Private School Universe Survey (PSS) 2025-26 and 2027-28 Data Collections, and 2027-28 PSS Frame Development Activities

Forms and Documents

Forms and supporting documents for this ICR

Document	Type	Status	Availability
Part B and C - PSS 2025-2028 1850-0641 v17 2026-09-14.docx	Supporting Statement B	Uploaded 2026-09-15	Available
Part A - PSS 2025-2028 1850-0641 v17 2026-09-14.docx	Supporting Statement A	Uploaded 2026-09-15	Available

IC Document Collections

Information collection document groups

IC ID	Collection	Type	Status	Form
206387	Private School Universe Survey (PSS) 2025-26 and 2027-28 Data Collections & 2027-28 PSS Frame Development Activities	Other-Appendix A-C PSS 2025-2028 Communication Materials v17	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1850-0641	ICR Reference No: 202604-1850-001
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202409-1850-004
Agency/Subagency: ED/IES	Agency Tracking No: ED-2026-SCC-1321
Title: Private School Universe Survey (PSS) 2025-26 and 2027-28 Data Collections, and 2027-28 PSS Frame Development Activities
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 09/16/2026

table that charts list comparision

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	09/30/2026
Responses	32,550	32,550
Time Burden (Hours)	5,981	5,981
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

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Abstract: The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education, conducts the Private School Universe Survey (PSS), a national survey of private elementary and secondary schools. The PSS is designed to collect biennial data on the total number of private schools, teachers, and students; and to create an NCES universe frame of private schools that serve as a sampling frame for NCES surveys. This survey is an ongoing project to improve NCES universe and sample data on private schools. This request is to revise contacting materials associated with 2027-28 PSS frame-development activities (see: “Appendix A-C PSS 2025-2028 Communications Materials v.16rev” in this docket) and to extend the expiration date of the collection to May 31, 2028. Additional information about the currently approved collection can be found at https://omb.report/icr/202409-1850-004. On April 15, 2026, NCES published a notice in the Federal Register soliciting comments on this request. It can be found at https://www.regulations.gov/document/ED-2026-SCC-1321-0001. As shown there one comment was received, which asked NCES to consider modifying the PSS to include one or more questions to elicit information about how private schools use instructional technology. Because the present request focuses only on recruitment materials, and because questions of this type are not historically in-scope for PSS, NCES elects to make no changes to the collection at this time. NCES anticipates submitting a subsequent amendment to this Information Collection Request to accommodate potential revisions to the 2027-28 PSS survey questionnaire and to further update communications materials associated with this collection. As of May 2025, NCES's assurances of confidentiality protections for PSS 2025-26 have changed due to staffing changes at the Department of Education. NCES has removed the Foundations of Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018, Title III, Part B, Confidential Information Protection ("CIPSEA") as a confidentiality assurance. However, confidentiality assurances under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA) remain in effect. NCES will consider restoring CIPSEA protections for future PSS collections as appropriate.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 20 USC 9543 Name of Law: NCES is authorized to conduct this survey under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA)
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	91 FR 20419	04/16/2026
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	91 FR 58663	09/16/2026
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

table that charts list of burden

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Private School Universe Survey (PSS) 2025-26 and 2027-28 Data Collections & 2027-28 PSS Frame Development Activities

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ICR Summary of Burden

table that charts list of burden

	Total Request	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	32,550	32,550	0	0	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	5,981	5,981	0	0	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement:

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $3,531,766

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? Yes Part B of Supporting Statement

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     Yes

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     Yes

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(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;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

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.

Certification Date: 09/16/2026

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