[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 43 (Monday, March 4, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15557-15558]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-04449]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Docket No.: ED-2024-SCC-0038]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; School Pulse Panel 2023-24 Quarter 4 Revision

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 
April 3, 2024.

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 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;

[[Page 15558]]

(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 4 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. A third quarterly package was formally cleared in 
January 2024 (OMB# 1850-0975 v.6), which contained the February-April 
2024 questionnaires. Content on all three questionnaires was undergoing 
cognitive testing during the 30-day public comment period. One change 
request (v.7) was cleared in January 2024 to make changes to the 
February 2024 questionnaire. A second change request (v.8) was cleared 
in February 2024 to make changes to the March 2024 and April 2024 
questionnaires. This revision introduces new items for May and June 
2024 (within the scope of the research domains previously established), 
included here in Appendix C4. 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.
    This package will undergo a 30-day public comment period before 
being sent to OMB for approval. There are no changes to burden or cost 
to the federal government associated with this revision.

    Dated: February 27, 2024.
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. 2024-04449 Filed 3-1-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P