[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 85 (Thursday, May 2, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22087-22088]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-10952]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request; 
Proposed Projects

    Title: Head Start Impact Study.
    OMB No.: New Collection.
    Description: The Administration on Children, Youth and Families 
(ACYF), Administration for Children and Families (ACF) of the 
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is requesting comments 
on plans to conduct the Head Start Impact Study. This study is being 
conducted under contract with Westat, Inc. (with the Urban Institute, 
American Institutes for Research, and Decision Information Resources as 
their subcontractors) (#282-00-0022) to collect information for 
determining, on a national basis, how Head Start affects the school 
readiness of children participating in the program as compared to 
children not enrolled in Head Start and to determine under which 
conditions Head Start works best and for which children.
    The Head Start Impact Study is a longitudinal study that will 
involve approximately 5,000-6,000 first time enrolled three- and four-
year old preschool children across an estimated 75 nationally 
representative grantee/delegate agencies (in communities where there 
are more eligible children and families than can be served by the 
program). The participating children will be randomly assigned to 
either a Head Start group (that receives Head Start program services) 
or a comparison group (that does not receive Head Start services but 
may enroll in other available services selected by their parents or be 
cared for at home). Data collection for the study will begin in fall 
2002 and extend through spring 2006 with child assessments, conducted 
in the fall and spring of the Head Start years and in the spring of the 
kindergarten and first grade years and parent interviews conducted in 
the fall and spring of each year. Interviews/surveys with program 
staff/care providers, and quality of care assessments will be conducted 
each year. This schedule of data collection is necessitated by the 
mandate in Head Start's 1998 reauthorization (Coats Human Services 
Amendments of 1998, PL 05-285) that DHHS conduct research to determine, 
on a national level, the impact of Head Start on the children it 
serves. A field test of instruments and procedures is being conducted 
during fall 2001 and spring 2002. The field test involves approximately 
450 first time enrolled three- and four-year old preschool children 
across eight grantee/delegate agencies representing different community 
contexts.
    Respondents: Individuals or Households, Head Start Agencies, School 
Districts, and other Child Care Providers.

Annual Burden Estimates

    Estimated Response Burden for Respondents to the Head Start Impact 
Study--Fall 2002, Spring 2003, Fall 2003, Spring 2004, Fall 2004, 
Spring 2005, Fall 2005, and Spring 2006.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Number of    Average burden
                   Instrument                        Number of     responses per     hours per     Total burden
                                                    respondents     respondent       response          hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year 1 (fall 2002):
    Parent Interviews...........................           5,111               1        1.00               5,111

[[Page 22088]]

 
    Child Assessments...........................           5,111               1        0.9166             4,685
    Teacher Ratings.............................             613               5        0.0833               255
    Center Directors/Principals.................             307               1        1.00                 307
    Classroom Teachers..........................             613               1        0.50                 307
Year 1 (spring 2003):
    Parent Interviews...........................           4,599               1        1.00               4,599
    Father Questionnaire........................           4,599               1        0.50               2,300
    Child Assessments...........................           4,599               1        0.9166             4,216
    Teacher Ratings.............................             803               5        0.0833              8335
    Teacher Ratings.............................             966               5        0.0833               403
    Family Service Workers......................             368               1        0.50                 184
    Education Coordinators......................             368               1        0.50                 184
    Center Directors/Principals.................             368               1        1.00                 368
    Classroom Teachers..........................             736               1        0.50                 368
    Other Care Providers........................             230               1        0.50                 115
                                                 ===============================================================
Year 2 (fall 2003):
    Parent Interviews...........................           4,139               1        1.00               4,139
    Child Assessments...........................           2,287               1        0.9166             2,096
Year 2 (spring 2004):
    Parent Interviews...........................           3,910               1        1.00               3,910
    Child Assessments...........................           3,910               1        0.9166             3,584
    Teacher Ratings.............................             803               5        0.833                335
    Family Service Workers......................             165               1        0.50                  83
    Education Coordinators......................             165               1        0.50                  83
    Center Directors/Principals.................             350               1        1.00                 350
    Classroom Teachers..........................             700               1        0.50                 350
    Other Care Providers........................             103               1        0.50                  52
                                                 ===============================================================
Year 3 (fall 2004):
    Parent Interviews...........................           3,519               1        1.00               3,519
Year 3 (spring 2005):
    Parent Interviews...........................           3,519               1        1.00               3,519
    Child Assessments...........................           3,519               1        0.9166             3,226
    Teacher Ratings.............................             704               5        0.0833               293
    Principals..................................             352               1        1.00                 352
    Classroom Teachers..........................             704               1        0.50                 352
                                                 ===============================================================
Year 4 (fall 2005):
    Parent Interviews...........................           1,667               1        1.00               1,667
Year (spring 2006):
    Parent Interviews...........................           1,667               1        1.00               1,667
    Child Assessments...........................           1.667               1        0.9166             1,528
    Teacher Ratings.............................             333               5        0.833                139
    Principals..................................             167               1        1.00                 167
    Classroom Teachers..........................             333               1        0.50                 167
                                                 ===============================================================
Annualized Totals:
      Year 1....................................  ..............  ..............  ..............          23,402
      Year 2....................................  ..............  ..............  ..............          14,982
      Year 3....................................  ..............  ..............  ..............          11,261
      Year 4....................................  ..............  ..............  ..............           5,335
                                                 ===============================================================
      Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours.......  ..............  ..............  ..............          13,745
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Note: The 13,745 Total Annual Burden Hours is based on an 
average of 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05, and 2005-06 estimated burden 
hours.

    In compliance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Administration for Children and 
Families, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447, Attn: ACF 
Reports Clearance Officer. All requests should be identified by the 
title of the information collection.
    The Department specifically requests comments on: (a) Whether the 
proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper 
performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the 
information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the 
agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information; (c) the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection 
of information on respondents, including through the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology. 
Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted 
within 60 days of this publication.

    Dated: April 29, 2002.
Bob Sargis,
Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 02-10952 Filed 5-1-02; 8:45 am]
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