[Federal Register: December 12, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 239)]
[Notices]
[Page 76409-76410]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12de02-82]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request
Proposed Projects
Title: Head Start Impact Study.
OMB No.: New Collection.
Description: The Administration on Children, Youth and Families
(ACYF), Administration for Children and Families (ACF) of the
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is requesting comments
on plans to conduct the Head Start Impact Study. This study is being
conducted under contract with Westat, Inc. (with the Urban Institute,
American Institutes for Research, and Decision Information Resources as
their subcontractors) (282-00-0022) to collect information for
determining, on a national basis, how Head Start affects the school
readiness of children participating in the program as compared to
children not enrolled in Head Start and to determine under which
conditions Head Start works best and for which children.
The Head Start Impact Study is a longitudinal study that will
involve approximately 5,000-6,000 first time enrolled three- and four-
year old preschool children across an estimated 75 nationally
representative grantee/delegate agencies (in communities where there
are more eligible children and families than can be served by the
program). The participating children will be randomly assigned to
either a Head Start group (that receives Head Start program services)
or a comparison group (that does not receive Head Start services but
may enroll in other available services selected by their parents or be
cared for at home). Data collection for the study began in fall 2002
and extends through spring 2006 with child assessments, conducted in
the fall and spring of the Head Start years and in the spring of the
kindergarten and first grade years and parent interviews conducted in
the fall and spring of each year. Interviews with teachers, care
providers, and staff (setting interview), and quality of care
assessments will be conducted each year. This schedule of data
collection is necessitated by the mandate in Head Start's 1998
reauthorization (Coats Human Services Amendments of 1998, Pub. L. 05-
285) that DHHS conduct research to determine, on a national level, the
impact of Head Start on the children it serves.
A field test of instruments and procedures was conducted during
fall 2001 and spring 2002. The field test involved approximately 450
first time enrolled three- and four-year old preschool children across
eight grantee/delegate agencies representing different community
contexts.
Respondents: Individuals or households, Head Start Agencies, School
Districts, and other child care providers.
Annual Burden Estimates: Estimated Response Burden for Respondents
to the Head Start Impact Study--Fall 2002, Spring 2003, Fall 2003,
Spring 2004, Fall 2004, Spring 2005, Fall 2005, and Spring 2006.
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Number of Average burden
Instrument Number of responses per hours per Total burden
respondents respondent response hours
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Year 1 (Fall 2002):
Parent interviews........................... 5,111 1 1.00 5,111
Child Assessments........................... 5,111 1 0.9166 4,685
Year 1 (Sprint 2003):
Parent interviews........................... 4,599 1 1.00 4,599
Father questionnaire........................ 4,599 1 0.50 2,300
Child assessments........................... 4,599 1 0.9166 4,216
Teacher provider ratings.................... 966 5 0.0833 403
Center Directors/Principals Staff........... 368 1 0.25 92
Classroom teachers.......................... 736 1 0.50 368
Other care providers........................ 230 1 0.50 115
Year 2 (Fall 2003):
Parent interviews........................... 4,139 1 1.00 4,139
Child assessments........................... 2,287 1 0.9166 2,096
Year 2 (Spring 2004):
Parent interviews........................... 3,910 1 1.00 3,910
Child assessments........................... 3,910 1 0.9166 3,584
Teach provider ratings...................... 803 5 0.0833 335
Center directors/Principals/Staff........... 349 1 0.25 87
Classroom teachers.......................... 700 1 0.50 350
Other care providers........................ 103 1 0.50 52
Year 3 (Fall 2004):
Parent interviews........................... 3,519 1 1.00 3,519
Year 3 (Spring 2005):
Parent interviews........................... 3,519 1 1.00 3,519
Child assessments........................... 3,519 1 0.9166 3,226
Teacher ratings............................. 704 5 0.0833 293
Principals/Staff............................ 352 1 0.25 88
Classroom teachers.......................... 704 1 0.50 352
Year 4 (Fall 2005):
Parent interviews........................... 1,667 1 1.00 1,667
[[Page 76410]]
Year (Spring 2006):
Parent interviews........................... 1,667 1 1.00 1,667
Child assessments........................... 1,667 1 0.9166 1,528
Teacher ratings............................. 333 5 0.0833 139
Principals/Staff............................ 167 1 0.25 42
Classroom teachers.......................... 333 1 0.50 167
Annualized Totals:
Year 1...................................... .............. .............. .............. 21,889
Year 2...................................... .............. .............. .............. 14,553
Year 3...................................... .............. .............. .............. 10,997
Year 4...................................... .............. .............. .............. 5,210
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours......... .............. .............. .............. 13,162
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Note: The 13,745 Total Annual Burden Hours is based on an
average of 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06 estimated burden
hours.
In compliance with the requirements of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Administration for Children and
Families is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the
information collection described above. Copies of the proposed
collection of information can be obtained and comments may be forwarded
by writing to the Administration for Children and Families Office of
Information Services, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC
20447, Attn: ACF Reports Clearance Officer. All requests should be
identified by the title of the information collection.
The Department specifically requests comments on: (a) Whether the
proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the
information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of
information; (c) the quality, utility, and clarity of the information
to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection
of information on respondents, including through the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted
within 60 days of this publication.
Dated: December 4, 2002.
Bob Sargis,
Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 02-31260 Filed 12-11-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-M