[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 51 (Thursday, March 18, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14754-14756]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-05627]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Proposed Information Collection Activity; Head Start Child and 
Family Experiences Survey (FACES) (OMB #0970-0151)

AGENCY: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration 
for Children and Families, HHS.

ACTION: Request for public comment.

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

SUMMARY: 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 
wave of the Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey (FACES).

DATES: Comments due within 60 days of publication. In compliance with 
the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ACF is 
soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the information 
collection described above.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the proposed collection of information can be 
obtained and comments may be forwarded by emailing

[[Page 14755]]

[email protected]. Alternatively, copies can also be 
obtained by writing to the Administration for Children and Families, 
Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, 330 C Street SW, 
Washington, DC 20201, Attn: OPRE Reports Clearance Officer. All 
requests, emailed or written should be identified by the title of the 
information collection.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Description: The purpose of the FACES data 
collection is to support the 2007 reauthorization of the Head Start 
program (Pub. L. 110-134), which calls for periodic assessments of Head 
Start's quality and effectiveness. FACES 2019 focuses on Head Start 
Regions I through X (which are geographically based); AIAN (American 
Indian and Alaska Native) FACES 2019 focuses on Region XI (which funds 
Head Start programs that serve federally recognized American Indian and 
Alaska Native tribes). Both studies will provide data on a set of key 
indicators for Head Start programs. Information about the Head Start 
program recruitment and center selection processes and on the fall 2019 
and spring 2020 data collection activities for both FACES and AIAN 
FACES can be found here: https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=202005-0970-009.
    The studies are adding a fall 2021 data collection to address how 
families are faring during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data collection 
activities will include classroom and child sampling information 
collection, parent surveys, teacher child reports, and teacher surveys.
    Sampling will begin with a freshening of the programs included in 
FACES fall 2019 and spring 2020 waves for a target of 180 programs that 
are nationally representative of all Head Start programs in the 2021-
2022 program year. FACES fall 2021 data collection will take place in 
60 of the 180 programs. AIAN FACES will return to the same 22 programs 
that participated in 2019 and 2020 data collection.
    Sampling of teachers and children starts with sampling activities 
for 160 Head Start centers (120 for FACES 2019 and 40 for AIAN FACES 
2019) in fall 2021. Study team members will request a list of all 
teachers and home visitors working with Head Start-funded children. 
Next, for each selected teacher or home visitor, we will request 
information for each child enrolled.
    For the fall 2021 collection, FACES will survey the parents of 
2,400 Head Start children in Regions I-X (FACES 2019) and 800 children 
in Region XI (AIAN FACES 2019) and ask their Head Start teachers to 
rate children's social and emotional skills. Parents of sampled 
children (2,400 for FACES and 800 for AIAN FACES) will complete surveys 
on the web or by telephone about their children and family in the 
context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Head Start teachers will rate each 
sampled child (approximately 10 children per classroom) using the Web 
or paper-and pencil forms. Teachers will also complete a survey, also 
using the web or paper-and-pencil forms, about their well-being and 
background. Additional data collection activities, to include the 
programs and respondents from fall 2021 plus the remaining 120 FACES 
programs, are planned for spring 2022 and will be included in a future 
Federal Register notice.
    Respondents: Parents of Head Start children; Head Start teachers.

                                                                 Annual Burden Estimates
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                         Number of
                                                                        Number of      responses per   Average  burden
                             Instrument                                respondents       respondent      per response    Total  burden    Annual  burden
                                                                       (total  over     (total  over      (in hours)       (in hours)       (in hours)
                                                                     request period)  request period)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fall 2021 special telephone script and recruitment information                    60                1                1               60               20
 collection for program directors, Regions I-X.....................
Fall 2021 special telephone script and recruitment information                    22                1                1               22                7
 collection for program directors, Region XI.......................
Fall 2021 special telephone script and recruitment information                    60                1                1               60               20
 collection for on-site coordinators, Regions I-X..................
Fall 2021 special telephone script and recruitment information                    22                1                1               22                7
 collection for on-site coordinators, Region XI....................
FACES 2019 fall 2021 special teacher sampling form from Head Start               120                1              .17               20                7
 staff.............................................................
FACES 2019 fall 2021 special child roster form from Head Start                   120                1              .33               40               13
 staff.............................................................
FACES 2019 special parent consent form for fall 2021 and spring                2,400                1              .17              408              136
 2022 data collection..............................................
FACES 2019 fall 2021 special Head Start parent survey..............            2,400                1              .58            1,392              464
FACES 2019 fall 2021 special Head Start teacher child report.......              240               10              .17              408              136
FACES 2019 fall 2021 special Head Start teacher survey.............              240                1              .17               41               14
AIAN FACES 2019 fall 2021 special teacher sampling form from Head                 40                1              .17                7                2
 Start staff.......................................................
AIAN FACES 2019 fall 2021 special child roster form from Head Start               40                1              .33               13                4
 staff.............................................................
AIAN FACES 2019 special parent consent form for fall 2021 and                    800                1              .17              136               45
 spring 2022 data collection.......................................
AIAN FACES 2019 fall 2021 special Head Start parent survey.........              800                1              .58              464              155

[[Page 14756]]

 
AIAN FACES 2019 fall 2021 special Head Start teacher child report..               80               20              .17              272               91
AIAN FACES 2019 fall 2021 special Head Start teacher survey........               80                1              .17               14                5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,126.
    Comments: 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.

    Authority: Section 640(a)(2)(D) and section 649 of the Improving 
Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007.

Mary B. Jones,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-05627 Filed 3-17-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-22-P