[Federal Register: December 6, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 233)]
[Notices]
[Page 72640-72642]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06de05-43]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
Title: Field Test of Social-Emotional Measures and Modified
Assessment Measures for the Head Start National Reporting System.
OMB No.: New Collection.
Description: The 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 field test is being conducted under
contract with Westat (with subcontractors Xtria and Pearson Educational
Measurement) (HHS23320052902YC) to examine new and modified measures
for HSNRS.
Purposes
The purposes of the field test are to expand NSNRS's coverage of
the domain elements of the Head Start Outcomes Framework and to improve
the performance of the current HSNRS assessment battery. ACF has been
urged to expand the coverage of NSNRS 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
Technical Work Group of HSNRS has discussed and reviewed potential
measures of social-emotional
[[Page 72641]]
development and has identified several existing, ratings-based measures
as candidates for field testing. Further, the Technical Work Group has
also endorsed expanding the coverage of 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 suggested some areas for improvement to the
current HSNRS assessment battery.
In addition, 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. These measures have been used in the Family and Child
Experiences Survey (FACES) or National Head Start Impact Study (NHSIS),
as listed below.
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 Assessment Battery
Modifications to the current HSNRS assessment battery include:
A new language screener;
New Letter Naming task; and
New items in Early Math Skills task using manipulatives.
Health Records Extract
The field test will also examine the feasibility of collecting
child health information from Head Start programs. It is intended to
expand HSNRS coverage to include health status, child safety, and
linkages to health care. Based on the collected information, indicators
of health services provided by local Head Start programs can 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 will consist
of 30 programs, including four 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
and 180 Head Start teachers.
Training
A ``training-the-trainers'' approach will be used to train the
field test participants. The participants will be certified in the
field-tested measures and procedures and return to their programs to
train local Head Start staff on the social-emotional measures.
The effectiveness of the ``train-the-trainers'' training procedures
and materials for the field-tested assessment measures will be
examined. Information from feedback surveys completed by training
participants will be analyzed to find areas that need improvement.
Data Collection
Social-emotional development measures will be completed by the lead
teacher of 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, contractor field
staff will conduct the field-test measures.
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 Training-the- 30 1 8 240
Trainers Training.............................
------------------------------------------------
Head Start Staff: Review Self-Study Materials 360 1 1 360
on Teacher-Reported Ratings of Social-
Emotional Development.........................
Head Start Trainers: Complete Feedback Survey 30 1 \1/12\ 2.5
on Training Procedures........................
Head Start Staff: Complete Feedback Survey on 360 1 \1/12\ 30
Training Procedures...........................
------------------------------------------------
Field Test of Teacher-Reported Ratings of Social-Emotional Development
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head Start Lead Teacher: Complete Teacher- 180 8 \1/4\ 360
Reported Ratings..............................
Head Start Classroom Staff: Complete Parallel 180 8 \1/4\ 360
Teacher-Reported Ratings......................
Head Start Children: Participate in Social- 270 1 \1/4\ 67.5
Emotional Skills Direct Assessment............
------------------------------------------------
Field Test of Modifications to Current HSNRS Direct Child Assessment Battery
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head Start Children: Participate in Modified 1,440 1 \1/4\ 360
Measures......................................
------------------------------------------------
Field Test of Collection of Child Health Information
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head Start Staff: Collect & Submit Child Health 30 48 \1/12\ 120
Info..........................................
Head Start Staff: Demonstrate Procedures for 30 3 \1/12\ 7.5
Collecting Height and Weight Information......
Head Start Children: Participate in 30 3 \1/12\ 7.5
Demonstration of Procedures for Collecting
Height and Weight Information.................
[[Page 72642]]
Head Start Staff: Complete Feedback Survey on 30 1 \1/12\ 2.5
Child Health Data collection Procedures.......
------------------------------------------------
Fall 2005 Totals........................... 2,970 .............. .............. 1,917.5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Training-the- 30 1 8 240
Trainers Training.............................
Head Start Staff: Review Self-Study Materials 360 1 1 360
on Teacher-Reported Ratings of Social-
Emotional Development.........................
Head Start Trainers: Complete Feedback Survey 30 1 \1/12\ 2.5
on Training Procedures........................
------------------------------------------------
Field Test of Teacher-Reported Ratings of Social-Emotional Development
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head Start Lead Teacher: Complete Teacher- 180 8 \1/4\ 360
Reported Ratings..............................
Head Start Classroom Staff: Complete Parallel 180 8 \1/4\ 360
Teacher-Reported Ratings......................
Head Start Children: Participate in Social- 270 1 \1/4\ 67.5
Emotional Skills Direct Assessment............
------------------------------------------------
Field Test of Modifications to Current HSNRS Direct Child Assessment Battery
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head Start Children: Participate in Modified 1,440 1 \1/4\ 360
Measures......................................
------------------------------------------------
Field Test of Collection of Child Health Information
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head Start Staff: Collect & Submit Child Health 30 48 \1/12\ 120
Info..........................................
-----------------
Spring 2006 Totals......................... 2,520 .............. .............. 1,870
-----------------
Grand Totals for Fall 2005 & Spring 5,490 .............. .............. 3,787.5
2006..................................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Additional Information: Copies of the proposed collection may be
obtained by writing to the Administration for Children and Families,
Office of Administration, 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 address: infocollection@acf.hhs.gov.
OMB Comment: OMB is required to make a decision concerning the
collection of information between 30 and 60 days after publication of
this document in the Federal Register. Therefore, a comment is best
assured of having its full effect if OMB receives it within 30 days of
publication. Written comments and recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be sent directly to following: Office of
Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project, Attn: Desk Officer
for ACF, E-mail address: Katherine_T._Astrich@omb.eop.gov.
Dated: November 30, 2005.
Robert Sargis,
Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-23644 Filed 12-5-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-M