[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 40 (Friday, February 28, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11445-11446]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-04400]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

    Title: Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey (FACES).
    OMB No.: 0970-0151.
    Description: The Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation 
(OPRE), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department 
of Health and Human Services (HHS), is proposing to collect data for 
the Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey (FACES). Featuring a 
new ``Core Plus'' study design, FACES will provide data on a set of key 
indicators, including information for performance measures. This design 
also allows for more rapid and frequent data reporting (Core study) and 
serves as a vehicle for studying more complex issues and topics in 
greater detail and with increased efficiency (Plus studies).
    The FACES Core study will assess the school readiness skills of 
Head Start children, survey their parents, and ask their Head Start 
teachers to rate children's social and emotional skills. In addition, 
FACES will include observations in Head Start classrooms, and program 
director, center director, and teacher surveys. FACES Plus studies 
include additional survey content of policy or programmatic interest, 
and may include additional programs or respondents beyond those 
participating in the Core FACES study.
    Previous notices provided the opportunity for public comment on the 
proposed Head Start program recruitment and center selection process 
(FR V.78, pg. 75569 12/12/2013; FR V.79, pg. 8461 02/12/2014). This 
notice describes the planned data collection activities for the FACES 
Core study and Plus studies. Direct child assessments, parent surveys, 
and teacher child reports for the Core study are included in this 
clearance package. Additionally, we describe instruments to support the 
Core study at the program and classroom levels and the Plus studies 
anticipated for future submission. Since these instruments will be 
informed by initial findings of FACES and emerging policy needs, they 
cannot be fully specified at this time. However, we describe the 
respondents and data collection methods, estimated respondent burden, 
and how the information will be used to the extent possible at this 
time. Subsequently, when fully developed in a manner consistent with 
the description provided in this 60-day notice and prior to use, we 
will submit these materials for a 30-day public comment period under 
the Paperwork Reduction Act.
    Methods for Core data collection start with site visits in fall 
2014 to 60 Head Start programs to directly assess the school readiness 
skills of 2,400 children sampled to participate in FACES. Parents of 
sampled children will complete surveys on the Web or by telephone about 
their children and family background. Head Start teachers will rate 
each sampled child (approximately 10 children per classroom) using the 
Web or paper-and-pencil forms. These activities will occur a second 
time in spring 2015. Additionally, the program sample size will 
increase to 180 programs in the spring to collect program- and 
classroom-level data. The methods of data collection for this phase 
will feature site visitors conducting observations of the types and 
quality of classroom activities. Head Start program directors, center 
directors, and teachers will complete surveys about themselves and the 
services and instruction at Head Start. The program- and classroom-
level data collection will occur a second time in spring 2017.
    Plus study data collection will parallel the Core design in many 
ways, including recruitment and data collection procedures, to add new 
respondents, include new populations, or expand on the information 
gathered in the Core study. Additional early care and education 
administrators or providers (such as Education Coordinators or Family 
Service Staff) may be sampled. Plus studies may involve data collection 
in additional programs, such as programs serving different populations 
or programs implementing specific interventions. Data collection for 
these Plus studies may include child assessments, parent surveys, 
teacher child reports, and staff surveys. Plus studies may also feature 
topical modules to gather information in greater depth on particular 
topics (for example, parent engagement or program functioning). The 
methods of data collection will involve new methodologies such as 
qualitative interviews and supplemental surveys with expanded content.
    The purpose of the Core data collection is to support the 2007 
reauthorization of the Head Start program (P.L. 110-134), which calls 
for periodic assessments of Head Start's quality and effectiveness. 
Plus data collection will further support understanding Head Start 
functioning for a broader set of programs or in more depth for 
particular topics.

Annual Burden Estimates

    Respondents: Head Start children, parents of Head Start children, 
and Head Start teachers, directors, and other early care and education 
program staff.

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                                                                     Number of    Average burden     Estimated
           Instrument              Total number    Annual number   responses per     hour per      annual burden
                                  of respondents  of respondents    respondent       response          hours
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                                                   Core Study
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Head Start core child assessment           2,400             800               2            0.75           1,200
Head Start core parent survey...           2,400             800               2            0.25             400
Head Start fall parent                     2,400             800               1            0.08              64
 supplemental survey............
Head Start spring parent                   2,400             800               1            0.08              64
 supplemental survey............
Head Start core teacher child                240              80              20            0.17             272
 report.........................
Head Start core teacher survey..             720             240               2            0.50             240
Head Start core program director             180              60               2            0.25              30
 survey.........................
Head Start core center director              360             120               2            0.25              60
 survey.........................
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                                                  Plus Studies
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Head Start parent qualitative                400             133               2            1.00             267
 interview......................
Head Start staff qualitative                 300             100               2            1.00             200
 interview......................
Head Start child assessment for            1,350             450               2            0.75             675
 plus study.....................

[[Page 11446]]

 
Head Start parent survey for               1,350             450               2            0.25             225
 plus study.....................
Head Start parent supplemental             1,350             450               2            0.08              72
 survey for plus study..........
Head Start teacher child report              150              50              20            0.17             170
 for plus study.................
Head Start teacher survey for                150              50               2            0.50              50
 plus study.....................
Head Start program director                   50              17               2            0.25               8
 survey for plus study..........
Head Start center director                   100              33               2            0.25              17
 survey for plus study..........
Early care and education                     600             200               2            0.50             200
 administrators plus survey.....
Early care and education                     900             300               2            0.50             300
 providers plus survey..........
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    Total.......................  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............           4,514
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    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 
Planning, Research and Evaluation, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., 
Washington, DC 20447, Attn: OPRE Reports Clearance Officer. Email 
address: [email protected]. 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.

Karl Koerper,
OPRE Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-04400 Filed 2-27-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-22-P