[Federal Register: August 23, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 162)]
[Notices]
[Page 49291-49293]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23au05-87]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request
Proposed Projects:
Title: Field Test of Social-Emotional and Modified Measures for the
Heat Start National Reporting System.
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 (HHS) is requesting comments on
plans to conduct the field Test of Social-Emotional Measures and
Modified Assessment Measures for the Head Start National Reporting
System (HSNRS). This study is being conducted under contract with
Westat, Xtria, and Pearson (HHS23320052902YC) to examine new and
modified measures for HSNRS.
Purposes
The purposes of the field test are to explore the expansion of the
HSNR'S coverage of the domain elements of the Head Start Outcomes
Framework and to improve the performance of the current HSNRS
assessment battery. The Head Start Bureau is interested in expanding
the coverage of the HSNRS to include non-cognitive domains, in
recognition of the ``whole child'' orientation of Head Start, in
particular social and emotional development. To that end, the Head
Start Bureau has reviewed potential measures of social-emotional
development and has identified several existing, ratings-based measures
as candidates for field testing. Further, the Head Start Bureau is
interested in expanding the coverage of the HSNRS to the Physical
Health and Development domains of the Head Start Outcomes Framework.
Finally, the Quality Assurance Study's findings, Technical Work Group
recommendations, and findings from psychometric analysis of first-year
implementation data have also suggested some areas for improvement to
the current HSNRS assessment battery.
For these purposes, the Head Start Bureau is planning to conduct
field tests of measures of social-emotional development and the
collection of child health data in fall 2005 and spring 2006. These
measures are intended to address the domains of Social and Emotional
Development and Physical Health and Development.
Further, the Head Start Bureau will examine modifications to
measures in the current HSNRS assessment battery.
The field test will also examine the effectiveness of training
procedures and relative feasibility of the selected measures with a
diverse set of Head Start programs, staff, and children.
Teacher-Reported Measures of Social-Emotional Development
Five teacher-reported measures of social-emotional development will
be field tested in fall 2005 and spring 2006. A teacher-rating approach
will be taken because these measures would not place additional burdens
(in the form of direct assessment) on the children. These measures have
been used in the Family and Child Experiences Survey (FACES) and
National Head Start Impact Study (NHSIS) and include:
Cooperative Classroom Behavior;
Problem Behaviors;
Preschool Learning Behavior Scale (PLBS);
Student-Teacher Relationship Scale (STRS): Short form; and
Adjustment Scales for Preschool Intervention (ASPI).
Modifications to Current HSNRS Direct Assessment
Modifications to the current HSNRS direct assessment include:
A new language screener;
New Letter Naming task; and
New items in Early Math Skills task using manipulatives.
Health Records Extract
Finally, to expand HSNRS coverage to include health status, child
safety, and linkages to health care, the field test will also examine
the feasibility of collecting child health information from Head Start
programs. Based on these data, indicators of the quality of health
service provided by local Head Start programs will be developed. The
child health information includes:
Height;
Weight;
Immunization status;
Dental care records; and
Occurrences of child injuries requiring medical attention
at each center.
Sample
The national probability sample of Head Start programs for the
field test will consist of 30 programs, including for Native American
programs, selected with probability proportional to size. From each
program, up to 6 classrooms will be selected (each classroom will be
taught by a different teacher). This will result in a sample of
approximately 1,440 children.
Training
A two-day Field-Test training will take place in September 2005.
Field-test participants will be trained and certified in the field-
tested measures and procedures. A ``training-the-trainers'' approach
will be used. Trainees must pass a written quiz to be certified
trainers. For the modified assessment measures, trainees will
participate in role play and conduct observed assessment with children.
For the social-emotional measures, all field test participants will
also receive self-study materials, including an assessor's guide, which
they will bring back to their local programs and distribute among their
classroom teachers to study and be quizzed on prior to completing the
social-emotional measures.
Once trained, field-test participants will return to their programs
and train and certify local teachers or other program staff to conduct
field-test measures.
Prior to spring data collection on the field tested measures,
refresher training materials (e.g., instructional and exercise
materials) will be sent to the participating Head Start programs.
Data Collection
Teacher-reported social-emotional development measures will be
completed by the lead teacher of each classroom in the sample. Parallel
data of the teacher ratings will be collected in each classroom in
order to examine inter-rater reliability. Teacher ratings will be
collected independently by the lead teacher and by another staff member
in the same classroom (e.g., an assistant teacher), if available and
qualified.
For modified HSNRS child assessment measures, local assessors will
conduct the field-test measures on the sampled kindergarten-eligible
children in their program. Data will be
[[Page 49292]]
recorded on scannable answer forms and submitted to Westat. Assessors
will also provide feedback on issues such as ease of administration,
time of administration, and clarity of training and instructions. The
inter-assessor reliability of these measures will be examined through
parallel data collected in the form of the regular HSNRS assessments
administered to each child.
Respondents: Head Start Children and Head Start Staff.
Annual Burden Estimates
[Fall 2005]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Average burden
Instruments Number of responses per hours per Total burden
respondents respondent response hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Training on Field Test Measures
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head Start Staff: Participate in 30 1 9 270
Training of Trainers Training......
Head Start Staff: Review Self-Study 360 1 1 360
Materials on Teacher-Reported
Ratings of Social-Emotional
Development........................
Head Start Staff: Participate in 60 1 2 120
Local Training on Modified Measures
Head Start Staff: Conduct Local 30 1 2 60
Training on Modified Measures......
Head Start Staff: Complete Feedback 30 1 \1/12\ 2.5
Survey on Training Procedures......
Head Start Staff: Complete Feedback 360 1 \1/12\ 30
Survey on Training Procedures......
-------------------------------------
Field Test of Teach-Reported Ratings of Social-Emotional Development
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head Start Lead Teacher: Complete 180 8 \1/4\ 360
Teach-Reported Ratings.............
Head Start Classroom Staff: Complete 180 8 \1/4\ 360
Parallel Reacher-Reported Ratings..
Head Start Lead Staff: Complete 180 1 \1/12\ 15
Feedback Survey on Teacher-Reported
Rating Measures....................
-------------------------------------
Field Test of Modifications to Current HSNRS Direct Child Assessment Battery
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head Start Staff: Administer 60 24 \1/4\ 360
Modified Measures..................
Head Start Staff: Participate in 1,440 1 \1/4\ 360
Modified Measures..................
-------------------------------------
Field Test of Collection of Child Health Information
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head Start Staff: Collect & Submit 30 48 \1/12\ 120
Child Health Info..................
Head Start Staff: Demonstrate 30 1 \1/6\ 5
Procedures for collecting Height
and Weight Information.............
Head Start Staff: Complete Feedback 30 1 \1/12\ 2.5
Survey on Child Health Data
Collection Procedures..............
-------------------------------------
Fall 2005 Totals.............. 3,000 ................. ................. 2,425
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spring 2006
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Average burden
Instruments Number of responses per hours per Total burden
respondents respondent response hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Training on Field Test Measures
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head Start Staff: Participate in 30 1 3 90
Training of Trainers Training......
Head Start Staff: Review Self-Study 360 1 1 360
materials on Teacher-Reported
Ratings of Social-Emotional
Development........................
Head Start Staff: Participate in 60 1 1 60
Local Training on Modified Measures
Head Start Staff: Conduct Local 30 1 1 30
Training on Modified Measures......
Head Start Trainers: Complete 30 1 \1/12\ 30
Feedback Survey on Training
Procedures.........................
Head Start Staff: Complete Feedback 360 1 \1/12\ 30
Survey on Training Procedures......
-------------------------------------
Field Test of Teacher-Reported Ratings of Social-Emotional Development
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head Start Lead Teacher: Complete 180 8 \1/4\ 360
Teacher-Reported Ratings...........
[[Page 49293]]
Head Start Classroom Staff: Complete 180 8 \1/4\ 360
Parallel Teacher-Reported Ratings..
Head Start Lead Teacher: Complete 180 1 \1/12\ 15
Feedback Survey on Teacher-Reported
Rating Measures....................
-------------------------------------
Field Test of Modifications to Current HSNRS Direct Child Assessment Battery
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head Start Staff: Administer 60 24 \1/4\ 360
Modified Measures..................
Head Start Children: Participate in 1,440 1 \1/4\ 360
Modified Measures..................
-------------------------------------
Field Test of Collection of Child Health Information
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head Start Staff: Collect & Submit 30 48 \1/12\ 120
Child Health Info..................
Head Start Staff: Demonstrate 30 1 \1/6\ 5
Procedures for collecting Height
and Weight Information.............
Head Start Staff: Complete Feedback 30 1 \1/12\ 2.5
Survey on Child Health Data
Collection Procedures..............
-------------------------------------
Spring 2006 Totals............ 3,000 ................. ................. 2,155
--------------------
Grand Totals.................. 3,000 ................. ................. 4,580
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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. E-mail:
rsargis@acf.hhs.gov.
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: August 17, 2005.
Robert Sargis,
Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-16640 Filed 8-22-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-M