[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 172 (Thursday, September 5, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72382-72383]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-19855]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Docket No.: ED-2024-SCC-0108]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; School Pulse Panel 2024-25 Data Collection Second Quarter 
Revision

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 revision of a currently approved 
information collection request (ICR).

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
October 7, 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; (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

[[Page 72383]]

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 2024-25 Data Collection 
Second Quarter Revision.
    OMB Control Number: 1850-0969.
    Type of Review: A 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 for the 2024-25 data collection was 
formally cleared in January 2024 (OMB# 1850-0969 v.12) and the SPP 
monthly data collection package was formally cleared in June 2024 (OMB# 
1850-0969 v.13). A change request (v.14) was cleared in June 2024 to 
make changes to the 2024-25 preliminary activities package in order to 
modify the July 2024 communication materials and screener survey. A 
change request (v.15) was cleared in August 2024 to make changes to the 
August 2024, September 2024, and October 2024 instruments, informed by 
cognitive testing results with school staff. The new revision (v.16) 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 November 2024, December 2024, and January 2025 instruments, as 
well as planned items for the rest of the study year, through June 
2025. 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. This testing will occur 
simultaneously with when the package is out for the 30-day public 
comment period. 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: August 29, 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. 2024-19855 Filed 9-4-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P