[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 233 (Tuesday, December 6, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72640-72642]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-23644]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    Title: Field Test of Social-Emotional Measures and Modified 
Assessment Measures for the Head Start National Reporting System.
    OMB No.: New Collection.
    Description: The 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 field test is being conducted under 
contract with Westat (with subcontractors Xtria and Pearson Educational 
Measurement) (HHS23320052902YC) to examine new and modified measures 
for HSNRS.

Purposes

    The purposes of the field test are to expand NSNRS's coverage of 
the domain elements of the Head Start Outcomes Framework and to improve 
the performance of the current HSNRS assessment battery. ACF has been 
urged to expand the coverage of NSNRS 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 
Technical Work Group of HSNRS has discussed and reviewed potential 
measures of social-emotional

[[Page 72641]]

development and has identified several existing, ratings-based measures 
as candidates for field testing. Further, the Technical Work Group has 
also endorsed expanding the coverage of 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 suggested some areas for improvement to the 
current HSNRS assessment battery.
    In addition, 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. These measures have been used in the Family and Child 
Experiences Survey (FACES) or National Head Start Impact Study (NHSIS), 
as listed below.
     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 Assessment Battery

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

Health Records Extract

    The field test will also examine the feasibility of collecting 
child health information from Head Start programs. It is intended to 
expand HSNRS coverage to include health status, child safety, and 
linkages to health care. Based on the collected information, indicators 
of health services provided by local Head Start programs can 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 will consist 
of 30 programs, including four 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 
and 180 Head Start teachers.

Training

    A ``training-the-trainers'' approach will be used to train the 
field test participants. The participants will be certified in the 
field-tested measures and procedures and return to their programs to 
train local Head Start staff on the social-emotional measures.
    The effectiveness of the ``train-the-trainers'' training procedures 
and materials for the field-tested assessment measures will be 
examined. Information from feedback surveys completed by training 
participants will be analyzed to find areas that need improvement.

Data Collection

    Social-emotional development measures will be completed by the lead 
teacher of 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, contractor field 
staff will conduct the field-test measures.
    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 Training-the-               30               1               8            240
 Trainers Training.............................
------------------------------------------------
Head Start Staff: Review Self-Study Materials               360               1               1            360
 on Teacher-Reported Ratings of Social-
 Emotional Development.........................
Head Start Trainers: Complete Feedback Survey                30               1          \1/12\              2.5
 on Training Procedures........................
Head Start Staff: Complete Feedback Survey on               360               1          \1/12\             30
 Training Procedures...........................
------------------------------------------------
                     Field Test of Teacher-Reported Ratings of Social-Emotional Development
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head Start Lead Teacher: Complete Teacher-                  180               8           \1/4\            360
 Reported Ratings..............................
Head Start Classroom Staff: Complete Parallel               180               8           \1/4\            360
 Teacher-Reported Ratings......................
Head Start Children: Participate in Social-                 270               1           \1/4\             67.5
 Emotional Skills Direct Assessment............
------------------------------------------------
                  Field Test of Modifications to Current HSNRS Direct Child Assessment Battery
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head Start Children: Participate in Modified              1,440               1           \1/4\            360
 Measures......................................
------------------------------------------------
                              Field Test of Collection of Child Health Information
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head Start Staff: Collect & Submit Child Health              30              48          \1/12\            120
 Info..........................................
Head Start Staff: Demonstrate Procedures for                 30               3          \1/12\              7.5
 Collecting Height and Weight Information......
Head Start Children: Participate in                          30               3          \1/12\              7.5
 Demonstration of Procedures for Collecting
 Height and Weight Information.................

[[Page 72642]]

 
Head Start Staff: Complete Feedback Survey on                30               1          \1/12\              2.5
 Child Health Data collection Procedures.......
------------------------------------------------
    Fall 2005 Totals...........................           2,970  ..............  ..............          1,917.5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                                   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 Training-the-               30               1               8            240
 Trainers Training.............................
Head Start Staff: Review Self-Study Materials               360               1               1            360
 on Teacher-Reported Ratings of Social-
 Emotional Development.........................
Head Start Trainers: Complete Feedback Survey                30               1          \1/12\              2.5
 on Training Procedures........................
------------------------------------------------
                     Field Test of Teacher-Reported Ratings of Social-Emotional Development
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head Start Lead Teacher: Complete Teacher-                  180               8           \1/4\            360
 Reported Ratings..............................
Head Start Classroom Staff: Complete Parallel               180               8           \1/4\            360
 Teacher-Reported Ratings......................
Head Start Children: Participate in Social-                 270               1           \1/4\             67.5
 Emotional Skills Direct Assessment............
------------------------------------------------
                  Field Test of Modifications to Current HSNRS Direct Child Assessment Battery
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head Start Children: Participate in Modified              1,440               1           \1/4\            360
 Measures......................................
------------------------------------------------
                              Field Test of Collection of Child Health Information
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head Start Staff: Collect & Submit Child Health              30              48          \1/12\            120
 Info..........................................
                                                -----------------
    Spring 2006 Totals.........................           2,520  ..............  ..............          1,870
                                                -----------------
        Grand Totals for Fall 2005 & Spring               5,490  ..............  ..............          3,787.5
         2006..................................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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. All requests should be identified by the title of the 
information collection. 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 following: Office of 
Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project, Attn: Desk Officer 
for ACF, E-mail address: [email protected].

    Dated: November 30, 2005.
Robert Sargis,
Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-23644 Filed 12-5-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-M