OMB Memorandum to Rachel Potter

M

Social and Character Development Research Program

emorandum

To: Rachel Potter

Through: Kathy Axt; Katrina Ingalls

From: Amy Silverman

CC: Caroline Ebanks, Ed Metz

Date: 12/19/2006

Re: Extension of OMB Clearance for Social and Character Development Research Program National Evaluation (OMB No.: 1850-0792)

This memo is to request an extension of clearance for the multi-site measures used in the National Evaluation of the Social and Character Development Research Program (OMB No.: 1850-0792). The original OMB clearance encompasses five waves of data collection (Fall 2004, Spring 2005, Fall 2005, Spring 2006, Spring 2007). To date, four waves of data have been collected and the final wave is planned for Spring 2007. Current OMB clearance expires on 5/31/2007. We are requesting an extension through September 2007 because data collection extends into summer months in many sites.

Several minor modifications to the battery and wording changes are described below. The overall change in the amount of time to complete the instruments is minor, but is reflected in the SACD Evaluation Revised Annual Burden Hours for School Year 2006-2007 (Exhibit 3 of Supporting Statement A). Overall, there is a reduction in burden hours for the final data collection wave (-7551 hours) because there is only one data collection point (Spring 2007) instead of two points that were included in wave 1 (Fall 2004, Spring 2005) and wave 2 (Fall 2005 and Spring 2006).

Due to copyright laws, copies of the measures are not included in the OMB package, but can be furnished upon request. Appendices II through VIII describe the specific items that make up each of the measures. New items on the Teacher Report on Students and the Teacher Report on Classroom and Schools are italicized in Appendix III and IV, and are described below.

• On the Teacher Report on Students, one question (5 items) was added. This question is estimated to increase response time by approximately 1 minute (question A6). We have changed the burden hour estimate in Exhibits 3 and 4 of Supporting Statement A to reflect this change.

• On the Teacher Report on Classroom and Schools, the following modifications were made:

  • Adding a series of questions about the implementation of “the most important and comprehensive single program or organized activity directed at social or character development and/or behavior management” (questions X1-X4).

  • Changing the format of the response categories used in question B8 from “used/not used” to “daily, weekly, monthly, less than once a month, and never.” Both changes are expected to increase the response burden by a total of approximately 3 minutes. We have changed the burden hour estimates in Exhibits 3 and 4 of Supporting Statement A to reflect this change.

• Changing the format of the SACD-Activities Principal Interview from a face-to-face format to a telephone interview format. This was done to make scheduling less burdensome to principals and is not estimated to increase the response burden.

Overall, it is of note that these minor modifications and wording changes do not substantially increase the burden hours to teachers. All other procedures detailed in the original OMB submission and 7/11/2005 Change in Burden Hours Memorandum remains the same (Notice of Change is dated 8/19/2005).

Should you have any questions or concerns about this requested change, please feel free to contact me by phone (202-219-1201) or by email (amy.silverman@ed.gov). Thank you.

Attachments: OMB83-I

Supporting Statement A

Supporting Statement B

Legislative Authority

Instruments:

Appendices I-XIII

Letters: 7/11/05 Change in Burden Hour Memorandum (Appendix A2)

8/19/05 OMB Notice of Change and Revised OMB Burden Hour

Estimate For School Year 2005-2006 (Appendix A3)

Supporting Materials: References

Original OMB Burden Hour Estimate (Appendix A1)

Confidentiality Pledge (Appendix A4)