[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 236 (Tuesday, December 9, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73077-73078]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-28776]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Submission for OMB Review; 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 a 
new round of 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. The design allows for more rapid and frequent data reporting 
(Core studies) and serves as a vehicle for studying more complex issues 
and topics in greater detail and with increased efficiency (Plus 
studies).

[[Page 73078]]

    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) and the 
child-level data collection (FR V. 79, pg. 11445 02/28/2014; FR V. 79; 
pg. 27620 5/14/2014). This 30-day notice describes the planned data 
collection activities for spring 2015. Classroom sampling information 
collection, parent supplement survey content, and teacher, program 
director, and center director surveys for the Core study are included 
in this information collection request. Additionally, parent and staff 
interviews are included for FACES Plus studies.
    Methods for Core data collection involve returning to 60 programs 
visited in fall 2014, where we will conduct previously approved 
activities of child assessments, parent surveys, and Teacher Child 
Reports. An additional 240 Head Start centers in 120 Head Start 
programs will be visited to sample classrooms. Field enrollment 
specialists (FES) will request a list of all Head Start-funded 
classrooms from Head Start staff. Across all 180 programs, 720 
teachers, 180 program directors, and 360 center directors will complete 
surveys about the Head Start classroom or program and their own 
background using the Web or paper-and-pencil forms.
    Two Plus studies are also planned in spring 2015. First, a topical 
module on family engagement will be conducted in the 60 programs 
participating in child-level data collection. All parents will complete 
a 5-minute spring supplement to the parent survey about parent-staff 
relationship and communication and community support. All teachers will 
complete a 5-minute Plus survey about parent-staff relationships 
(FPTRQ) as part of the core teacher survey. A subsample of Head Start 
parents (n=360) and Family Service Staff (n=180) will be interviewed on 
parent involvement in Head Start and program outreach and engagement 
practices. Interviews will take about one-hour and will be conducted by 
phone using paper-and-pencil guides. Second, within the 120 programs 
participating in classroom-only-level data collection, 480 classroom 
teachers will complete a new measure of program functioning (5E-Early 
Ed) to examine its reliability and validity for future FACES use.
    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. As 
additional information collection activities are fully developed, in a 
manner consistent with the description provided in the 60-day notice 
(79 FR 11445) and prior to use, we will submit these materials for a 
30-day public comment period under the Paperwork Reduction Act.
    Respondents: Parents of Head Start children, Head Start teachers 
and Head Start staff.

                         Annual Burden Estimates--Current Information Collection Request
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Number of    Average burden     Estimated
           Instrument              Total number    Annual number   responses per     hour per      annual burden
                                  of respondents  of respondents    respondent       response          hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Classroom sampling form from                 360             120               1            0.17              20
 Head Start staff...............
Head Start spring parent                   2,400             800               1            0.08              64
 supplement survey..............
Head Start core teacher survey..             720             240               1            0.50             120
Head Start core program director             180              60               1            0.50              30
 survey.........................
Head Start core center director              360             120               1            0.42              50
 survey.........................
Head Start parent qualitative                360             120               1            1.00             120
 interview (Family Engagement)..
Head Start staff qualitative                 180              60               1            1.00              60
 interview (FSS Engagement).....
Head Start staff (FSS) roster                 60              20               1            0.17               3
 form...........................
Head Start parent engagement                 360             120               1            0.17              20
 interview consent form.........
Head Start staff engagement                  180              60               1            0.17              10
 interview consent form.........
Early care and education                     480             160               1            0.33              53
 providers survey for Plus study
 (5E-Early Ed Pilot)............
Early care and education                     240              80               1            0.08               6
 providers survey for Plus study
 (FPTRQ)........................
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............             556
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Additional Information: Copies of the proposed collection may be 
obtained 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. All 
requests should be identified by the title of the information 
collection. Email 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, Fax: 
[email protected], Attn: Desk Officer for the Administration 
for Children and Families.

Naomi Goldstein,
Director, Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation; Administration 
for Children and Families.
[FR Doc. 2014-28776 Filed 12-8-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-22-P