[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 72 (Friday, April 12, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25869-25870]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-07783]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Docket No.: ED-2023-SCC-0161]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Evaluation of the REL Appalachia Teaching Math to Young 
Children Toolkit

AGENCY: Institute of Education Sciences (IES), 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 review of a currently approved 
information collection request (ICR).

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
May 13, 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 Amy Johnson, (202) 453-7439.

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: Evaluation of the REL Appalachia Teaching Math 
to Young Children Toolkit.
    OMB Control Number: 1850-0991.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved ICR.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals or Households.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 7,040.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 792.
    Abstract: Mathematics knowledge acquired in early childhood 
provides a critical foundation for long-term student success in math as 
well as reading (Duncan et al., 2007; Watts et al., 2014), but the 
professional development (PD) and curricular support for preschool 
teachers often lack specific content and training on high-quality math 
instruction delivered by math content experts. To address this problem, 
the REL Appalachia toolkit development team is developing a toolkit to 
provide preschool teachers with support in implementing core teaching 
practices essential to promoting early math skills and knowledge in 
children. The toolkit is based on the Teaching Math to Young Children 
IES practice guide (Frye et al., 2013) and is being developed in 
collaboration with state and district partners in Virginia.
    In this revision, IES requests clearance for data collection 
instruments and the collection of district administrative data for an 
efficacy study of the toolkit as part of the REL Appalachia (REL AP) 
contract.
    The study will assess the efficacy of the professional development 
resources included in the toolkit. The evaluation

[[Page 25870]]

will also assess how teachers implement the toolkit to provide context 
for the efficacy findings and guidance to improve the toolkit and its 
future use. The evaluation will take place in 50 schools across 
approximately 10 school divisions in Virginia and focus on mathematics 
teaching practices and student mathematics knowledge and skills in 
preschool classrooms. The purpose of this study will be to measure the 
efficacy and implementation of the REL AP-developed toolkit designed to 
improve teacher practice and preschool students' math learning 
outcomes. The toolkit evaluation will produce a report for district and 
school leaders who are considering strategies to improve math learning 
in preschool. The report will be designed to help them decide whether 
and how to use the toolkit to help them implement the practice guide 
recommendations.

    Dated: April 9, 2024.
Juliana Pearson,
PRA Coordinator, Strategic Collections and Clearance, Governance and 
Strategy Division, Office of Chief Data Officer, Office of Planning, 
Evaluation and Policy Development.
[FR Doc. 2024-07783 Filed 4-11-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P