[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 208 (Monday, October 30, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74161-74162]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-23842]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Docket No.: ED-2023-SCC-0186]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; 2023-24 School Pulse Panel (SPP) December and January 
Questionnaire Items Change Request

AGENCY: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Department of 
Education (ED).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, 
the Department is proposing a revision of a currently approved 
information collection request (ICR).

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
November 29, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for proposed 
information collection requests should be submitted within 30 days of 
publication of this notice. Click on this link www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain to access the site. Find this information collection request 
(ICR) by

[[Page 74162]]

selecting ``Department of Education'' under ``Currently Under Review,'' 
then check the ``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.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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: School Pulse Panel 2023-24 Quarter 3 Revision.
    OMB Control Number: 1850-0975.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved ICR.
    Respondents/Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Governments.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 53,955.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 10,175.
    Abstract: The School Pulse Panel is conducted by the National 
Center for Education Statistics (NCES), part of the Institute of 
Education Sciences (IES), within the United States Department of 
Education. Initially, the purpose of the study was to collect extensive 
real-time data on issues brought to light by the COVID-19 pandemic on 
students and staff, as well as other important education-related issues 
that could inform data-driven policy decisions, in U.S. public primary, 
middle, high, and combined-grade schools and districts. Specifically, 
this was accomplished by collecting data on, among other things, the 
percentage of the student body starting the school year behind grade 
level, the types of learning recovery strategies being implemented and 
the perceived effectiveness of those strategies, classroom behavioral 
concerns, mental health services provided, and staffing issues. NCES 
was able to capture each of these pieces in an expedited fashion and 
report out findings in a matter of weeks, providing rich information to 
help tell the full story of what students, staff, and administrators 
were battling on a daily basis. The success of the quick-turnaround 
nature of the SPP was a clear indication of the immense value of having 
a real-time data collection vehicle readily available to capture 
content on prominent events occurring in the school environment. 
Therefore, stakeholders and ED leadership have asked NCES to continue 
this type of data collection methodology for the 2023-24 school year 
and beyond with content extending beyond COVID-19 pandemic impacts on 
the education environment.
    The preliminary activities package was formally cleared in February 
2023 (OMB# 1850-0975 v.1) and the SPP monthly data collection package 
was formally cleared in June 2023 (OMB# 1850-0975 v.2). A change 
request (v.3) was cleared in July 2023 to make changes to the September 
and October instruments and August 2023-January 2024 communication 
materials. A second quarterly package was formally cleared in October 
2023 (OMB# 1850-0975 v.4), which contained the November 2023-January 
2024 questionnaires and the February 2024-June 2024 communication 
materials. A change request (v.5) was cleared in October 2023 to make 
changes to the December 2023 and January 2024 instruments; content on 
these surveys was undergoing cognitive testing during the 30-day public 
comment period. The purpose of this memo is to accompany a revision 
(v.6) and to describe the changes to the research materials contained 
in that revision. The new revision is focused on a 30-day public 
comment period on new items (within the scope of the research domains 
previously established) to be collected on the February 2024, March 
2024, and April 2024 instruments (Appendix C3). These items are 
considered very close to final and will go through minimal testing with 
school personnel to examine any comprehension concerns with item 
wording. Feedback from this testing, as well as additional input from 
SPP stakeholders, will result in modifications and additions that will 
be reflected in future change requests.

    Dated: October 24, 2023.
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. 2023-23842 Filed 10-27-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P