[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 139 (Thursday, July 21, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43504-43505]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-15577]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Docket No.: ED-2022-SCC-0097]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; International Computer and Information Literacy Study (ICILS 
2023) Main Study Questionnaire Revision

AGENCY: Institute of Educational Studies (IES), Department of Education 
(ED).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is 
proposing a revision of a currently approved information collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
August 22, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for proposed 
information collection requests should be sent within 30 days of 
publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find 
this information collection request (ICR) by selecting ``Department of 
Education'' under ``Currently Under Review,'' then check ``Only Show 
ICR for Public Comment'' checkbox. Reginfo.gov provides two links to 
view documents related to this information collection request. 
Information collection forms and instructions may be found by clicking 
on the ``View Information Collection (IC) List'' link. Supporting 
statements and other supporting documentation may be found by clicking 
on the ``View Supporting Statement and Other Documents'' link. Comments 
may also be sent to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For specific questions related to 
collection activities, please contact Carrie Clarady, 202-245-6347.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department in accordance with the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), 
provides the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to 
comment on proposed, revised, and continuing collections of 
information. This helps the Department assess the impact of its 
information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting 
burden. It also helps the public understand the Department's 
information collection requirements and provide the requested data in 
the desired format. ED is soliciting comments on the proposed ICR that 
is described below. The Department is especially interested in public 
comment addressing the following issues: (1) is this collection 
necessary to the proper functions of the Department; (2) will this 
information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the 
estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might the Department enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and 
(5) how might the Department minimize the burden of this collection on 
the respondents, including through the use of information technology. 
Please note that written comments received in response to this notice 
will be considered public records.
    Title of Collection: International Computer and Information 
Literacy Study (ICILS 2023) Main Study Questionnaire Revision.
    OMB Control Number: 1850-0929.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals and Households.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 9,860.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 4,817.
    Abstract: The International Computer and Information Literacy Study 
(ICILS) is a computer-based international assessment of eighth-grade 
students' computer and information literacy (CIL) skills. ICILS was 
first administered internationally in 2013 in 21 education

[[Page 43505]]

systems and again in 2018, when the United States participated for the 
first time. Our participation in this study has provided data on 
students' skills and experience using technology to investigate, 
create, and communicate, and provided a comparison of U.S. student 
performance and technology access and use with those of the 
international peers. The next administration of ICILS will be in 2023. 
The 2023 study will allow the U.S. to begin monitoring the progress of 
its students compared to that of other nations and to provide data on 
factors that may influence student computer and information literacy 
skills. The data collected through ICILS will provide valuable 
information with which to understand the nature and extent of the 
``digital divide'' and has the potential to inform understanding of the 
relationship between technology skills and experience and student 
performance in other core subject areas. ICILS is conducted by the 
International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement 
(IEA), an international collective of research organizations and 
government agencies that create the assessment framework, assessment, 
and background questionnaires. The IEA decides and agrees upon a common 
set of standards and procedures for collecting and reporting ICILS 
data, and defines the study timeline, all of which must be followed by 
all participating countries. As a result, ICILS is able to provide a 
reliable and comparable measure of student skills in participating 
countries. In the U.S., the National Center for Education Statistics 
(NCES) conducts this study and works with the IEA and RTI International 
to ensure proper implementation of the study and adoption of practices 
in adherence to the IEA's standards. Participation in ICILS will allow 
NCES to meet its mandate of acquiring and disseminating data on 
educational activities and student achievement in the United States 
compared with foreign nations [The Educational Sciences Reform Act of 
2002 (ESRA 2002) 20 U.S.C. 9543]. The U.S. ICILS main study will be 
conducted from March through May 2023 and will involve a nationally-
representative sample of at least 3,000 eighth-grade students from a 
minimum of 150 schools. Because ICILS is a collaborative effort among 
many parties, the United States must adhere to the international 
schedule set forth by the IEA, including the availability of final 
field test and main study plans as well as draft and final 
questionnaires. In order to meet the international data collection 
schedule and to align with recruitment for other NCES studies (e.g., 
TIMSS), approval for the main study sampling, recruitment, and data 
collection activities was approved in April 2022 (OMB# 1850-0929 v9). 
This request is for approval for the (1) revised study revision 
timeline; (2) updated screen shots of the study portal; (3) changes to 
the main study contact materials; and (4) addition of COVID-related 
items in the questionnaires. If necessary, a final change memo will be 
submitted in December 2022 with the IEA-approved adapted main study 
questionnaire. Changes are described below and are included in the 
supporting documentation.

    Dated: July 18, 2022.
Stephanie Valentine,
PRA Coordinator, Strategic Collections and Clearance, Governance and 
Strategy Division, Office of Chief Data Officer, Office of Planning, 
Evaluation and Policy Development.
[FR Doc. 2022-15577 Filed 7-20-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P