences (IES) PCP, 550 12th Street, SW, 4th floor, Room  4036, Washington, D.C. 20202. According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number is 1850-0975 (expires 07/31/2026).

NCES is authorized to conduct this survey by the American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARP2021; Sec. 2010) and the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). All of the information schools 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). Reports of the findings from the survey will not identify participating Local Education Agencies (LEAs), schools, or staff. Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.

December 2023 Initial Letter – October 2023 Nonrespondents (Accepts Reimbursement)

DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

The National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to participate in the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. The 2023-24 SPP is a unique opportunity to provide your school’s perspective directly to the Department on a range of high-priority, education-related topics on a monthly basis.

  • This month, we would like to know more about the condition of your school’s building facilities and the learning recovery strategies that your school may be employing this school year.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

Please complete the 30-minute December 2023 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

Shape20

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]








You should have also received an email invitation that contains this same link and User ID. Please submit your response no later than Thursday, December 21, 2023. If you have already responded to the December 2023 SPP survey, thank you! Please disregard this letter.


The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about the learning recovery strategies they used that engaged students’ family members. We found that 42 percent of public schools utilized family engagement and outreach activities, such as making home visits and communicating via text apps and video conference meetings, to support pandemic-related learning recovery for students during the 2021-22 school year.

  • Through your participation in the December 2023 SPP, we will learn more about the state of public school facilities and the learning recovery strategies that public schools are using during the 2023-24 school year. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding school building facilities and learning recovery strategies at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the December 2023 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics.


We look forward to hearing from you!


Sincerely,


Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education


School Pulse Panel: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a monthly data collection designed to measure a rotating collection of high-priority, education-related topics, as determined by federal stakeholders, interest groups, and school administrators like you.

How is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel different from other education surveys?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a unique study. While surveys like the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the National Teacher and Principal Survey produce benchmark statistics critical to monitoring progress over time, they are only conducted once every few years. The SPP surveys schools each month, providing the U.S. Department of Education and federal policymakers with crucial, real-time information that can quickly inform policies and funding decisions at the federal level.

Why should my school participate?

Your school’s responses provide national, state, and local education leaders with the information needed to make evidence-based decisions about education policy and resource allocation. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all schools inform better policies.

What does it look like to participate on a monthly basis?

Each month’s survey will take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. When surveyed at the conclusion of the 2021-22 School Pulse Panel, 98 percent of participating schools said they felt that the time necessary to complete each monthly survey was reasonable. However, we understand that, as an educator, you are very busy; to show our appreciation for your time and effort for completing the survey, your school will receive $200 for each completed survey you submit. These reimbursements will be mailed five to six weeks after the end of data collection.

How do I participate?

This is the fifth monthly collection of the 2023-24 school year. Monthly collections will continue through June 2024. Each school will designate a point of contact that will be responsible for completing the survey. Your school’s designated point of contact will receive an invitation to complete the School Pulse Panel survey via regular mail and email. Both will include a link to the survey, which should take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. The person completing the survey can share the link with a colleague if they need help completing the survey. On behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the Census Bureau is collecting the information. A new survey invitation will be issued each month from the email address [email protected]. All participation is voluntary.

Does the person completing the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel for the school have to be the principal?

No. You are welcome to delegate completion of the survey to another staff member who is knowledgeable about programs at the school.

Will you ask the same questions every month?

Some questions may remain on the survey from month to month to learn how schools are experiencing and adapting to change. Other questions may rotate in and out. Topic areas will change monthly and will reflect high-priority, education-related topics that NCES and federal policymakers lack timely data on. You will also help shape content for surveys.

Other important information

By federal law, we are required to protect the responses of all schools included in our survey (see citations at the end of the FAQ). Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports. No teacher or student time is required to complete the survey. Send comments regarding the 30-minute survey burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the National Center for Education Statistics Institute of Education Sciences (IES) PCP, 550 12th Street, SW, 4th floor, Room  4036, Washington, D.C. 20202. According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number is 1850-0975 (expires 07/31/2026).

NCES is authorized to conduct this survey by the American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARP2021; Sec. 2010) and the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). All of the information schools 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). Reports of the findings from the survey will not identify participating Local Education Agencies (LEAs), schools, or staff. Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.

December 2023 Initial Letter – October 2023 Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools)

DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

The National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to participate in the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. The 2023-24 SPP is a unique opportunity to provide your school’s perspective directly to the Department on a range of high-priority, education-related topics on a monthly basis.

  • This month, we would like to know more about the condition of your school’s building facilities and the learning recovery strategies that your school may be employing this school year.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less.

Please complete the 30-minute December 2023 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

Shape21

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]








You should have also received an email invitation that contains this same link and User ID. Please submit your response no later than Thursday, December 21, 2023. If you have already responded to the December 2023 SPP survey, thank you! Please disregard this letter.


The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about the learning recovery strategies they used that engaged students’ family members. We found that 42 percent of public schools utilized family engagement and outreach activities, such as making home visits and communicating via text apps and video conference meetings, to support pandemic-related learning recovery for students during the 2021-22 school year.

  • Through your participation in the December 2023 SPP, we will learn more about the state of public school facilities and the learning recovery strategies that public schools are using during the 2023-24 school year. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding school building facilities and learning recovery strategies at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the December 2023 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,



Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education

School Pulse Panel: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a monthly data collection designed to measure a rotating collection of high-priority, education-related topics, as determined by federal stakeholders, interest groups, and school administrators like you.

How is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel different from other education surveys?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a unique study. While surveys like the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the National Teacher and Principal Survey produce benchmark statistics critical to monitoring progress over time, they are only conducted once every few years. The SPP surveys schools each month, providing the U.S. Department of Education and federal policymakers with crucial, real-time information that can quickly inform policies and funding decisions at the federal level.

Why should my school participate?

Your school’s responses provide national, state, and local education leaders with the information needed to make evidence-based decisions about education policy and resource allocation. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all schools inform better policies.

What does it look like to participate on a monthly basis?

Each month’s survey will take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. When surveyed at the conclusion of the 2021-22 School Pulse Panel, 98 percent of participating schools said they felt that the time necessary to complete each monthly survey was reasonable.

How do I participate?

This is the fifth monthly collection of the 2023-24 school year. Monthly collections will continue through June 2024. Each school will designate a point of contact that will be responsible for completing the survey. Your school’s designated point of contact will receive an invitation to complete the School Pulse Panel survey via regular mail and email. Both will include a link to the survey, which should take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. The person completing the survey can share the link with a colleague if they need help completing the survey. On behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the Census Bureau is collecting the information. A new survey invitation will be issued each month from the email address [email protected]. All participation is voluntary.

Does the person completing the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel for the school have to be the principal?

No. You are welcome to delegate completion of the survey to another staff member who is knowledgeable about programs at the school.

Will you ask the same questions every month?

Some questions may remain on the survey from month to month to learn how schools are experiencing and adapting to change. Other questions may rotate in and out. Topic areas will change monthly and will reflect high-priority, education-related topics that NCES and federal policymakers lack timely data on. You will also help shape content for surveys.

Other important information

By federal law, we are required to protect the responses of all schools included in our survey (see citations at the end of the FAQ). Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports. No teacher or student time is required to complete the survey. Send comments regarding the 30-minute survey burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the National Center for Education Statistics Institute of Education Sciences (IES) PCP, 550 12th Street, SW, 4th floor, Room  4036, Washington, D.C. 20202. According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number is 1850-0975 (expires 07/31/2026).

NCES is authorized to conduct this survey by the American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARP2021; Sec. 2010) and the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). All of the information schools 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). Reports of the findings from the survey will not identify participating Local Education Agencies (LEAs), schools, or staff. Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.


December 2023 Initial Letter – October 2023 Respondents (No Email Schools, Accepts Reimbursement)

DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

Thank you for your prior participation in the School Pulse Panel (SPP) data collection. This letter contains your December 2023 SPP survey invitation.

  • This month, we would like to know more about the condition of your school’s building facilities and the learning recovery strategies that your school may be employing this school year.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

Please complete the 30-minute December 2023 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

Shape22

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]











Please submit your response no later than Thursday, December 21, 2023. The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about the learning recovery strategies they used that engaged students’ family members. We found that 42 percent of public schools utilized family engagement and outreach activities, such as making home visits and communicating via text apps and video conference meetings, to support pandemic-related learning recovery for students during the 2021-22 school year.

  • Through your participation in the December 2023 SPP, we will learn more about the state of public school facilities and the learning recovery strategies that public schools are using during the 2023-24 school year. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding school building facilities and learning recovery strategies at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the December 2023 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. Unfortunately, we do not have a valid email address on file for you or your school. To receive an electronic link to the survey, please email [email protected] or call 1-844-868-3661 and provide the name and a valid email address for the best point of contact for this study. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics.


We look forward to hearing from you!


Sincerely,



Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education



School Pulse Panel: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a monthly data collection designed to measure a rotating collection of high-priority, education-related topics, as determined by federal stakeholders, interest groups, and school administrators like you.

How is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel different from other education surveys?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a unique study. While surveys like the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the National Teacher and Principal Survey produce benchmark statistics critical to monitoring progress over time, they are only conducted once every few years. The SPP surveys schools each month, providing the U.S. Department of Education and federal policymakers with crucial, real-time information that can quickly inform policies and funding decisions at the federal level.

Why should my school participate?

Your school’s responses provide national, state, and local education leaders with the information needed to make evidence-based decisions about education policy and resource allocation. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all schools inform better policies.

What does it look like to participate on a monthly basis?

Each month’s survey will take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. When surveyed at the conclusion of the 2021-22 School Pulse Panel, 98 percent of participating schools said they felt that the time necessary to complete each monthly survey was reasonable. However, we understand that, as an educator, you are very busy; to show our appreciation for your time and effort for completing the survey, your school will receive $200 for each completed survey you submit. These reimbursements will be mailed five to six weeks after the end of data collection.

How do I participate?

This is the fifth monthly collection of the 2023-24 school year. Monthly collections will continue through June 2024. We currently do not have an email on file for your school. Please contact [email protected] or call 1-844-868-3661 and provide a valid email address for a designated point of contact for this study. Your school’s designated point of contact will receive an invitation to complete the School Pulse Panel survey via regular mail and email, which will include a link to the survey. The person completing the survey can share the link with a colleague if they need help completing the survey. On behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the Census Bureau is collecting the information. A new survey invitation will be issued each month from the email address addp.school.pulse.panel@census.gov. All participation is voluntary.

Does the person completing the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel for the school have to be the principal?

No. You are welcome to delegate completion of the survey to another staff member who is knowledgeable about programs at the school.

Will you ask the same questions every month?

Some questions may remain on the survey from month to month to learn how schools are experiencing and adapting to change. Other questions may rotate in and out. Topic areas will change monthly and will reflect high-priority, education-related topics that NCES and federal policymakers lack timely data on. You will also help shape content for surveys.

Other important information

By federal law, we are required to protect the responses of all schools included in our survey (see citations at the end of the FAQ). Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports. No teacher or student time is required to complete the survey. Send comments regarding the 30-minute survey burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the National Center for Education Statistics Institute of Education Sciences (IES) PCP, 550 12th Street, SW, 4th floor, Room  4036, Washington, D.C. 20202. According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number is 1850-0975 (expires 07/31/2026).

NCES is authorized to conduct this survey by the American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARP2021; Sec. 2010) and the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). All of the information schools 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). Reports of the findings from the survey will not identify participating Local Education Agencies (LEAs), schools, or staff. Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.

December 2023 Initial Letter – October 2023 Nonrespondents (No Email Schools, Accepts Reimbursement)

DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

The National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to participate in the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. The 2023-24 SPP is a unique opportunity to provide your school’s perspective directly to the Department on a range of high-priority, education-related topics on a monthly basis.

  • This month, we would like to know more about the condition of your school’s building facilities and the learning recovery strategies that your school may be employing this school year.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

Please complete the 30-minute December 2023 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

Shape23

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]











Please submit your response no later than Thursday, December 21, 2023. The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about the learning recovery strategies they used that engaged students’ family members. We found that 42 percent of public schools utilized family engagement and outreach activities, such as making home visits and communicating via text apps and video conference meetings, to support pandemic-related learning recovery for students during the 2021-22 school year.

  • Through your participation in the December 2023 SPP, we will learn more about the state of public school facilities and the learning recovery strategies that public schools are using during the 2023-24 school year. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding school building facilities and learning recovery strategies at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the December 2023 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. Unfortunately, we do not have a valid email address on file for you or your school. To receive an electronic link to the survey, please email [email protected] or call 1-844-868-3661 and provide the name and a valid email address for the best point of contact for this study. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics.


We look forward to hearing from you!


Sincerely,


Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education

School Pulse Panel: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a monthly data collection designed to measure a rotating collection of high-priority, education-related topics, as determined by federal stakeholders, interest groups, and school administrators like you.

How is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel different from other education surveys?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a unique study. While surveys like the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the National Teacher and Principal Survey produce benchmark statistics critical to monitoring progress over time, they are only conducted once every few years. The SPP surveys schools each month, providing the U.S. Department of Education and federal policymakers with crucial, real-time information that can quickly inform policies and funding decisions at the federal level.

Why should my school participate?

Your school’s responses provide national, state, and local education leaders with the information needed to make evidence-based decisions about education policy and resource allocation. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all schools inform better policies.

What does it look like to participate on a monthly basis?

Each month’s survey will take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. When surveyed at the conclusion of the 2021-22 School Pulse Panel, 98 percent of participating schools said they felt that the time necessary to complete each monthly survey was reasonable. However, we understand that, as an educator, you are very busy; to show our appreciation for your time and effort for completing the survey, your school will receive $200 for each completed survey you submit. These reimbursements will be mailed five to six weeks after the end of data collection.

How do I participate?

This is the fifth monthly collection of the 2023-24 school year. Monthly collections will continue through June 2024. We currently do not have an email on file for your school. Please contact [email protected] or call 1-844-868-3661 and provide a valid email address for a designated point of contact for this study. Your school’s designated point of contact will receive an invitation to complete the School Pulse Panel survey via regular mail and email, which will include a link to the survey. The person completing the survey can share the link with a colleague if they need help completing the survey. On behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the Census Bureau is collecting the information. A new survey invitation will be issued each month from the email address [email protected]. All participation is voluntary.

Does the person completing the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel for the school have to be the principal?

No. You are welcome to delegate completion of the survey to another staff member who is knowledgeable about programs at the school.

Will you ask the same questions every month?

Some questions may remain on the survey from month to month to learn how schools are experiencing and adapting to change. Other questions may rotate in and out. Topic areas will change monthly and will reflect high-priority, education-related topics that NCES and federal policymakers lack timely data on. You will also help shape content for surveys.

Other important information

By federal law, we are required to protect the responses of all schools included in our survey (see citations at the end of the FAQ). Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports. No teacher or student time is required to complete the survey. Send comments regarding the 30-minute survey burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the National Center for Education Statistics Institute of Education Sciences (IES) PCP, 550 12th Street, SW, 4th floor, Room  4036, Washington, D.C. 20202. According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number is 1850-0975 (expires 07/31/2026).

NCES is authorized to conduct this survey by the American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARP2021; Sec. 2010) and the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). All of the information schools 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). Reports of the findings from the survey will not identify participating Local Education Agencies (LEAs), schools, or staff. Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.

December 2023 Initial Email – November 2023 Respondents (Reimbursement Schools)

[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: December Survey Invitation]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

Thank you for participating in the November 2023 School Pulse Panel (SPP) data collection. This email contains your December survey invitation. Please complete the survey by Thursday, December 21, 2023.

  • The December survey collects data on the condition of your school’s building facilities and the learning recovery strategies that your school may be implementing this school year.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less.

  • Your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

  • Please complete the December survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about the learning recovery strategies that engaged students’ family members. We found that 16 percent of public schools offered family workshops to provide techniques and guidance to support pandemic-related learning recovery for students during the 2021-22 school year.

  • Through your participation in the December 2023 SPP, we will learn more about the state of public school facilities and the learning recovery strategies that public schools are using during the 2023-24 school year. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding school building facilities and learning recovery strategies at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the December 2023 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education







December 2023 Initial Email – November 2023 Respondents (No Debit Card Schools)

[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: December Survey Invitation]

DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

Thank you for participating in the November 2023 School Pulse Panel (SPP) data collection. This email contains your December survey invitation. Please complete the survey by Thursday, December 21, 2023.

  • The December survey collects data on the condition of your school’s building facilities and the learning recovery strategies that your school may be implementing this school year.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less.

  • Please complete the December survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about the learning recovery strategies that engaged students’ family members. We found that 16 percent of public schools offered family workshops to provide techniques and guidance to support pandemic-related learning recovery for students during the 2021-22 school year.

  • Through your participation in the December 2023 SPP, we will learn more about the state of public school facilities and the learning recovery strategies that public schools are using during the 2023-24 school year. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding school building facilities and learning recovery strategies at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the December 2023 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education









December 2023 Initial Email – November 2023 Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools)

[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: December Survey Invitation]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

The National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to participate in the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. The 2023-24 SPP is a unique opportunity to provide your school’s perspective directly to the Department on a range of high-priority, education-related topics on a monthly basis.

  • The December survey collects data on the condition of your school’s building facilities and the learning recovery strategies that your school may be implementing this school year.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

Please complete the 30-minute December 2023 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about the learning recovery strategies that engaged students’ family members. We found that 16 percent of public schools offered family workshops to provide techniques and guidance to support pandemic-related learning recovery for students during the 2021-22 school year.

  • Through your participation in the December 2023 SPP, we will learn more about the state of public school facilities and the learning recovery strategies that public schools are using during the 2023-24 school year. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding school building facilities and learning recovery strategies at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the December 2023 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education





December 2023 Initial Email – November 2023 Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools)

[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: December Survey Invitation]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

The National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to participate in the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. The 2023-24 SPP is a unique opportunity to provide your school’s perspective directly to the Department on a range of high-priority, education-related topics on a monthly basis.

  • The December survey collects data on the condition of your school’s building facilities and the learning recovery strategies that your school may be implementing this school year.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less.

Please complete the 30-minute December 2023 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about the learning recovery strategies that engaged students’ family members. We found that 16 percent of public schools offered family workshops to provide techniques and guidance to support pandemic-related learning recovery for students during the 2021-22 school year.

  • Through your participation in the December 2023 SPP, we will learn more about the state of public school facilities and the learning recovery strategies that public schools are using during the 2023-24 school year. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding school building facilities and learning recovery strategies at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the December 2023 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education



December 2023 Reminder Email 1 – December Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools)


[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: December Survey Reminder]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL NAME]:

Did you know that 50 percent of public schools provided professional development for teachers/staff on learning recovery during the 2021-22 school year? Through your participation in the December 2023 School Pulse Panel (SPP), we will learn more about the resources being provided to teachers to aid in students’ learning recovery during the 2023-24 school year.

This is a reminder to complete the December 2023 survey by Thursday, December 21, 2023. To thank you for your time and effort in providing this information, your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

  • This month’s survey will ask you to reflect on the conditions of your school’s building facilities and the learning recovery strategies that your school may be implementing this school year.

  • The survey will take approximately 30 minutes or less to complete. You can access the survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

  • Your school is among a small number of schools selected to participate in the Panel. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all public schools inform better policies.

  • By participating in the 2023-24 SPP, you will ensure that information about your school and others like it is included in policy and funding decisions.


If you need help or have questions, you may visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse, call 1-844-868-3661, or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative. We look forward to your school’s participation in this month’s collection!



Sincerely,





Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education











December 2023 Reminder Email 1 – December Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools)


[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: December Survey Reminder]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL NAME]:

Did you know that 50 percent of public schools provided professional development for teachers/staff on learning recovery during the 2021-22 school year? Through your participation in the December 2023 School Pulse Panel (SPP), we will learn more about the resources being provided to teachers to aid in students’ learning recovery during the 2023-24 school year.

This is a reminder to complete the December 2023 survey by Thursday, December 21, 2023.

  • This month’s survey will ask you to reflect on the conditions of your school’s building facilities and the learning recovery strategies that your school may be implementing this school year.

  • The survey will take approximately 30 minutes or less to complete. You can access the survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

  • Your school is among a small number of schools selected to participate in the Panel. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all public schools inform better policies.

  • By participating in the 2023-24 SPP, you will ensure that information about your school and others like it is included in policy and funding decisions.


If you need help or have questions, you may visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse, call 1-844-868-3661, or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative. We look forward to your school’s participation in this month’s collection!



Sincerely,





Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education












December 2023 Reminder Email 2 – December Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools)


[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: Your Response is Important]


Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]:


This is a reminder that the National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to provide information about the condition of your school’s building facilities and the learning recovery strategies that your school may be employing this school year. Your participation in the December 2023 survey will help ensure that information about your school and others like it is included in policy and funding decisions. We ask that you complete the SPP December survey by Thursday, December 21, 2023.


The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey. You can access the survey online by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:



[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about the learning recovery strategies they used that engaged students’ family members. We found that, of the 42 percent of public schools that utilized family engagement/outreach activities, such as making home visits and communicating via text apps, 22 percent said this method was “extremely effective” in supporting pandemic-related learning recovery for students during the 2021-22 school year.

  • Through your participation, we will learn more about the condition of public schools’ building facilities and the learning recovery strategies being employed at public schools to aid in students’ learning recovery. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding school facilities and learning recovery strategies at the federal level.


To learn more about the School Pulse Panel and to preview the December 2023 questions, visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse. If you have questions, please call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative.



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education









December 2023 Reminder Email 2- December Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools)


[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: Your Response is Important]


Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]:


This is a reminder that the National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to provide information about the condition of your school’s building facilities and the learning recovery strategies that your school may be employing this school year. Your participation in the December 2023 survey will help ensure that information about your school and others like it is included in policy and funding decisions. We ask that you complete the SPP December survey by Thursday, December 21, 2023.


The survey will take 30 minutes or less. You can access the survey online by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:



[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

  • In last year’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about the learning recovery strategies they used that engaged students’ family members. We found that, of the 42 percent of public schools that utilized family engagement/outreach activities, such as making home visits and communicating via text apps, 22 percent said this method was “extremely effective” in supporting pandemic-related learning recovery for students during the 2021-22 school year.

  • Through your participation, we will learn more about the condition of public schools’ building facilities and the learning recovery strategies being employed at public schools to aid in students’ learning recovery. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding school facilities and learning recovery strategies at the federal level.


To learn more about the School Pulse Panel and to preview the December 2023 questions, visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse. If you have questions, please call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative.



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education







December 2023 Reminder Email 3 – December Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools)


[Subject line: School Pulse Panel: Last Day to Respond to December 2023 Survey is Today]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]:


This is a final reminder to complete the December 2023 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey by today, December 21. We are looking forward to learning more about the condition of your school’s building facilities and the learning recovery strategies that your school may be employing this school year. If you have already responded for December 2023, thank you! Please disregard this notice.


The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and to thank you for your time and effort in completing the entire survey, your school will receive $200. Please complete the December 2023 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:


[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

To learn more about the School Pulse Panel and to preview the December 2023 questions, visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse. If you have questions, please call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative.



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education




















December 2023 Reminder Email 3 – December Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools)


[Subject line: School Pulse Panel: Last Day to Respond to December 2023 Survey is Today]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]:


This is a final reminder to complete the December 2023 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey by today, December 21. We are looking forward to learning more about the condition of your school’s building facilities and the learning recovery strategies that your school may be employing this school year. If you have already responded for December 2023, thank you! Please disregard this notice.


The survey will take 30 minutes or less. Please complete the December 2023 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:


[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

To learn more about the School Pulse Panel and to preview the December 2023 questions, visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse. If you have questions, please call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative.



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education






















January Communication Materials

January 2024 Initial Letter – November 2023 Respondents (Reimbursement Schools)

DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

Thank you for your prior participation in the School Pulse Panel (SPP) data collection. This letter contains your January 2024 SPP survey invitation.

  • This month, we would like to know more about principal autonomy at your school and your school’s world language and college and career readiness programs. Even if you do not offer these programs, we want to hear from you!

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

Please complete the 30-minute January 2024 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

Shape24

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]








You should have also received an email invitation that contains this same link and User ID. Please submit your response no later than Tuesday, January 23, 2024. If you have already responded to the January 2024 SPP survey, thank you! Please disregard this letter.


The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • Your participation in this month’s collection is invaluable, as this is the first time that data on principal autonomy, world languages, and college and career readiness programs are being collected in the SPP. Be a part of the first group of schools to provide real-time data on these topics!

  • This information will inform decisions and policy regarding these programs and other topics at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the January 2024 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,



Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education

School Pulse Panel: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a monthly data collection designed to measure a rotating collection of high-priority, education-related topics, as determined by federal stakeholders, interest groups, and school administrators like you.

How is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel different from other education surveys?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a unique study. While surveys like the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the National Teacher and Principal Survey produce benchmark statistics critical to monitoring progress over time, they are only conducted once every few years. The SPP surveys schools each month, providing the U.S. Department of Education and federal policymakers with crucial, real-time information that can quickly inform policies and funding decisions at the federal level.

Why should my school participate?

Your school’s responses provide national, state, and local education leaders with the information needed to make evidence-based decisions about education policy and resource allocation. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all schools inform better policies.

What does it look like to participate on a monthly basis?

Each month’s survey will take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. When surveyed at the conclusion of the 2021-22 School Pulse Panel, 98 percent of participating schools said they felt that the time necessary to complete each monthly survey was reasonable. However, we understand that, as an educator, you are very busy; to show our appreciation for your time and effort for completing the survey, your school will receive $200 for each completed survey you submit. These reimbursements will be mailed five to six weeks after the end of data collection.

How do I participate?

This is the sixth monthly collection of the 2023-24 school year. Monthly collections will continue through June 2024. Each school will designate a point of contact that will be responsible for completing the survey. Your school’s designated point of contact will receive an invitation to complete the School Pulse Panel survey via regular mail and email. Both will include a link to the survey, which should take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. The person completing the survey can share the link with a colleague if they need help completing the survey. On behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the Census Bureau is collecting the information. A new survey invitation will be issued each month from the email address [email protected]. All participation is voluntary.

Does the person completing the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel for the school have to be the principal?

No. You are welcome to delegate completion of the survey to another staff member who is knowledgeable about programs at the school.

Will you ask the same questions every month?

Some questions may remain on the survey from month to month to learn how schools are experiencing and adapting to change. Other questions may rotate in and out. Topic areas will change monthly and will reflect high-priority, education-related topics that NCES and federal policymakers lack timely data on. You will also help shape content for surveys.

Other important information

By federal law, we are required to protect the responses of all schools included in our survey (see citations at the end of the FAQ). Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports. No teacher or student time is required to complete the survey. Send comments regarding the 30-minute survey burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the National Center for Education Statistics Institute of Education Sciences (IES) PCP, 550 12th Street, SW, 4th floor, Room  4036, Washington, D.C. 20202. According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number is 1850-0975 (expires 07/31/2026).

NCES is authorized to conduct this survey by the American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARP2021; Sec. 2010) and the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). All of the information schools 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). Reports of the findings from the survey will not identify participating Local Education Agencies (LEAs), schools, or staff. Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.

January 2024 Initial Letter – November 2023 Respondents (No Debit Card Schools)

DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

Thank you for your prior participation in the School Pulse Panel (SPP) data collection. This letter contains your January 2024 SPP survey invitation.

  • This month, we would like to know more about principal autonomy at your school and your school’s world language and college and career readiness programs. Even if you do not offer these programs, we want to hear from you!

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less.

Please complete the 30-minute January 2024 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

Shape25

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]








You should have also received an email invitation that contains this same link and User ID. Please submit your response no later than Tuesday, January 23, 2024. If you have already responded to the January 2024 SPP survey, thank you! Please disregard this letter.


The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • Your participation in this month’s collection is invaluable, as this is the first time that data on principal autonomy, world languages, and college and career readiness programs are being collected in the SPP. Be a part of the first group of schools to provide real-time data on these topics!

  • This information will inform decisions and policy regarding these programs and other topics at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the January 2024 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,



Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education









School Pulse Panel: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a monthly data collection designed to measure a rotating collection of high-priority, education-related topics, as determined by federal stakeholders, interest groups, and school administrators like you.

How is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel different from other education surveys?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a unique study. While surveys like the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the National Teacher and Principal Survey produce benchmark statistics critical to monitoring progress over time, they are only conducted once every few years. The SPP surveys schools each month, providing the U.S. Department of Education and federal policymakers with crucial, real-time information that can quickly inform policies and funding decisions at the federal level.

Why should my school participate?

Your school’s responses provide national, state, and local education leaders with the information needed to make evidence-based decisions about education policy and resource allocation. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all schools inform better policies.

What does it look like to participate on a monthly basis?

Each month’s survey will take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. When surveyed at the conclusion of the 2021-22 School Pulse Panel, 98 percent of participating schools said they felt that the time necessary to complete each monthly survey was reasonable.

How do I participate?

This is the sixth monthly collection of the 2023-24 school year. Monthly collections will continue through June 2024. Each school will designate a point of contact that will be responsible for completing the survey. Your school’s designated point of contact will receive an invitation to complete the School Pulse Panel survey via regular mail and email. Both will include a link to the survey, which should take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. The person completing the survey can share the link with a colleague if they need help completing the survey. On behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the Census Bureau is collecting the information. A new survey invitation will be issued each month from the email address [email protected]. All participation is voluntary.

Does the person completing the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel for the school have to be the principal?

No. You are welcome to delegate completion of the survey to another staff member who is knowledgeable about programs at the school.

Will you ask the same questions every month?

Some questions may remain on the survey from month to month to learn how schools are experiencing and adapting to change. Other questions may rotate in and out. Topic areas will change monthly and will reflect high-priority, education-related topics that NCES and federal policymakers lack timely data on. You will also help shape content for surveys.

Other important information

By federal law, we are required to protect the responses of all schools included in our survey (see citations at the end of the FAQ). Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports. No teacher or student time is required to complete the survey. Send comments regarding the 30-minute survey burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the National Center for Education Statistics Institute of Education Sciences (IES) PCP, 550 12th Street, SW, 4th floor, Room  4036, Washington, D.C. 20202. According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number is 1850-0975 (expires 07/31/2026).

NCES is authorized to conduct this survey by the American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARP2021; Sec. 2010) and the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). All of the information schools 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). Reports of the findings from the survey will not identify participating Local Education Agencies (LEAs), schools, or staff. Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.

January 2024 Initial Letter – November 2023 Nonrespondents (Accepts Reimbursement)



DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

The National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to participate in the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. The 2023-24 SPP is a unique opportunity to provide your school’s perspective directly to the Department on a range of high-priority, education-related topics on a monthly basis.

  • This month, we would like to know more about principal autonomy at your school and your school’s world language and college and career readiness programs. Even if you do not offer these programs, we want to hear from you!

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

Please complete the 30-minute January 2024 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

Shape26

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]








You should have also received an email invitation that contains this same link and User ID. Please submit your response no later than Tuesday, January 23, 2024. If you have already responded to the January 2024 SPP survey, thank you! Please disregard this letter.


The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • Your participation in this month’s collection is invaluable, as this is the first time that data on principal autonomy, world languages, and college and career readiness programs are being collected in the SPP. Be a part of the first group of schools to provide real-time data on these topics!

  • This information will inform decisions and policy regarding these programs and other topics at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the January 2024 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,


Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education


School Pulse Panel: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a monthly data collection designed to measure a rotating collection of high-priority, education-related topics, as determined by federal stakeholders, interest groups, and school administrators like you.

How is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel different from other education surveys?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a unique study. While surveys like the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the National Teacher and Principal Survey produce benchmark statistics critical to monitoring progress over time, they are only conducted once every few years. The SPP surveys schools each month, providing the U.S. Department of Education and federal policymakers with crucial, real-time information that can quickly inform policies and funding decisions at the federal level.

Why should my school participate?

Your school’s responses provide national, state, and local education leaders with the information needed to make evidence-based decisions about education policy and resource allocation. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all schools inform better policies.

What does it look like to participate on a monthly basis?

Each month’s survey will take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. When surveyed at the conclusion of the 2021-22 School Pulse Panel, 98 percent of participating schools said they felt that the time necessary to complete each monthly survey was reasonable. However, we understand that, as an educator, you are very busy; to show our appreciation for your time and effort for completing the survey, your school will receive $200 for each completed survey you submit. These reimbursements will be mailed five to six weeks after the end of data collection.

How do I participate?

This is the sixth monthly collection of the 2023-24 school year. Monthly collections will continue through June 2024. Each school will designate a point of contact that will be responsible for completing the survey. Your school’s designated point of contact will receive an invitation to complete the School Pulse Panel survey via regular mail and email. Both will include a link to the survey, which should take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. The person completing the survey can share the link with a colleague if they need help completing the survey. On behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the Census Bureau is collecting the information. A new survey invitation will be issued each month from the email address [email protected]. All participation is voluntary.

Does the person completing the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel for the school have to be the principal?

No. You are welcome to delegate completion of the survey to another staff member who is knowledgeable about programs at the school.

Will you ask the same questions every month?

Some questions may remain on the survey from month to month to learn how schools are experiencing and adapting to change. Other questions may rotate in and out. Topic areas will change monthly and will reflect high-priority, education-related topics that NCES and federal policymakers lack timely data on. You will also help shape content for surveys.

Other important information

By federal law, we are required to protect the responses of all schools included in our survey (see citations at the end of the FAQ). Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports. No teacher or student time is required to complete the survey. Send comments regarding the 30-minute survey burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the National Center for Education Statistics Institute of Education Sciences (IES) PCP, 550 12th Street, SW, 4th floor, Room  4036, Washington, D.C. 20202. According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number is 1850-0975 (expires 07/31/2026).

NCES is authorized to conduct this survey by the American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARP2021; Sec. 2010) and the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). All of the information schools 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). Reports of the findings from the survey will not identify participating Local Education Agencies (LEAs), schools, or staff. Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.

January 2024 Initial Letter – November 2023 Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools)

DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

The National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to participate in the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. The 2023-24 SPP is a unique opportunity to provide your school’s perspective directly to the Department on a range of high-priority, education-related topics on a monthly basis.

  • This month, we would like to know more about principal autonomy at your school and your school’s world language and college and career readiness programs. Even if you do not offer these programs, we want to hear from you!

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less.

Please complete the 30-minute January 2024 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

Shape27

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]








You should have also received an email invitation that contains this same link and User ID. Please submit your response no later than Tuesday, January 23, 2024. If you have already responded to the January 2024 SPP survey, thank you! Please disregard this letter.


The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • Your participation in this month’s collection is invaluable, as this is the first time that data on principal autonomy, world languages, and college and career readiness programs are being collected in the SPP. Be a part of the first group of schools to provide real-time data on these topics!

  • This information will inform decisions and policy regarding these programs and other topics at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the January 2024 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,



Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education

School Pulse Panel: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a monthly data collection designed to measure a rotating collection of high-priority, education-related topics, as determined by federal stakeholders, interest groups, and school administrators like you.

How is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel different from other education surveys?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a unique study. While surveys like the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the National Teacher and Principal Survey produce benchmark statistics critical to monitoring progress over time, they are only conducted once every few years. The SPP surveys schools each month, providing the U.S. Department of Education and federal policymakers with crucial, real-time information that can quickly inform policies and funding decisions at the federal level.

Why should my school participate?

Your school’s responses provide national, state, and local education leaders with the information needed to make evidence-based decisions about education policy and resource allocation. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all schools inform better policies.

What does it look like to participate on a monthly basis?

Each month’s survey will take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. When surveyed at the conclusion of the 2021-22 School Pulse Panel, 98 percent of participating schools said they felt that the time necessary to complete each monthly survey was reasonable.

How do I participate?

This is the sixth monthly collection of the 2023-24 school year. Monthly collections will continue through June 2024. Each school will designate a point of contact that will be responsible for completing the survey. Your school’s designated point of contact will receive an invitation to complete the School Pulse Panel survey via regular mail and email. Both will include a link to the survey, which should take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. The person completing the survey can share the link with a colleague if they need help completing the survey. On behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the Census Bureau is collecting the information. A new survey invitation will be issued each month from the email address [email protected]. All participation is voluntary.

Does the person completing the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel for the school have to be the principal?

No. You are welcome to delegate completion of the survey to another staff member who is knowledgeable about programs at the school.

Will you ask the same questions every month?

Some questions may remain on the survey from month to month to learn how schools are experiencing and adapting to change. Other questions may rotate in and out. Topic areas will change monthly and will reflect high-priority, education-related topics that NCES and federal policymakers lack timely data on. You will also help shape content for surveys.

Other important information

By federal law, we are required to protect the responses of all schools included in our survey (see citations at the end of the FAQ). Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports. No teacher or student time is required to complete the survey. Send comments regarding the 30-minute survey burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the National Center for Education Statistics Institute of Education Sciences (IES) PCP, 550 12th Street, SW, 4th floor, Room  4036, Washington, D.C. 20202. According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number is 1850-0975 (expires 07/31/2026).

NCES is authorized to conduct this survey by the American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARP2021; Sec. 2010) and the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). All of the information schools 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). Reports of the findings from the survey will not identify participating Local Education Agencies (LEAs), schools, or staff. Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.


January 2024 Initial Letter – November 2023 Respondents (No Email Schools, Accepts Reimbursement)

DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

Thank you for your prior participation in the School Pulse Panel (SPP) data collection. This letter contains your January 2024 SPP survey invitation.

  • This month, we would like to know more about principal autonomy at your school and your school’s world language and college and career readiness programs. Even if you do not offer these programs, we want to hear from you!

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

Please complete the 30-minute January 2024 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

Shape28

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]











Please submit your response no later than Tuesday, January 23, 2024. The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • Your participation in this month’s collection is invaluable, as this is the first time that data on principal autonomy, world languages, and college and career readiness programs are being collected in the SPP. Be a part of the first group of schools to provide real-time data on these topics!

  • This information will inform decisions and policy regarding these programs and other topics at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the January 2024 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. Unfortunately, we do not have a valid email address on file for you or your school. To receive an electronic link to the survey, please email [email protected] or call 1-844-868-3661 and provide the name and a valid email address for the best point of contact for this study. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics.


We look forward to hearing from you!


Sincerely,



Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education









School Pulse Panel: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a monthly data collection designed to measure a rotating collection of high-priority, education-related topics, as determined by federal stakeholders, interest groups, and school administrators like you.

How is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel different from other education surveys?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a unique study. While surveys like the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the National Teacher and Principal Survey produce benchmark statistics critical to monitoring progress over time, they are only conducted once every few years. The SPP surveys schools each month, providing the U.S. Department of Education and federal policymakers with crucial, real-time information that can quickly inform policies and funding decisions at the federal level.

Why should my school participate?

Your school’s responses provide national, state, and local education leaders with the information needed to make evidence-based decisions about education policy and resource allocation. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all schools inform better policies.

What does it look like to participate on a monthly basis?

Each month’s survey will take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. When surveyed at the conclusion of the 2021-22 School Pulse Panel, 98 percent of participating schools said they felt that the time necessary to complete each monthly survey was reasonable. However, we understand that, as an educator, you are very busy; to show our appreciation for your time and effort for completing the survey, your school will receive $200 for each completed survey you submit. These reimbursements will be mailed five to six weeks after the end of data collection.

How do I participate?

This is the sixth monthly collection of the 2023-24 school year. Monthly collections will continue through June 2024. We currently do not have an email on file for your school. Please contact [email protected] or call 1-844-868-3661 and provide a valid email address for a designated point of contact for this study. Your school’s designated point of contact will receive an invitation to complete the School Pulse Panel survey via regular mail and email, which will include a link to the survey. The person completing the survey can share the link with a colleague if they need help completing the survey. On behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the Census Bureau is collecting the information. A new survey invitation will be issued each month from the email address [email protected]. All participation is voluntary.

Does the person completing the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel for the school have to be the principal?

No. You are welcome to delegate completion of the survey to another staff member who is knowledgeable about programs at the school.

Will you ask the same questions every month?

Some questions may remain on the survey from month to month to learn how schools are experiencing and adapting to change. Other questions may rotate in and out. Topic areas will change monthly and will reflect high-priority, education-related topics that NCES and federal policymakers lack timely data on. You will also help shape content for surveys.

Other important information

By federal law, we are required to protect the responses of all schools included in our survey (see citations at the end of the FAQ). Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports. No teacher or student time is required to complete the survey. Send comments regarding the 30-minute survey burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the National Center for Education Statistics Institute of Education Sciences (IES) PCP, 550 12th Street, SW, 4th floor, Room  4036, Washington, D.C. 20202. According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number is 1850-0975 (expires 07/31/2026).

NCES is authorized to conduct this survey by the American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARP2021; Sec. 2010) and the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). All of the information schools 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). Reports of the findings from the survey will not identify participating Local Education Agencies (LEAs), schools, or staff. Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.

January 2024 Initial Letter – November 2023 Nonrespondents (No Email Schools, Accepts Reimbursement)

DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

The National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to participate in the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. The 2023-24 SPP is a unique opportunity to provide your school’s perspective directly to the Department on a range of high-priority, education-related topics on a monthly basis.

  • This month, we would like to know more about principal autonomy at your school and your school’s world language and college and career readiness programs. Even if you do not offer these programs, we want to hear from you!

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

Please complete the 30-minute January 2024 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

Shape29

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]











Please submit your response no later than Tuesday, January 23, 2024.

The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • Your participation in this month’s collection is invaluable, as this is the first time that data on principal autonomy, world languages, and college and career readiness programs are being collected in the SPP. Be a part of the first group of schools to provide real-time data on these topics!

  • This information will inform decisions and policy regarding these programs and other topics at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the January 2024 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. Unfortunately, we do not have a valid email address on file for you or your school. To receive an electronic link to the survey, please email [email protected] or call 1-844-868-3661 and provide the name and a valid email address for the best point of contact for this study. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics.


We look forward to hearing from you!


Sincerely,



Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education





School Pulse Panel: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a monthly data collection designed to measure a rotating collection of high-priority, education-related topics, as determined by federal stakeholders, interest groups, and school administrators like you.

How is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel different from other education surveys?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a unique study. While surveys like the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the National Teacher and Principal Survey produce benchmark statistics critical to monitoring progress over time, they are only conducted once every few years. The SPP surveys schools each month, providing the U.S. Department of Education and federal policymakers with crucial, real-time information that can quickly inform policies and funding decisions at the federal level.

Why should my school participate?

Your school’s responses provide national, state, and local education leaders with the information needed to make evidence-based decisions about education policy and resource allocation. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all schools inform better policies.

What does it look like to participate on a monthly basis?

Each month’s survey will take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. When surveyed at the conclusion of the 2021-22 School Pulse Panel, 98 percent of participating schools said they felt that the time necessary to complete each monthly survey was reasonable. However, we understand that, as an educator, you are very busy; to show our appreciation for your time and effort for completing the survey, your school will receive $200 for each completed survey you submit. These reimbursements will be mailed five to six weeks after the end of data collection.

How do I participate?

This is the sixth monthly collection of the 2023-24 school year. Monthly collections will continue through June 2024. We currently do not have an email on file for your school. Please contact [email protected] or call 1-844-868-3661 and provide a valid email address for a designated point of contact for this study. Your school’s designated point of contact will receive an invitation to complete the School Pulse Panel survey via regular mail and email, which will include a link to the survey. The person completing the survey can share the link with a colleague if they need help completing the survey. On behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the Census Bureau is collecting the information. A new survey invitation will be issued each month from the email address [email protected]. All participation is voluntary.

Does the person completing the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel for the school have to be the principal?

No. You are welcome to delegate completion of the survey to another staff member who is knowledgeable about programs at the school.

Will you ask the same questions every month?

Some questions may remain on the survey from month to month to learn how schools are experiencing and adapting to change. Other questions may rotate in and out. Topic areas will change monthly and will reflect high-priority, education-related topics that NCES and federal policymakers lack timely data on. You will also help shape content for surveys.

Other important information

By federal law, we are required to protect the responses of all schools included in our survey (see citations at the end of the FAQ). Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports. No teacher or student time is required to complete the survey. Send comments regarding the 30-minute survey burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the National Center for Education Statistics Institute of Education Sciences (IES) PCP, 550 12th Street, SW, 4th floor, Room  4036, Washington, D.C. 20202. According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number is 1850-0975 (expires 07/31/2026).

NCES is authorized to conduct this survey by the American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARP2021; Sec. 2010) and the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). All of the information schools 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). Reports of the findings from the survey will not identify participating Local Education Agencies (LEAs), schools, or staff. Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.

January 2024 Initial Email – December 2023 Respondents (Reimbursement Schools)

[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: January Survey Invitation]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

Thank you for participating in the December 2023 School Pulse Panel (SPP) data collection. This email contains your January survey invitation. Please complete the survey by Tuesday, January 23, 2024.

  • The January survey collects data on principal autonomy at your school and your school’s world language and college and career readiness programs. Even if you do not offer these programs, we want to hear from you!

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less.

  • Your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

  • Please complete the January survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • Your participation in this month’s collection is invaluable, as this is the first time that data on principal autonomy, world languages, and college and career readiness programs are being collected in the SPP. Be a part of the first group of schools to provide real-time data on these topics!

  • This information will inform decisions and policy regarding these programs and other topics at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the January 2024 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education









January 2024 Initial Email – December 2023 Respondents (No Debit Card Schools)

[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: January Survey Invitation]

DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

Thank you for participating in the December 2023 School Pulse Panel (SPP) data collection. This email contains your January survey invitation. Please complete the survey by Tuesday, January 23, 2024.

  • The January survey collects data on principal autonomy at your school and your school’s world language and college and career readiness programs. Even if you do not offer these programs, we want to hear from you!

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less.

  • Please complete the January survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • Your participation in this month’s collection is invaluable, as this is the first time that data on principal autonomy, world languages, and college and career readiness programs are being collected in the SPP. Be a part of the first group of schools to provide real-time data on these topics!

  • This information will inform decisions and policy regarding these programs and other topics at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the January 2024 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education











January 2024 Initial Email – December 2023 Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools)

[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: January Survey Invitation]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

The National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to participate in the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. The 2023-24 SPP is a unique opportunity to provide your school’s perspective directly to the Department on a range of high-priority, education-related topics on a monthly basis.

  • The January survey collects data on principal autonomy at your school and your school’s world language and college and career readiness programs. Even if you do not offer these programs, we want to hear from you!

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

Please complete the 30-minute January 2024 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • Your participation in this month’s collection is invaluable, as this is the first time that data on principal autonomy, world languages, and college and career readiness programs are being collected in the SPP. Be a part of the first group of schools to provide real-time data on these topics!

  • This information will inform decisions and policy regarding these programs and other topics at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the January 2024 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education







January 2024 Initial Email – December 2023 Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools)

[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: January Survey Invitation]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

The National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to participate in the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. The 2023-24 SPP is a unique opportunity to provide your school’s perspective directly to the Department on a range of high-priority, education-related topics on a monthly basis.

  • The January survey collects data on principal autonomy at your school and your school’s world language and college and career readiness programs. Even if you do not offer these programs, we want to hear from you!

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less.

Please complete the 30-minute January 2024 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • Your participation in this month’s collection is invaluable, as this is the first time that data on principal autonomy, world languages, and college and career readiness programs are being collected in the SPP. Be a part of the first group of schools to provide real-time data on these topics!

  • This information will inform decisions and policy regarding these programs and other topics at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the January 2024 SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education







January 2024 Reminder Email 1 – January Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools)


[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: January Survey Reminder]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL NAME]:

Did you know that <PLACEHOLDER FINDING FROM 2023-24 SPP>? This information was collected in the School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey in <MONTH YEAR>. The School Pulse Panel (SPP) is a quick-turnaround data collection that releases findings approximately six weeks after the end of data collection. Your participation in this month’s collection is invaluable, as this is the first time that data on principal autonomy, world languages, and college and career readiness programs are being collected in the SPP. Be a part of the first group of schools to provide real-time data on these topics!

This is a reminder to complete the January 2024 survey by Tuesday, January 23, 2024. To thank you for your time and effort in providing this information, your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

  • This month’s survey will ask you about principal autonomy at your school and your school’s world language and college and career readiness programs. Even if you do not offer these programs, we want to hear from you!

  • The survey will take approximately 30 minutes or less to complete. You can access the survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

  • Your school is among a small number of schools selected to participate in the Panel. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all public schools inform better policies.

  • By participating in the 2023-24 SPP, you will ensure that information about your school and others like it is included in policy and funding decisions.


If you need help or have questions, you may visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse, call 1-844-868-3661, or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative. We look forward to your school’s participation in this month’s collection!



Sincerely,





Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education








January 2024 Reminder Email 1 – January Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools)


[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: January Survey Reminder]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL NAME]:

Did you know that <PLACEHOLDER FINDING FROM 2023-24 SPP>? This information was collected in the School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey in <MONTH YEAR>. The School Pulse Panel (SPP) is a quick-turnaround data collection that releases findings approximately six weeks after the end of data collection. Your participation in this month’s collection is invaluable, as this is the first time that data on principal autonomy, world languages, and college and career readiness programs are being collected in the SPP. Be a part of the first group of schools to provide real-time data on these topics!

This is a reminder to complete the January 2024 survey by Tuesday, January 23, 2024.

  • This month’s survey will ask you about principal autonomy at your school and your school’s world language and college and career readiness programs. Even if you do not offer these programs, we want to hear from you!

  • The survey will take approximately 30 minutes or less to complete. You can access the survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

  • Your school is among a small number of schools selected to participate in the Panel. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all public schools inform better policies.

  • By participating in the 2023-24 SPP, you will ensure that information about your school and others like it is included in policy and funding decisions.


If you need help or have questions, you may visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse, call 1-844-868-3661, or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative. We look forward to your school’s participation in this month’s collection!



Sincerely,





Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education









January 2024 Reminder Email 2 – January Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools)


[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: Your Response is Important]


Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]:


This is a reminder that the National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to provide information about principal autonomy at your school and the world language and college and career readiness programs currently offered at your school as a part of this month’s School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. Even if you do not offer these programs, we want to hear from you! Your participation in the January 2024 survey will help ensure that information about your school and others like it is included in policy and funding decisions. We ask that you complete the SPP January survey by Tuesday, January 23, 2024.


The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey. You can access the survey online by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:



[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

  • Your participation in this month’s collection is invaluable, as this is the first time that data on principal autonomy, world languages, and college and career readiness programs are being collected in the SPP. Be a part of the first group of schools to provide real-time data on these topics!

  • This information will inform decisions and policy regarding these programs and other topics at the federal level.


To learn more about the School Pulse Panel and to preview the January 2024 questions, visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse. If you have questions, please call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative.



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education











January 2024 Reminder Email 2- January Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools)


[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: Your Response is Important]


Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]:


This is a reminder that the National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to provide information about principal autonomy at your school and the world language and college and career readiness programs currently offered at your school as a part of this month’s School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. Even if you do not offer these programs, we want to hear from you! Your participation in the January 2024 survey will help ensure that information about your school and others like it is included in policy and funding decisions. We ask that you complete the SPP January survey by Tuesday, January 23, 2024.


The survey will take 30 minutes or less. You can access the survey online by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:



[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

  • Your participation in this month’s collection is invaluable, as this is the first time that data on principal autonomy, world languages, and college and career readiness programs are being collected in the SPP. Be a part of the first group of schools to provide real-time data on these topics!

  • This information will inform decisions and policy regarding these programs and other topics at the federal level.


To learn more about the School Pulse Panel and to preview the January 2024 questions, visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse. If you have questions, please call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative.



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education











January 2024 Reminder Email 3 – January Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools)


[Subject line: School Pulse Panel: Last Day to Respond to January 2024 Survey is Today]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]:


This is a final reminder to complete the January 2024 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey by today, January 23. We are looking forward to learning about principal autonomy at your school and the world language and college and career readiness programs offered at your school. Even if you do not offer these programs, we want to hear from you! If you have already responded for January 2024, thank you! Please disregard this notice.


The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and to thank you for your time and effort in completing the entire survey, your school will receive $200. Please complete the January 2024 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:


[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

To learn more about the School Pulse Panel and to preview the January 2024 questions, visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse. If you have questions, please call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative.



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education




















January 2024 Reminder Email 3 – January Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools)


[Subject line: School Pulse Panel: Last Day to Respond to January 2024 Survey is Today]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]:


This is a final reminder to complete the January 2024 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey by today, January 23. We are looking forward to learning about principal autonomy at your school and the world language and college and career readiness programs offered at your school. Even if you do not offer these programs, we want to hear from you! If you have already responded for January 2024, thank you! Please disregard this notice.


The survey will take 30 minutes or less. Please complete the January 2024 survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:


[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

To learn more about the School Pulse Panel and to preview the January 2024 questions, visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse. If you have questions, please call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative.



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education























Communication Materials - Templates

<MONTH> Initial Letter – <TWO MONTHS’ PRIOR> Respondents (Reimbursement Schools)

DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

Thank you for your prior participation in the School Pulse Panel (SPP) data collection. This letter contains your <Month Year> SPP survey invitation.

  • This month, we would like to know more about <topics>.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

Please complete the 30-minute <Month Year> survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

Shape30

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]








You should have also received an email invitation that contains this same link and User ID. Please submit your response no later than <Day, Month, XX, Year>. If you have already responded to the <Month Year> SPP survey, thank you! Please disregard this letter.


The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In <description of collection>’s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about <prior SPP topic area>. We found that <prior SPP statistic>.

  • Through your participation in the <Month year> SPP, we will learn more about <topic area>. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding <topic area> at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the <Month Year> SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,



Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education

School Pulse Panel: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a monthly data collection designed to measure a rotating collection of high-priority, education-related topics, as determined by federal stakeholders, interest groups, and school administrators like you.

How is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel different from other education surveys?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a unique study. While surveys like the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the National Teacher and Principal Survey produce benchmark statistics critical to monitoring progress over time, they are only conducted once every few years. The SPP surveys schools each month, providing the U.S. Department of Education and federal policymakers with crucial, real-time information that can quickly inform policies and funding decisions at the federal level.

Why should my school participate?

Your school’s responses provide national, state, and local education leaders with the information needed to make evidence-based decisions about education policy and resource allocation. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all schools inform better policies.

What does it look like to participate on a monthly basis?

Each month’s survey will take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. When surveyed at the conclusion of the 2021-22 School Pulse Panel, 98 percent of participating schools said they felt that the time necessary to complete each monthly survey was reasonable. However, we understand that, as an educator, you are very busy; to show our appreciation for your time and effort for completing the survey, your school will receive $200 for each completed survey you submit. These reimbursements will be mailed five to six weeks after the end of data collection.

How do I participate?

This is the <nth/th> monthly collection of the 2023-24 school year. Monthly collections will continue through June 2024. Each school will designate a point of contact that will be responsible for completing the survey. Your school’s designated point of contact will receive an invitation to complete the School Pulse Panel survey via regular mail and email. Both will include a link to the survey, which should take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. The person completing the survey can share the link with a colleague if they need help completing the survey. On behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the Census Bureau is collecting the information. A new survey invitation will be issued each month from the email address [email protected]. All participation is voluntary.

Does the person completing the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel for the school have to be the principal?

No. You are welcome to delegate completion of the survey to another staff member who is knowledgeable about programs at the school.

Will you ask the same questions every month?

Some questions may remain on the survey from month to month to learn how schools are experiencing and adapting to change. Other questions may rotate in and out. Topic areas will change monthly and will reflect high-priority, education-related topics that NCES and federal policymakers lack timely data on. You will also help shape content for surveys.

Other important information

By federal law, we are required to protect the responses of all schools included in our survey (see citations at the end of the FAQ). Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports. No teacher or student time is required to complete the survey. Send comments regarding the 30-minute survey burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the National Center for Education Statistics Institute of Education Sciences (IES) PCP, 550 12th Street, SW, 4th floor, Room  4036, Washington, D.C. 20202. According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number is 1850-0975 (expires 07/31/2026).

NCES is authorized to conduct this survey by the American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARP2021; Sec. 2010) and the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). All of the information schools 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). Reports of the findings from the survey will not identify participating Local Education Agencies (LEAs), schools, or staff. Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.

<MONTH> Initial Letter – <TWO MONTHS’ PRIOR> Respondents (No Debit Card Schools)

DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

Thank you for your prior participation in the School Pulse Panel (SPP) data collection. This letter contains your <Month Year> SPP survey invitation.

  • This month, we would like to know more about <topics>.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less.

Please complete the 30-minute <Month Year> survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

Shape31

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]








You should have also received an email invitation that contains this same link and User ID. Please submit your response no later than <Day, Month, XX, Year>. If you have already responded to the <Month Year> SPP survey, thank you! Please disregard this letter.


The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In <description of collection>‘s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about <prior SPP topic area>. We found that <prior SPP statistic>.

  • Through your participation in the <Month Year> SPP, we will learn more about <topic area>. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding <topic area> at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the <Month Year> SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,



Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education











School Pulse Panel: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a monthly data collection designed to measure a rotating collection of high-priority, education-related topics, as determined by federal stakeholders, interest groups, and school administrators like you.

How is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel different from other education surveys?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a unique study. While surveys like the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the National Teacher and Principal Survey produce benchmark statistics critical to monitoring progress over time, they are only conducted once every few years. The SPP surveys schools each month, providing the U.S. Department of Education and federal policymakers with crucial, real-time information that can quickly inform policies and funding decisions at the federal level.

Why should my school participate?

Your school’s responses provide national, state, and local education leaders with the information needed to make evidence-based decisions about education policy and resource allocation. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all schools inform better policies.

What does it look like to participate on a monthly basis?

Each month’s survey will take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. When surveyed at the conclusion of the 2021-22 School Pulse Panel, 98 percent of participating schools said they felt that the time necessary to complete each monthly survey was reasonable.

How do I participate?

This is the <nth/th> monthly collection of the 2023-24 school year. Monthly collections will continue through June 2024. Each school will designate a point of contact that will be responsible for completing the survey. Your school’s designated point of contact will receive an invitation to complete the School Pulse Panel survey via regular mail and email. Both will include a link to the survey, which should take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. The person completing the survey can share the link with a colleague if they need help completing the survey. On behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the Census Bureau is collecting the information. A new survey invitation will be issued each month from the email address [email protected]. All participation is voluntary.

Does the person completing the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel for the school have to be the principal?

No. You are welcome to delegate completion of the survey to another staff member who is knowledgeable about programs at the school.

Will you ask the same questions every month?

Some questions may remain on the survey from month to month to learn how schools are experiencing and adapting to change. Other questions may rotate in and out. Topic areas will change monthly and will reflect high-priority, education-related topics that NCES and federal policymakers lack timely data on. You will also help shape content for surveys.

Other important information

By federal law, we are required to protect the responses of all schools included in our survey (see citations at the end of the FAQ). Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports. No teacher or student time is required to complete the survey. Send comments regarding the 30-minute survey burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the National Center for Education Statistics Institute of Education Sciences (IES) PCP, 550 12th Street, SW, 4th floor, Room  4036, Washington, D.C. 20202. According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number is 1850-0975 (expires 07/31/2026).

NCES is authorized to conduct this survey by the American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARP2021; Sec. 2010) and the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). All of the information schools 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). Reports of the findings from the survey will not identify participating Local Education Agencies (LEAs), schools, or staff. Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.

<MONTH> Initial Letter – <TWO MONTHS’ PRIOR> Nonrespondents (Accepts Reimbursement)



DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

The National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to participate in the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. The 2023-24 SPP is a unique opportunity to provide your school’s perspective directly to the Department on a range of high-priority, education-related topics on a monthly basis.

  • This month, we would like to know more about <topics>.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

Please complete the 30-minute <Month Year> survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

Shape32

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]








You should have also received an email invitation that contains this same link and User ID. Please submit your response no later than <Day, Month, XX, Year>. If you have already responded to the <Month Year> SPP survey, thank you! Please disregard this letter.


The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In <description of collection>‘s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about <prior SPP topic area>. We found that <prior SPP statistic>.

  • Through your participation in the <Month Year> SPP, we will learn more about <topic area>. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding <topic area> at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the <Month Year> SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics.


We look forward to hearing from you!


Sincerely,


Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education





School Pulse Panel: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a monthly data collection designed to measure a rotating collection of high-priority, education-related topics, as determined by federal stakeholders, interest groups, and school administrators like you.

How is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel different from other education surveys?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a unique study. While surveys like the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the National Teacher and Principal Survey produce benchmark statistics critical to monitoring progress over time, they are only conducted once every few years. The SPP surveys schools each month, providing the U.S. Department of Education and federal policymakers with crucial, real-time information that can quickly inform policies and funding decisions at the federal level.

Why should my school participate?

Your school’s responses provide national, state, and local education leaders with the information needed to make evidence-based decisions about education policy and resource allocation. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all schools inform better policies.

What does it look like to participate on a monthly basis?

Each month’s survey will take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. When surveyed at the conclusion of the 2021-22 School Pulse Panel, 98 percent of participating schools said they felt that the time necessary to complete each monthly survey was reasonable. However, we understand that, as an educator, you are very busy; to show our appreciation for your time and effort for completing the survey, your school will receive $200 for each completed survey you submit. These reimbursements will be mailed five to six weeks after the end of data collection.

How do I participate?

This is the <nth/th> monthly collection of the 2023-24 school year. Monthly collections will continue through June 2024. Each school will designate a point of contact that will be responsible for completing the survey. Your school’s designated point of contact will receive an invitation to complete the School Pulse Panel survey via regular mail and email. Both will include a link to the survey, which should take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. The person completing the survey can share the link with a colleague if they need help completing the survey. On behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the Census Bureau is collecting the information. A new survey invitation will be issued each month from the email address [email protected]. All participation is voluntary.

Does the person completing the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel for the school have to be the principal?

No. You are welcome to delegate completion of the survey to another staff member who is knowledgeable about programs at the school.

Will you ask the same questions every month?

Some questions may remain on the survey from month to month to learn how schools are experiencing and adapting to change. Other questions may rotate in and out. Topic areas will change monthly and will reflect high-priority, education-related topics that NCES and federal policymakers lack timely data on. You will also help shape content for surveys.

Other important information

By federal law, we are required to protect the responses of all schools included in our survey (see citations at the end of the FAQ). Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports. No teacher or student time is required to complete the survey. Send comments regarding the 30-minute survey burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the National Center for Education Statistics Institute of Education Sciences (IES) PCP, 550 12th Street, SW, 4th floor, Room  4036, Washington, D.C. 20202. According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number is 1850-0975 (expires 07/31/2026).

NCES is authorized to conduct this survey by the American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARP2021; Sec. 2010) and the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). All of the information schools 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). Reports of the findings from the survey will not identify participating Local Education Agencies (LEAs), schools, or staff. Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.

<MONTH> Initial Letter – <TWO MONTHS’ PRIOR> Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools)

DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

The National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to participate in the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. The 2023-24 SPP is a unique opportunity to provide your school’s perspective directly to the Department on a range of high-priority, education-related topics on a monthly basis.

  • This month, we would like to know more about <topics>.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less.

Please complete the 30-minute <Month Year> survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

Shape33

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]








You should have also received an email invitation that contains this same link and User ID. Please submit your response no later than <Day, Month, XX, Year>. If you have already responded to the <Month Year> SPP survey, thank you! Please disregard this letter.


The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In <description of collection>‘s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about <prior SPP topic area>. We found that <prior SPP statistic>.

  • Through your participation in the <Month Year> SPP, we will learn more about <topic area>. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding <topic area> at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the <Month Year> SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,



Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education

School Pulse Panel: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a monthly data collection designed to measure a rotating collection of high-priority, education-related topics, as determined by federal stakeholders, interest groups, and school administrators like you.

How is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel different from other education surveys?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a unique study. While surveys like the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the National Teacher and Principal Survey produce benchmark statistics critical to monitoring progress over time, they are only conducted once every few years. The SPP surveys schools each month, providing the U.S. Department of Education and federal policymakers with crucial, real-time information that can quickly inform policies and funding decisions at the federal level.

Why should my school participate?

Your school’s responses provide national, state, and local education leaders with the information needed to make evidence-based decisions about education policy and resource allocation. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all schools inform better policies.

What does it look like to participate on a monthly basis?

Each month’s survey will take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. When surveyed at the conclusion of the 2021-22 School Pulse Panel, 98 percent of participating schools said they felt that the time necessary to complete each monthly survey was reasonable.

How do I participate?

This is the <nth/th> monthly collection of the 2023-24 school year. Monthly collections will continue through June 2024. Each school will designate a point of contact that will be responsible for completing the survey. Your school’s designated point of contact will receive an invitation to complete the School Pulse Panel survey via regular mail and email. Both will include a link to the survey, which should take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. The person completing the survey can share the link with a colleague if they need help completing the survey. On behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the Census Bureau is collecting the information. A new survey invitation will be issued each month from the email address [email protected]. All participation is voluntary.

Does the person completing the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel for the school have to be the principal?

No. You are welcome to delegate completion of the survey to another staff member who is knowledgeable about programs at the school.

Will you ask the same questions every month?

Some questions may remain on the survey from month to month to learn how schools are experiencing and adapting to change. Other questions may rotate in and out. Topic areas will change monthly and will reflect high-priority, education-related topics that NCES and federal policymakers lack timely data on. You will also help shape content for surveys.

Other important information

By federal law, we are required to protect the responses of all schools included in our survey (see citations at the end of the FAQ). Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports. No teacher or student time is required to complete the survey. Send comments regarding the 30-minute survey burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the National Center for Education Statistics Institute of Education Sciences (IES) PCP, 550 12th Street, SW, 4th floor, Room  4036, Washington, D.C. 20202. According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number is 1850-0975 (expires 07/31/2026).

NCES is authorized to conduct this survey by the American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARP2021; Sec. 2010) and the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). All of the information schools 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). Reports of the findings from the survey will not identify participating Local Education Agencies (LEAs), schools, or staff. Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.


<MONTH> Initial Letter – <TWO MONTHS’ PRIOR> Respondents (No Email Schools, Accepts Reimbursement)

DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

Thank you for your prior participation in the School Pulse Panel (SPP) data collection. This letter contains your <Month Year> SPP survey invitation.

  • This month, we would like to know more about <topics>.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

Please complete the 30-minute <Month Year> survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

Shape34

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]











Please submit your response no later than <Day, Month, XX, Year>. The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In <description of collection>‘s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about <prior SPP topic area>. We found that <prior SPP statistic>.

  • Through your participation in the <Month Year> SPP, we will learn more about <topic area>. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding <topic area> at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the <Month Year> SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. Unfortunately, we do not have a valid email address on file for you or your school. To receive an electronic link to the survey, please email [email protected] or call 1-844-868-3661 and provide the name and a valid email address for the best point of contact for this study. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics.


We look forward to hearing from you!


Sincerely,



Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education











School Pulse Panel: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a monthly data collection designed to measure a rotating collection of high-priority, education-related topics, as determined by federal stakeholders, interest groups, and school administrators like you.

How is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel different from other education surveys?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a unique study. While surveys like the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the National Teacher and Principal Survey produce benchmark statistics critical to monitoring progress over time, they are only conducted once every few years. The SPP surveys schools each month, providing the U.S. Department of Education and federal policymakers with crucial, real-time information that can quickly inform policies and funding decisions at the federal level.

Why should my school participate?

Your school’s responses provide national, state, and local education leaders with the information needed to make evidence-based decisions about education policy and resource allocation. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all schools inform better policies.

What does it look like to participate on a monthly basis?

Each month’s survey will take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. When surveyed at the conclusion of the 2021-22 School Pulse Panel, 98 percent of participating schools said they felt that the time necessary to complete each monthly survey was reasonable. However, we understand that, as an educator, you are very busy; to show our appreciation for your time and effort for completing the survey, your school will receive $200 for each completed survey you submit. These reimbursements will be mailed five to six weeks after the end of data collection.

How do I participate?

This is the <nth/th> monthly collection of the 2023-24 school year. Monthly collections will continue through June 2024. We currently do not have an email on file for your school. Please contact [email protected] or call 1-844-868-3661 and provide a valid email address for a designated point of contact for this study. Your school’s designated point of contact will receive an invitation to complete the School Pulse Panel survey via regular mail and email, which will include a link to the survey. The person completing the survey can share the link with a colleague if they need help completing the survey. On behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the Census Bureau is collecting the information. A new survey invitation will be issued each month from the email address [email protected]. All participation is voluntary.

Does the person completing the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel for the school have to be the principal?

No. You are welcome to delegate completion of the survey to another staff member who is knowledgeable about programs at the school.

Will you ask the same questions every month?

Some questions may remain on the survey from month to month to learn how schools are experiencing and adapting to change. Other questions may rotate in and out. Topic areas will change monthly and will reflect high-priority, education-related topics that NCES and federal policymakers lack timely data on. You will also help shape content for surveys.

Other important information

By federal law, we are required to protect the responses of all schools included in our survey (see citations at the end of the FAQ). Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports. No teacher or student time is required to complete the survey. Send comments regarding the 30-minute survey burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the National Center for Education Statistics Institute of Education Sciences (IES) PCP, 550 12th Street, SW, 4th floor, Room  4036, Washington, D.C. 20202. According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number is 1850-0975 (expires 07/31/2026).

NCES is authorized to conduct this survey by the American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARP2021; Sec. 2010) and the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). All of the information schools 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). Reports of the findings from the survey will not identify participating Local Education Agencies (LEAs), schools, or staff. Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.

<MONTH> Initial Letter – <TWO MONTHS’ PRIOR> Nonrespondents (No Email Schools, Accepts Reimbursement)

DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

The National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to participate in the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. The 2023-24 SPP is a unique opportunity to provide your school’s perspective directly to the Department on a range of high-priority, education-related topics on a monthly basis.

  • This month, we would like to know more about <topics>.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

Please complete the 30-minute <Month Year> survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

Shape35

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]











Please submit your response no later than <Day, Month, XX, Year>. The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In <description of collection>‘s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about <prior SPP topic area>. We found that <prior SPP statistic>.

  • Through your participation in the <Month Year> SPP, we will learn more about <topic area>. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding <topic area> at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the <Month Year> SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. Unfortunately, we do not have a valid email address on file for you or your school. To receive an electronic link to the survey, please email [email protected] or call 1-844-868-3661 and provide the name and a valid email address for the best point of contact for this study. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics.


We look forward to hearing from you!


Sincerely,


Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education






School Pulse Panel: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a monthly data collection designed to measure a rotating collection of high-priority, education-related topics, as determined by federal stakeholders, interest groups, and school administrators like you.

How is the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel different from other education surveys?

The 2023-24 School Pulse Panel is a unique study. While surveys like the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the National Teacher and Principal Survey produce benchmark statistics critical to monitoring progress over time, they are only conducted once every few years. The SPP surveys schools each month, providing the U.S. Department of Education and federal policymakers with crucial, real-time information that can quickly inform policies and funding decisions at the federal level.

Why should my school participate?

Your school’s responses provide national, state, and local education leaders with the information needed to make evidence-based decisions about education policy and resource allocation. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all schools inform better policies.

What does it look like to participate on a monthly basis?

Each month’s survey will take 30 minutes or less to complete and will be open for two weeks. When surveyed at the conclusion of the 2021-22 School Pulse Panel, 98 percent of participating schools said they felt that the time necessary to complete each monthly survey was reasonable. However, we understand that, as an educator, you are very busy; to show our appreciation for your time and effort for completing the survey, your school will receive $200 for each completed survey you submit. These reimbursements will be mailed five to six weeks after the end of data collection.

How do I participate?

This is the <nth/th> monthly collection of the 2023-24 school year. Monthly collections will continue through June 2024. We currently do not have an email on file for your school. Please contact [email protected] and provide a valid email address for a designated point of contact for this study. Your school’s designated point of contact will receive an invitation to complete the School Pulse Panel survey via regular mail and email, which will include a link to the survey. The person completing the survey can share the link with a colleague if they need help completing the survey. On behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the Census Bureau is collecting the information. A new survey invitation will be issued each month from the email address [email protected]. All participation is voluntary.

Does the person completing the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel for the school have to be the principal?

No. You are welcome to delegate completion of the survey to another staff member who is knowledgeable about programs at the school.

Will you ask the same questions every month?

Some questions may remain on the survey from month to month to learn how schools are experiencing and adapting to change. Other questions may rotate in and out. Topic areas will change monthly and will reflect high-priority, education-related topics that NCES and federal policymakers lack timely data on. You will also help shape content for surveys.

Other important information

By federal law, we are required to protect the responses of all schools included in our survey (see citations at the end of the FAQ). Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports. No teacher or student time is required to complete the survey. Send comments regarding the 30-minute survey burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the National Center for Education Statistics Institute of Education Sciences (IES) PCP, 550 12th Street, SW, 4th floor, Room  4036, Washington, D.C. 20202. According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number is 1850-0975 (expires 07/31/2026).

NCES is authorized to conduct this survey by the American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARP2021; Sec. 2010) and the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. §9543). All of the information schools 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). Reports of the findings from the survey will not identify participating Local Education Agencies (LEAs), schools, or staff. Individual responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.

<MONTH YEAR> Initial Email – <ONE MONTH PRIOR> Respondents (Reimbursement Schools)

[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: <MONTH> Survey Invitation]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

Thank you for participating in the <Prior Month> School Pulse Panel (SPP) data collection. This email contains your <MONTH> Survey Invitation. Please complete the survey by <Day, Month, XX, Year>.

  • The <month> survey collects data on topic area.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less.

  • Your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

  • Please complete the <month> survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In <description of collection>‘s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about <prior SPP topic area>. We found that prior SPP statistic.

  • Through your participation in the <Month Year> SPP, we will learn more about <topic area>. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding <topic area> at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the <Month Year> SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education








<MONTH YEAR> Initial Email – <ONE MONTH PRIOR> Respondents (No Debit Card Schools)

[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: <MONTH> Survey Invitation]

DATE

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

Thank you for participating in the <Prior Month> School Pulse Panel (SPP) data collection. This email contains your <MONTH> Survey Invitation. Please complete the survey by <Day, Month, XX, Year>.

  • The <month> survey collects data on topic area.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less.

  • Please complete the <month> survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In <description of collection>‘s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about <prior SPP topic area>. We found that prior SPP statistic.

  • Through your participation in the <Month Year> SPP, we will learn more about <topic area>. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding <topic area> at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the <Month Year> SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education









<MONTH YEAR> Initial Email – <ONE MONTH PRIOR> Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools)

[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: <MONTH> Survey Invitation]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

The National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to participate in the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. The 2023-24 SPP is a unique opportunity to provide your school’s perspective directly to the Department on a range of high-priority, education-related topics on a monthly basis.

  • The <month> survey collects data on topic area.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

Please complete the 30-minute <Month Year> survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In <description of collection>‘s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about <prior SPP topic area>. We found that prior SPP statistic.

  • Through your participation in the <Month Year> SPP, we will learn more about <topic area>. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding <topic area> at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the <Month Year> SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education







<MONTH YEAR> Initial Email – <ONE MONTH PRIOR> Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools)

[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: <MONTH> Survey Invitation]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]

The National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to participate in the 2023-24 School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey. The 2023-24 SPP is a unique opportunity to provide your school’s perspective directly to the Department on a range of high-priority, education-related topics on a monthly basis.

  • The <month> survey collects data on topic area.

  • The survey will take 30 minutes or less.

Please complete the 30-minute <Month Year> survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

The information that you provide is critical for data-driven decision making on program and policy implementation and federal funding distributions by program offices in the Department of Education, the White House, other federal agencies, and Congress. By participating in this survey, you will ensure that information about your school is included in these important decisions.

  • In <description of collection>‘s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about <prior SPP topic area>. We found that prior SPP statistic.

  • Through your participation in the <Month Year> SPP, we will learn more about <topic area>. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding <topic area> at the federal level.


If you would like to preview the <Month Year> SPP survey questions before taking the survey online, please visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse to view the questionnaire. If you have questions or need assistance, you may also call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. The Census Bureau is collecting data on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


We look forward to hearing from you!



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph.D.
Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education







<CURRENT MONTH> Reminder Email 1 – <CURRENT MONTH> Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools)


[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: <CURRENT MONTH> Survey Reminder]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL NAME]:

Did you know that <prior SPP statistic>? Through your participation in the <CURRENT MONTH> School Pulse Panel (SPP), we will learn more about <topic>.

This is a reminder to complete the <CURRENT MONTH> survey by <Day, Month, XX, Year>. To thank you for your time and effort in providing this information, your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey.

  • This month’s survey will ask you <topic area>.

  • The survey will take approximately 30 minutes or less to complete. You can access the survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

  • Your school is among a small number of schools selected to participate in the Panel. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all public schools inform better policies.

  • By participating in the 2023-24 SPP, you will ensure that information about your school and others like it is included in policy and funding decisions.


If you need help or have questions, you may visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse, call 1-844-868-3661, or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative. We look forward to your school’s participation in this month’s collection!



Sincerely,





Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education











<CURRENT MONTH> Reminder Email 1 – <CURRENT MONTH> Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools)


[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: <CURRENT MONTH> Survey Reminder]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL NAME]:

Did you know that <prior SPP statistic>? Through your participation in the <CURRENT MONTH> School Pulse Panel (SPP), we will learn more about <topic>.

This is a reminder to complete the <CURRENT MONTH> survey by <Day, Month, XX, Year>.

  • This month’s survey will ask you <topic area>.

  • The survey will take approximately 30 minutes or less to complete. You can access the survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:

[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

  • Your school is among a small number of schools selected to participate in the Panel. Without responses from your school, we will have an incomplete picture of the condition of education during the 2023-24 school year. Data that are representative of all public schools inform better policies.

  • By participating in the 2023-24 SPP, you will ensure that information about your school and others like it is included in policy and funding decisions.


If you need help or have questions, you may visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse, call 1-844-868-3661, or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative. We look forward to your school’s participation in this month’s collection!



Sincerely,





Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education












<CURRENT MONTH> Reminder Email 2 – <CURRENT MONTH> Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools)


[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: Your Response is Important]


Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]:


This is a reminder that the National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to provide information about <topic>. Your participation in the <CURRENT MONTH> survey will help ensure that information about your school and others like it is included in policy and funding decisions. We ask that you complete the SPP <month> survey by <Day, Month, XX, Year>.


The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and your school will receive $200 for completing the entire survey. You can access the survey online by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:



[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

  • In <description of collection>‘s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about <prior SPP topic area>. We found that, <prior SPP statistic>.

  • Through your participation, we will learn more about <topic area>. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding <topic area> at the federal level.


To learn more about the School Pulse Panel and to preview the <Month Year> questions, visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse. If you have questions, please call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative.



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education












<CURRENT MONTH> Reminder Email 2- <CURRENT MONTH> Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools)


[Subject line: 2023-24 School Pulse Panel: Your Response is Important]


Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]:


This is a reminder that the National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, is asking you to provide information about <topic>. Your participation in the <CURRENT MONTH> survey will help ensure that information about your school and others like it is included in policy and funding decisions. We ask that you complete the SPP <month> survey by <Day, Month, XX, Year>.


The survey will take 30 minutes or less. You can access the survey online by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:



[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

  • In <description of collection>‘s SPP survey, we asked participating public schools questions about <prior SPP topic area>. We found that, <prior SPP statistic>.

  • Through your participation, we will learn more about <topic area>. This information will inform decisions and policy regarding <topic area> at the federal level.


To learn more about the School Pulse Panel and to preview the <Month Year> questions, visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse. If you have questions, please call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative.



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education












<CURRENT MONTH> Reminder Email 3 – <CURRENT MONTH> Nonrespondents (Reimbursement Schools)


[Subject line: School Pulse Panel: Last Day to Respond to <CURRENT MONTH> survey is Today]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]:


This is a final reminder to complete the <Month Year> School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey by today, <Month Day>. We are looking forward to learning more about <topic>. If you have already responded for <Month Year>, thank you! Please disregard this notice.


The survey will take 30 minutes or less, and to thank you for your time and effort in completing the entire survey, your school will receive $200. Please complete the <CURRENT MONTH> survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:


[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

To learn more about the School Pulse Panel and to preview the <Month Year> questions, visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse. If you have questions, please call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative.



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education





















<CURRENT MONTH> Reminder Email 3 – <CURRENT MONTH> Nonrespondents (No Debit Card Schools)


[Subject line: School Pulse Panel: Last Day to Respond to <CURRENT MONTH> survey is Today]

Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]:


This is a final reminder to complete the <Month Year> School Pulse Panel (SPP) survey by today, <Month Day>. We are looking forward to learning more about <topic>. If you have already responded for <Month Year>, thank you! Please disregard this notice.


The survey will take 30 minutes or less. Please complete the <CURRENT MONTH> survey by visiting the link below and entering your User ID:


[URL]

User ID: [EXTERNALREFERENCE]

To learn more about the School Pulse Panel and to preview the <Month Year> questions, visit www.census.gov/schoolpulse. If you have questions, please call 1-844-868-3661 or email [email protected]. Please be assured that we are required, by federal mandate, to protect the responses of all schools included in the Panel, and your responses will not be identifiable.


Thank you for your consideration of this important initiative.



Sincerely,




Peggy G. Carr, Ph. D.

Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

U.S. Department of Education






















Advance Secretary Letter Communications

Summer 2023 Advance Letter from Education Secretary Miguel Cardona (Accepts Reimbursement)

THE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION

WASHINGTON, DC 20202


July 31, 2023




Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]:


Thank you for the great work you are doing providing students with opportunities to thrive! The job of school principal is critical for our country’s growth. From personal experience, I know the role has many demands for your time and presence; however, I am writing to ask you to be a part of a special group that will inform the U.S. Department of Education (Department) and me on the “pulse” of education in America.


The Department’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) will be conducting a monthly survey with public school staff for the 2023-24 school year. The survey, known as the School Pulse Panel, is designed to provide educators and policy leaders with information needed to make evidence-based decisions about programs and resource allocations that support your mission of educating our nation’s youth, especially as you continue to grapple with the ongoing repercussions of the pandemic. The survey was designed by NCES in coordination with program offices in the Department, other federal agencies, and public schools. NCES will collect data from a representative sample of 4,000 schools on learning recovery, staffing, student mental health, absenteeism, school facilities, and student behavior, among other topics. Previous versions of the survey provided insights on school reopening progress, investments in learning recovery, and the need for additional mental health supports. The survey is an opportunity to share your voice in Washington, D.C.!


Recently, you should have received an invitation to complete a screener survey to confirm the contact information NCES had on file for your school. Soon, you will receive an invitation via email and/or FedEx to participate in the August survey, which will ask about your school’s experiences with teacher and staff hiring, technology availability, and community partnerships. You will continue to receive invitations to participate in the School Pulse Panel each month thereafter through June 2024. Completion of the survey may be done by you or another school staff member who you feel can represent the perspective of the school leadership. For example, assistant principals, teacher leaders, or others may serve as your designee. The survey will take 30 minutes or less every month to complete. Your school will receive $200 for each completed survey submitted to offset the staff time necessary to complete this collection on behalf of NCES.


NCES will not identify participating schools but will present results by characteristics, such as student body composition, school neighborhood poverty levels, and other appropriate indicators. Survey results will be released via an online dashboard within a few weeks of collection.


Thank you for considering participating in this important data collection. We believe all students in our public education system deserve the best education possible, and we appreciate the important role school principals play in this work. If you have any questions, please contact the School Pulse Panel team at [email protected].


In partnership,





Miguel A. Cardona, Ed.D.

U.S. Secretary of Education

Summer 2023 Advance Letter from Education Secretary Miguel Cardona (No Debit Card Schools)

THE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION

WASHINGTON, DC 20202

July 31, 2023




Dear [POSITION] of [SCHOOL_NAME]:


Thank you for the great work you are doing providing students with opportunities to thrive! The job of school principal is critical for our country’s growth. From personal experience, I know the role has many demands for your time and presence; however, I am writing to ask you to be a part of a special group that will inform the U.S. Department of Education (Department) and me on the “pulse” of education in America.


The Department’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) will be conducting a monthly survey with public school staff for the 2023-24 school year. The survey, known as the School Pulse Panel, is designed to provide educators and policy leaders with information needed to make evidence-based decisions about programs and resource allocations that support your mission of educating our nation’s youth, especially as you continue to grapple with the ongoing repercussions of the pandemic. The survey was designed by NCES in coordination with program offices in the Department, other federal agencies, and public schools. NCES will collect data from a representative sample of 4,000 schools on learning recovery, staffing, student mental health, absenteeism, school facilities, and student behavior, among other topics. Previous versions of the survey provided insights on school reopening progress, investments in learning recovery, and the need for additional mental health supports. The survey is an opportunity to share your voice in Washington, D.C.!


Recently, you should have received an invitation to complete a screener survey to confirm the contact information NCES had on file for your school. Soon, you will receive an invitation via email and/or FedEx to participate in the August survey, which will ask about your school’s experiences with teacher and staff hiring, technology availability, and community partnerships. You will continue to receive invitations to participate in the School Pulse Panel each month thereafter through June 2024. Completion of the survey may be done by you or another school staff member who you feel can represent the perspective of the school leadership. For example, assistant principals, teacher leaders, or others may serve as your designee. The survey will take 30 minutes or less every month to complete.


NCES will not identify participating schools but will present results by characteristics, such as student body composition, school neighborhood poverty levels, and other appropriate indicators. Survey results will be released via an online dashboard within a few weeks of collection.


Thank you for considering participating in this important data collection. We believe all students in our public education system deserve the best education possible, and we appreciate the important role school principals play in this work. If you have any questions, please contact the School Pulse Panel team at [email protected].


In partnership,





Miguel A. Cardona, Ed.D.

U.S. Secretary of Education





Other Communications

School Pulse Panel FAQ/Brochure



































































































Web Instrument Log-In Screenshots



The screenshot below depicts the landing page for respondents after they click or type in the links including in the above communication materials. This image is of the screen as it currently appears for the August 2023 collection.



Once respondents have logged in on the screen shown above, below is an image of the page they see before they begin providing data. This is a screenshot of the screen as it currently appears for the August collection­­­. For the monthly data collections, the text above the U.S. Census Bureau Notice and Consent Warning reads as follows:

Welcome to the School Pulse Panel! The information you provide here is essential to providing national, state, and local education leaders with the information needed to make evidence-based decisions about education policy and resource allocation.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education, conducts the School Pulse Panel as authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP 2021; Sec. 2010) and 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 it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this voluntary information collection is 1850-0975. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 30 minutes per response, 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 concerning the accuracy of the time estimate, suggestions for improving this collection, or comments or concerns about the contents or the status of your individual submission of this questionnaire, please e-mail: [email protected].





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