[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 119 (Friday, June 20, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 37004]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-15658]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    Title: Implementation of the Head Start National Reporting System 
on Child Outcomes.
    OMB No.: 0970-0249.
    Description: The Administration on Children, Youth and Families 
(ACYF), Administration for Children and Families (ACF) of the 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is requesting comments on 
plans to implement the Head Start National Reporting System on Child 
Outcomes. This information will be used to enhance Head Start program 
quality and accountability.
    The Head Start National Reporting System (HSNRS) has three major 
goals. First, the HSNRS will provide teachers and local programs with 
additional information regarding children's progress by reporting on 
how children are doing at the beginning and end of the program year in 
a limited number of areas. Second, the HSNRS will create a new national 
system of data on child outcomes form every local Head Start agency for 
use in planning targeted training and technical assistance services to 
strengthen program effectiveness. Third, the HSNRS will be used by ACF 
to help in the monitoring of local Head Start agencies in order to 
strengthen program accountability and improve program quality.
    This effort will ensure that every Head Start program will assess 
in a consistent fashion the progress made by children in acquiring a 
limited set of early literacy, language, and numeracy skills. All Head 
Start children who are four years old or older will be administered a 
direct child assessment twice a year, the data analyzed, and the 
finding reported to the Head Start Bureau, ACF Regional Offices and 
local Head Start agencies. The NSNRS assessment is designed to create 
aggregate data on the progress or groups of children at the center and 
program levels. It is not designed to report on the school readiness of 
individual Head Start children.
    Respondents: Head Start children and Head Start staff.

Annual Burden Estimates

    Estimated Annual Response Burden to Implement the Head Start National Reporting System on Child Outcomes
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                                                                     Number of        Average
           Respondents and activities                Number of    responses  per   burden  hours   Total  burden
                                                    respondents      respondent    per  response       hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head Start Children: Complete Direct Assessments         500,000               2           \1/3\         333,333
Head Start Staff: Administer Direct Assessments.          36,000          14 x 2           \1/3\         336,000
Head Start Staff: Enter Child Demographic                 36,000            13.9          \1/30\          16,666
 Information....................................
Head Start Staff: Enter Teacher Background                36,000               1          \1/60\             600
 Information....................................
Head Start Staff: Participating in Summer                  3,000               1              24          72,000
 Training.......................................
Head Start Staff: Training Local Assessors for             3,000               1              20          60,000
 the Direct Child Assessment....................
Head Start Staff: Receiving Training for the              36,000  ..............               8         288,000
 Direct Child Assessments.......................
Head Start Local Training Staff: Fall                      3,000               2          \1/12\             500
 Implementation Evaluation Form.................
Head Start Local Program Staff: Focus Groups....             600               2               1           1,200
Head Start Local Program Staff: Interview.......             180               2               1             360
Spring Refresher Training (Home Study): Trainers           3,000               1               8          24,000
Spring Refresher Training (Home Study):                   36,000               1               4         144,000
 Assessors......................................
                                                 -----------------
    Totals Annualized...........................  ..............  ..............  ..............       1,276,659
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    Additional Information: Copies of the proposed collection may be 
obtained by writing to the Administration for Children and Families, 
Office of Administration, Office of Information Services, 370 L'Enfant 
Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447, Attn: ACF Reports Clearance 
Officer. E-mail address: [email protected].
    OMB Comment: OMB is required to make a decision concerning the 
collection of information between 30 and 60 days after publication of 
this document in the Federal Register. Therefore, a comment is best 
assured of having its full effect if OMB receives it within 30 days of 
publication. Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent directly to the following:
    Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project, 725 
17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503, Attn: Desk Officer for ACF, E-
mail address: [email protected].

    Dated: June 17, 2003.
Robert Sargis,
Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-15658 Filed 6-19-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-M