[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 162 (Tuesday, August 23, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49291-49293]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-16640]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

    Proposed Projects:
    Title: Field Test of Social-Emotional and Modified Measures for the 
Heat Start National Reporting System.
    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 (HHS) is requesting comments on 
plans to conduct the field Test of Social-Emotional Measures and 
Modified Assessment Measures for the Head Start National Reporting 
System (HSNRS). This study is being conducted under contract with 
Westat, Xtria, and Pearson (HHS23320052902YC) to examine new and 
modified measures for HSNRS.

Purposes

    The purposes of the field test are to explore the expansion of the 
HSNR'S coverage of the domain elements of the Head Start Outcomes 
Framework and to improve the performance of the current HSNRS 
assessment battery. The Head Start Bureau is interested in expanding 
the coverage of the HSNRS to include non-cognitive domains, in 
recognition of the ``whole child'' orientation of Head Start, in 
particular social and emotional development. To that end, the Head 
Start Bureau has reviewed potential measures of social-emotional 
development and has identified several existing, ratings-based measures 
as candidates for field testing. Further, the Head Start Bureau is 
interested in expanding the coverage of the HSNRS to the Physical 
Health and Development domains of the Head Start Outcomes Framework. 
Finally, the Quality Assurance Study's findings, Technical Work Group 
recommendations, and findings from psychometric analysis of first-year 
implementation data have also suggested some areas for improvement to 
the current HSNRS assessment battery.
    For these purposes, the Head Start Bureau is planning to conduct 
field tests of measures of social-emotional development and the 
collection of child health data in fall 2005 and spring 2006. These 
measures are intended to address the domains of Social and Emotional 
Development and Physical Health and Development.
    Further, the Head Start Bureau will examine modifications to 
measures in the current HSNRS assessment battery.
    The field test will also examine the effectiveness of training 
procedures and relative feasibility of the selected measures with a 
diverse set of Head Start programs, staff, and children.

Teacher-Reported Measures of Social-Emotional Development

    Five teacher-reported measures of social-emotional development will 
be field tested in fall 2005 and spring 2006. A teacher-rating approach 
will be taken because these measures would not place additional burdens 
(in the form of direct assessment) on the children. These measures have 
been used in the Family and Child Experiences Survey (FACES) and 
National Head Start Impact Study (NHSIS) and include:
     Cooperative Classroom Behavior;
     Problem Behaviors;
     Preschool Learning Behavior Scale (PLBS);
     Student-Teacher Relationship Scale (STRS): Short form; and
     Adjustment Scales for Preschool Intervention (ASPI).

Modifications to Current HSNRS Direct Assessment

    Modifications to the current HSNRS direct assessment include:
     A new language screener;
     New Letter Naming task; and
     New items in Early Math Skills task using manipulatives.

Health Records Extract

    Finally, to expand HSNRS coverage to include health status, child 
safety, and linkages to health care, the field test will also examine 
the feasibility of collecting child health information from Head Start 
programs. Based on these data, indicators of the quality of health 
service provided by local Head Start programs will be developed. The 
child health information includes:
     Height;
     Weight;
     Immunization status;
     Dental care records; and
     Occurrences of child injuries requiring medical attention 
at each center.

Sample

    The national probability sample of Head Start programs for the 
field test will consist of 30 programs, including for Native American 
programs, selected with probability proportional to size. From each 
program, up to 6 classrooms will be selected (each classroom will be 
taught by a different teacher). This will result in a sample of 
approximately 1,440 children.

Training

    A two-day Field-Test training will take place in September 2005. 
Field-test participants will be trained and certified in the field-
tested measures and procedures. A ``training-the-trainers'' approach 
will be used. Trainees must pass a written quiz to be certified 
trainers. For the modified assessment measures, trainees will 
participate in role play and conduct observed assessment with children. 
For the social-emotional measures, all field test participants will 
also receive self-study materials, including an assessor's guide, which 
they will bring back to their local programs and distribute among their 
classroom teachers to study and be quizzed on prior to completing the 
social-emotional measures.
    Once trained, field-test participants will return to their programs 
and train and certify local teachers or other program staff to conduct 
field-test measures.
    Prior to spring data collection on the field tested measures, 
refresher training materials (e.g., instructional and exercise 
materials) will be sent to the participating Head Start programs.

Data Collection

    Teacher-reported social-emotional development measures will be 
completed by the lead teacher of each classroom in the sample. Parallel 
data of the teacher ratings will be collected in each classroom in 
order to examine inter-rater reliability. Teacher ratings will be 
collected independently by the lead teacher and by another staff member 
in the same classroom (e.g., an assistant teacher), if available and 
qualified.
    For modified HSNRS child assessment measures, local assessors will 
conduct the field-test measures on the sampled kindergarten-eligible 
children in their program. Data will be

[[Page 49292]]

recorded on scannable answer forms and submitted to Westat. Assessors 
will also provide feedback on issues such as ease of administration, 
time of administration, and clarity of training and instructions. The 
inter-assessor reliability of these measures will be examined through 
parallel data collected in the form of the regular HSNRS assessments 
administered to each child.
    Respondents: Head Start Children and Head Start Staff.

                                             Annual Burden Estimates
                                                   [Fall 2005]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Number of        Average burden
             Instruments                  Number of        responses per        hours per         Total burden
                                         respondents         respondent          response            hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         Training on Field Test Measures
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head Start Staff: Participate in                     30                  1                  9                270
 Training of Trainers Training......
Head Start Staff: Review Self-Study                 360                  1                  1                360
 Materials on Teacher-Reported
 Ratings of Social-Emotional
 Development........................
Head Start Staff: Participate in                     60                  1                  2                120
 Local Training on Modified Measures
Head Start Staff: Conduct Local                      30                  1                  2                 60
 Training on Modified Measures......
Head Start Staff: Complete Feedback                  30                  1             \1/12\                2.5
 Survey on Training Procedures......
Head Start Staff: Complete Feedback                 360                  1             \1/12\                 30
 Survey on Training Procedures......
-------------------------------------
                      Field Test of Teach-Reported Ratings of Social-Emotional Development
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head Start Lead Teacher: Complete                   180                  8              \1/4\                360
 Teach-Reported Ratings.............
Head Start Classroom Staff: Complete                180                  8              \1/4\               360
 Parallel Reacher-Reported Ratings..
Head Start Lead Staff: Complete                     180                  1             \1/12\                 15
 Feedback Survey on Teacher-Reported
 Rating Measures....................
-------------------------------------
                  Field Test of Modifications to Current HSNRS Direct Child Assessment Battery
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head Start Staff: Administer                         60                 24              \1/4\               360
 Modified Measures..................
Head Start Staff: Participate in                  1,440                  1              \1/4\                360
 Modified Measures..................
-------------------------------------
                              Field Test of Collection of Child Health Information
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head Start Staff: Collect & Submit                   30                 48             \1/12\                120
 Child Health Info..................
Head Start Staff: Demonstrate                        30                  1              \1/6\                 5
 Procedures for collecting Height
 and Weight Information.............
Head Start Staff: Complete Feedback                  30                  1             \1/12\                2.5
 Survey on Child Health Data
 Collection Procedures..............
-------------------------------------
      Fall 2005 Totals..............              3,000  .................  .................              2,425
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                                   Spring 2006
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Number of        Average burden
             Instruments                  Number of        responses per        hours per         Total burden
                                         respondents         respondent          response            hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         Training on Field Test Measures
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head Start Staff: Participate in                     30                  1                  3                 90
 Training of Trainers Training......
Head Start Staff: Review Self-Study                 360                  1                  1                360
 materials on Teacher-Reported
 Ratings of Social-Emotional
 Development........................
Head Start Staff: Participate in                     60                  1                  1                 60
 Local Training on Modified Measures
Head Start Staff: Conduct Local                      30                  1                  1                 30
 Training on Modified Measures......
Head Start Trainers: Complete                        30                  1             \1/12\                 30
 Feedback Survey on Training
 Procedures.........................
Head Start Staff: Complete Feedback                 360                  1             \1/12\                 30
 Survey on Training Procedures......
-------------------------------------
                     Field Test of Teacher-Reported Ratings of Social-Emotional Development
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head Start Lead Teacher: Complete                   180                  8              \1/4\                360
 Teacher-Reported Ratings...........

[[Page 49293]]

 
Head Start Classroom Staff: Complete                180                  8              \1/4\                360
 Parallel Teacher-Reported Ratings..
Head Start Lead Teacher: Complete                   180                  1             \1/12\                 15
 Feedback Survey on Teacher-Reported
 Rating Measures....................
-------------------------------------
                  Field Test of Modifications to Current HSNRS Direct Child Assessment Battery
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head Start Staff: Administer                         60                 24              \1/4\                360
 Modified Measures..................
Head Start Children: Participate in               1,440                  1              \1/4\                360
 Modified Measures..................
-------------------------------------
                              Field Test of Collection of Child Health Information
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head Start Staff: Collect & Submit                   30                 48             \1/12\                120
 Child Health Info..................
Head Start Staff: Demonstrate                        30                  1              \1/6\                  5
 Procedures for collecting Height
 and Weight Information.............
Head Start Staff: Complete Feedback                  30                  1             \1/12\                2.5
 Survey on Child Health Data
 Collection Procedures..............
-------------------------------------
      Spring 2006 Totals............              3,000  .................  .................              2,155
                                     --------------------
      Grand Totals..................              3,000  .................  .................              4,580
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In compliance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Administration for Children and 
Families is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the 
information collection described above. Copies of the proposed 
collection of information can be obtained and comments may be forwarded 
by writing to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of 
Information Services, 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. E-mail: 
[email protected].
    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: August 17, 2005.
Robert Sargis,
Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-16640 Filed 8-22-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-M