2020/25 Beginning
Postsecondary Students (BPS:20/25) Full-Scale Study
Revision of a currently approved collection
No
Regular
11/05/2024
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
02/28/2027
26,947
6,927
10,289
1,279
0
0
The 2020/25 Beginning Postsecondary
Students Full-Scale Study (BPS:20/25) is conducted by the National
Center for Education Statistics, part of the Institute of Education
Sciences, within the Department of Education, and is part of the
Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study data collection
program at https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/bps/. BPS is designed to
follow a cohort of students who enroll in postsecondary education
for the first time during the same academic year, irrespective of
the date of high school completion. The study collects data on
students' persistence in and completion of postsecondary education
programs; their transition to employment; demographic
characteristics; and changes over time in their goals, marital
status, income, and debt, among other indicators. Data from BPS are
used to help researchers and policymakers better understand how
financial aid influences persistence and completion, what
percentages of students complete various degree programs, what are
the early employment and wage outcomes for certificate and degree
attainers, and why students leave school. The BPS:20/25 field test
was completed during the 2023-24 academic year and was designed to
test items and procedures for the upcoming full-scale study (see
Appendix D of this submission with results of the two experiments
embedded in the field test). BPS:20/25 will be a
nationally-representative sample of approximately 28,650 students
who were first-time beginning students during the 2019-20 academic
year. These students will be asked to complete a survey and
administrative data will also be collected for them. BPS:20/25 and
other NCES postsecondary studies include data linkages with many
existing sources of valuable data, listed in appendix B, including
the Department of Education’s FAFSA Processing System (FPS),
National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS), and National Student
Clearinghouse (NSC). These NCES studies also obtain data from
postsecondary institution student records, information on military
service records from Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), and
admissions test scores from ACT and The College Board. Linkages to
additional data providers, such as Experian and the National
Directory of New Hires (NDNH), may be explored for BPS:20/25. As
part of the clearance process for the previously submitted and
approved Field Test package (OMB# 1850-0631 v.20), NCES published a
notice in the Federal Register allowing first a 60- and then a
30-day public comment period. That submission was designed to
adequately justify the need for and overall practical utility of
the full study, presenting the overarching plan for all phases of
the data collection and providing as much detail about the measures
to be used as is available at the time of that submission. The
materials for the BPS:20/25 full-scale study are based upon the
field test materials. In order to clear the final materials for the
BPS:20/25 full-scale study, NCES is publishing a notice in the
Federal Register allowing an additional 30-day public comment
period on the final details and materials of the BPS:20/25
full-scale study.
US Code:
20
USC 9573 Name of Law: Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002
The previous request included
burden for all activities associated only with the smaller field
test administration, while this submission requests burden for the
full-scale national study.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Form - 2020/25 Beginning Postsecondary Students (BPS:20/25) Full Scale
BPS 2025 FT-to-FS Change Memo v21.docx
Appendix C BPS 2020-25 Full Scale Student Contacting Materials v21_tracked.pdf
2020/25 Beginning Postsecondary Students (BPS:20/25) Full Scale