Data Collection Materials

ELS-2002-3rd-Follow-up-2012-Field-Test-Appendix6.doc

Education Longitudinal Study (ELS) 2002 Third Follow-up 2011 Field Test

Data Collection Materials

OMB: 1850-0652

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Appendix 6. Data Collection Materials (Brochure, Lead Letters)


Appendix 6
Data Collection Materials (Brochure, Lead Letters)



TABLE OF CONTENTS

Document Page

TABLE OF CONTENTS 6-2

Initial Contact Letter—Sample Member 6-3

Initial Contact Letter—Parent 6-4

Contact Information Update Form—Sample Member 6-5

Contact Information Update Form—Parent 6-7

Contact Information Update—Website Content 6-9

Text for the Brochure 6-11

Sample Member Lead Letter 6-14

Parent Lead Letter 6-17

Reminder Letter 6-18

Refusal/Hard to Reach Letter 6-19

Final Contact Letter 6-20

Letter Was Requested by Sample Member 6-21

Incentive/Thank You Letter 6-23

Thank You/Reminder Postcard (Folded and Sealed) 6-24

Last Contact Postcard (Folded and Sealed) 6-25

Email 1: Your Interview 6-27

Email 2: Don’t Forget Interview 6-28

Email 3: We Need Your Participation 6-29

Email 4: Data Collection Continues 6-30

Email 5: Don’t Delay 6-31

Email 6: Your Participation is Important 6-32

Email Was Requested by Sample Member 6-33

Email from John Wirt 6-34

Informed Consent Text for All Survey Modes 6-35



Initial Contact Letter—Sample Member


<date>


< name>

<address>

<city> <state> <zip>


Dear <name>:

Thank you for your ongoing participation in the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002). As you may recall, ELS:2002 is sponsored by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) of the U.S. Department of Education (OMB control # 1850-0652). Your voluntary participation, and the participation of other young adults like you, has helped to make ELS:2002 a great success and has provided valuable data about young adults’ experiences in and out of school.


ELS:2002 follows the same set of over 15,000 young adults as they move from high school to the work force or further schooling. In July 2011, we will be asking you and all other young adults who participated in prior rounds of the study to help us with the next phase of this research. We will ask ELS:2002 participants to complete another interview about further schooling, work experiences, and other activities since we last talked with them. Your answers may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law [Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002) Public Law 107-279, Section 183].


We are contacting you now for two reasons. First, we want to emphasize how important your continuing contribution is to ELS:2002. Second, we want to make sure we have accurate information to contact you in July 2011. Please take a moment to complete the enclosed contact information sheet and return it in the envelope provided. We would like you to confirm or update the listed contact information for both you and your parent(s). If you prefer, you can update this information through the ELS:2002 website:

  1. Go to https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/els.

  2. On the left side of the page, click on “Update Your Contact Information.”

  3. At the “Study ID:” prompt enter your study ID from the box in the lower right corner of this letter.

  4. Enter updated contact information in the spaces provided.

The update should take less than five minutes. You can also provide your updated contact information to RTI by calling toll-free 1-800-334-8571 ext. 27791 and leaving this information in a voice-mail message.


We look forward to your participation in the next round of ELS:2002 in 2011. If you have any questions about ELS:2002, please call Tiffany Mattox at RTI, toll-free, at 1-800-334-8571 ext. 27791. You can also e-mail Ms. Mattox at tmattox@rti.org. RTI is a non-profit research organization in North Carolina that is conducting ELS:2002 for the NCES.


We greatly appreciate your continued participation in this important research!


Go to https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/els

Select “Update Your Contact Information”

Enter your study ID: <ID fill>





Sincerely,

Jeffrey Owings, Ph.D.

Associate Commissioner, Elementary/Secondary & Libraries Studies Division

National Center for Education Statistics

Initial Contact Letter—Parent

<date>


<name>

<address>

<city> <state> <zip>



Dear <name>:

Thank you for your ongoing support of the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002). As you may recall, ELS:2002 is sponsored by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) of the U.S. Department of Education (OMB control # 1850-0652). The voluntary participation of your young adult has helped to make ELS:2002 a great success and has provided valuable data about young adults’ experiences in and out of school.


ELS:2002 follows the same set of over 15,000 young adults as they move from high school to the work force or further schooling. In July 2011, we will be asking all young adults who participated in prior rounds of the study to help us with the next phase of this research. We will ask ELS:2002 participants to complete another interview about further schooling, work experiences, and other activities since we last talked with them. Your answers may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law [Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002) Public Law 107-279, Section 183].


We are contacting you now for two reasons. First, we want to emphasize the importance of your young adult’s continued contribution to ELS:2002. Second, we want to make sure we have accurate information to contact your young adult in July 2011. Please take a moment to complete the enclosed contact information sheet and return it in the envelope provided. We would like you to confirm or update the listed contact information for both you and your young adult who has participated in ELS:2002. If you prefer, you can update this information through the ELS:2002 website:

  1. Go to https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/els.

  2. On the left side of the page, click on “Update Your Contact Information.”

  3. At the “Study ID:” prompt enter the study ID from the box in the lower right corner of this letter.

  4. Enter the updated contact information in the spaces provided.

The update should take less than five minutes. You can also provide updated contact information to RTI by calling toll-free 1-800-334-8571 ext. 27791 and leaving this information in a voice-mail message.


We look forward to your young adult’s participation in the next round of ELS:2002 in 2011. If you have any questions about ELS:2002, please call Tiffany Mattox at RTI, toll-free, at 1-800-334-8571 ext. 27791. You can also e-mail Ms. Mattox at tmattox@rti.org. RTI is a non-profit research organization in North Carolina that is conducting ELS:2002 for the NCES.


We greatly appreciate your continued support of this important research!


Go to https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/els

Select “Update Your Contact Information”

Enter your study ID: <ID fill>





Sincerely,

Jeffrey Owings, Ph.D.

Associate Commissioner, Elementary/Secondary & Libraries Studies Division

National Center for Education Statistics

Contact Information Update Form—Sample Member


Education Longitudinal Study of 2002

Your Contact Information Update


Instructions:

Please update your contact information printed below, as well as your parents’ contact information on the other side (page 2) of this form.

  1. If all of your contact information printed below is correct and complete, please check the box to indicate all of this information is correct and complete.

  2. If any of the printed contact information is not correct or complete:

    • Cross out any incorrect information printed below.

    • Write in the correct information in the spaces to the right of the incorrect information.

    • Use the spaces to the right to add any missing or incomplete information.

  3. Would you like us to send a text message on the cell phone listed below when data collection is about to begin? (Please note: standard text messaging rates apply.) Yes No

If yes, please give us the name of your cell phone service provider (e.g., AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, etc.) to ensure the message is sent to the correct carrier.

Cell phone service provider: ______________________________________________

Please return this sheet in the envelope provided. If you prefer, you can update your contact information via the ELS:2002 website at https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/els or call toll-free 1-800-334-8571 ext. 27791 and leave this information in a voice-mail message.

Your Current Contact Information:

Corrections and Additions:

Name:

<Fill_name>


Address:

<Fill_addr1>



<Fill_addr2>


City/Town:

<Fill_city>


State:

<Fill_state>


Zip:

<Fill_zip>


Home phone:

Telephone:

<Fill_phoneh>


Work phone:

<Fill_phonew>


Cell phone:

<Fill_phonec>


E-mail:

<Fill_email1>


Alt. E-mail:

<Fill_email2>


□ All of the printed contact information above is correct and complete.


Please see other side for parent contact information.

Education Longitudinal Study of 2002

Parent Contact Information Update


Instructions:

Please update the contact information for one or both of your parent(s) printed below.

  1. If all of the parent contact information printed below is correct and complete, please check the box at the end of each section to indicate all of the information is correct and complete.

  2. If the address, telephone, and e-mail information is the same for both parents, please check the box in the middle of the second section to indicate the information is the same as first parent.

  3. If any of the printed contact information is not correct or complete:

    • Cross out any incorrect information printed below.

    • Write in the correct information in the spaces to the right of the incorrect information.

    • Use the spaces to the right to add any missing or incomplete information.

Please return this sheet in the envelope provided. If you prefer, you can update your contact information via the ELS:2002 website at https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/els or call toll-free 1-800-334-8571 ext. 27791 and leave this information in a voice-mail message.

First Parent’s Contact Information:

Corrections and Additions:

Name:

<Fill_name>


Relationship:

<Fill_relation>


Address:

<Fill_addr1>



<Fill_addr2>


City/Town:

<Fill_city>


State:

<Fill_state>


Zip:

<Fill_zip>


Telephone:

<Fill_phone>


E-mail:

<Fill_emailp>


□ All of the printed contact information above is correct and complete.


Second Parent’s Contact Information:

Corrections and Additions:

Name:

<Fill_name>


Relationship:

<Fill_relation>


□ All of the contact information below is the same as the first parent.

Address:

<Fill_addr1>



<Fill_addr2>


City/Town:

<Fill_city>


State:

<Fill_state>


Zip:

<Fill_zip>


Telephone:

<Fill_phone>


E-mail:

<Fill_emailp>


□ All of the printed contact information above is correct and complete.

Thank you for updating this information!

Contact Information Update Form—Parent


Education Longitudinal Study of 2002

Participant Contact Information Update

Instructions:

Please update the contact information printed below for your ELS:2002 participant, as well as the parent contact information on the other side (page 2) of this form.

  1. If all of the contact information printed below is correct and complete, please check the box to indicate all of this information is correct and complete.

  2. If any of the contact information printed below is not correct or complete:

    • Cross out any incorrect information printed below.

    • Write in the correct information in the spaces to the right of the incorrect information.

    • Use the spaces to the right to add any missing or incomplete information.

Please return this sheet in the envelope provided. If you prefer, you can update your contact information via the ELS:2002 website at https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/els or call toll-free 1-800-334-8571 ext. 27791 and leave this information in a voice-mail message.

Participant Contact Information:

Corrections and Additions:

Name:

<Fill_name>


Address:

<Fill_addr1>



<Fill_addr2>


City/Town:

<Fill_city>


State:

<Fill_state>


Zip:

<Fill_zip>


Home phone:

Telephone:

<Fill_phoneh>


Work phone:

<Fill_phonew>


Cell phone:

<Fill_phonec>


E-mail:

<Fill_email1>


Alt. E-mail:

<Fill_email2>


□ All of the printed contact information above is correct and complete.


Please see other side for parent contact information.


Education Longitudinal Study of 2002

Parent Contact Information Update

Instructions:

Please update the contact information for you and the other parent printed below.

  1. If all of the contact information printed below is correct and complete, please check the box at the end of each section to indicate all information is correct and complete.

  2. If the address, telephone, and e-mail information is the same for both parents, please check the box in the middle of the second section to indicate the information is the same as the first parent.

  3. If any of the printed contact information below is not correct or complete:

    • Cross out any incorrect information printed below.

    • Write in the correct information in the space to the right of the incorrect information.

    • Use the spaces to the right to add any missing or incomplete information.

Please return this sheet in the envelope provided. If you prefer, you can update your contact information via the ELS:2002 website at https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/els or call toll-free 1-800-334-8571 ext. 27791 and leave this information in a voice-mail message.

First Parent’s Contact Information:

Corrections and Additions:

Name:

<Fill_name>


Relationship:

<Fill_relation>


Address:

<Fill_addr1>



<Fill_addr2>


City/Town:

<Fill_city>


Telephone:

<Fill_phone>


State:

<Fill_state>


Zip:

<Fill_zip>


E-mail:

<Fill_email>


□ All of the printed contact information above is correct and complete.


Second Parent’s Contact Information:

Corrections and Additions:

Name:

<Fill_name>


Relationship:

<Fill_relation>


□ All of the contact information below is the same as the first parent.

Address:

<Fill_addr1>



<Fill_addr2>


City/Town:

<Fill_city>


State:

<Fill_state>


Zip:

<Fill_zip>


Telephone:

<Fill_phone>


E-mail:

<Fill_email>


□ All of the printed contact information above is correct and complete.

Thank you for updating this information!

Contact Information Update—Website Content


Entry web page (https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/els/):


Home

OMB Clearance No.: 1850-0652
Expiration Date: <date>
Burden Statement

Welcome to the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002) website!  We greatly appreciate your continued participation in this important United States Department of Education study. As you may recall, we contacted you for the third round of data collection for the study about this time four years ago.

If your contact information has changed, please take a moment to update it by clicking on the option "Update Your Contact Information" on the left side of this page or by calling <tollfreenumber> (toll-free) and leaving this information in a voicemail message.

If you need assistance, send an e-mail to els@rti.org or call the Help Desk number at <tollfreenumber> (toll free).

If you would like to learn more about the ELS:2002 study, we invite you to visit the other pages of this website.

Content under the Burden Statement link:

Burden Statement

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such a collection displays a valid OMB control number.  The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 1850-0652.  The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average under 5 minutes per response.  If you have any comments concerning the accuracy of the time estimate or suggestions for improving the collection, please write: U.S. Department of Education, Washington D.C. 20202-4537.  If you have comments or concerns regarding the status of your individual interview, write directly to: Education Longitudinal Study (ELS), National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20006-5652.

National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences
U.S. Department of Education
1990 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006 USA


Data Elements for Contact Information Update


Your Current Contact Information:

Name:


Address:


City/Town:


State:


Zip:


Home phone:

Telephone:


Work phone:


Cell phone:


E-mail:


Alt. E-mail:





Would you like us to send a text message on the cell phone you provide when data collection is about to begin? (Please note: standard text messaging rates apply.) Yes No

If yes, please give us the name of your cell phone service provider (e.g., AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, etc.) to ensure the message is sent to the correct carrier. Cell phone service provider: ______________________________________________

Second Parent’s Contact Information:

Name:


Relationship:


Address:


City/Town:


State:


Zip:


Telephone:


E-mail:


First Parent’s Contact Information:

Name:


Relationship: you


Address:


City/Town:


State:


Zip:


Telephone:


E-mail:




Text for the Brochure

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS


EDUCATION LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF 2002

THIRD FOLLOW-UP


The U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is conducting this national longitudinal research study of young adults who were enrolled in the 10th grade in the spring of 2001 or in the 12th grade in the spring of 2003. The Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002) looks at young adults’ plans and activities beyond high school, including work experiences and further schooling.

The third follow-up phase field test of the study is taking place in 2011, 10 years after the original survey in spring of 2001. This phase of ELS:2002 offers participants either a Web or a telephone interview. The Web survey will be available to participants starting in July 2011 at: https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/els/. Plans for the study also include collecting student transcripts, financial aid history, and associated information from institutions attended after high school and sources such as student loan databases and testing service agencies.

Q. Why is the study being conducted?

A. The goal of ELS:2002 is to better understand young adults’ experiences going from high school to further schooling or into the workforce as well as experiences over time in academic or employment pursuits. Because ELS:2002 follows the same individuals over time, it will provide a data base that will help researchers and educators examine a number of important issues such as:

  • What types of postsecondary degrees, certificates, and/or licenses are attained by which young adults?

  • What types of jobs do young adults hold? Do these jobs allow them to achieve economic stability and self-sufficiency?

  • Are young people getting the skills and capacities needed to make a smooth transition to adulthood?

  • What are their earnings, and assets and/or debts?

  • Which young adults enter into marriage and start families?

  • In what ways are young adults involved in community service and volunteer activities?

Researchers and educators can also use new data collected in conjunction with past data to examine questions such as:

  • What are the monetary and non-monetary gains to young adults from their investment in further education?

  • For those young adults who drop out of high school at some point, what factors are related to whether they return to complete high school or obtain an equivalency certificate?

Q. How was I selected for the study?

A. You and other young adults in the study were selected from an enrollment list at the school where they attended 10th grade in 2001 or 12th grade in 2003.

Q. I did not participate in the last round of ELS:2002 in 2005. Why am I being contacted again now?

A. We realize that some individuals who were selected for the study were not able to participate in prior rounds. Even though you did not participate in 2005, we would still like to have you take part in this round to give us a complete picture of the nation’s young adults as they enter or continue in the work force, go on to further schooling, and participate in the community.

Q. How long will the interview take?

A. About 35 minutes, depending on your recent experiences and how much you have to say about them.

Q. How do I complete the interview on the Web?

A. Once the interview is available starting in July 2011, you can access it by logging on to the ELS:2002 website at https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/els/, where you will see an option on the left side of the screen “Login to the Interview.” Click on this option and enter your Study ID and password that are provided on the letter you received. Please be sure to enter your password exactly as it appears on the letter.

Q. How will the information I provide on the Web remain private?

A. All information entered through the ELS:2002 website requires users to log in with the matching study ID and unique password assigned to each person. The information you provide will be secured behind firewalls and will be encrypted during Internet transmission using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol to ensure the privacy of your answers.

Q. Do I have to complete the interview on the Web?

A. No. The Web survey is offered to make participation easier for those individuals who have Internet access and would prefer to complete the interview on their own. If you would like to complete the interview by phone, you can call toll-free <tollfreenumber>.

Q. Do I have to participate?

A. Participation in ELS:2002 is entirely voluntary, but the participation of every person in the sample is important to ensure the completeness and accuracy of results. Obtaining valid results depends upon a high response rate.

Q. Will my responses be kept confidential?

A. Yes. Your answers may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law [Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002) Public Law 107-279, Section 183].

Q. Who is collecting the data?

A. Research Triangle Institute (RTI), a university-affiliated non-profit research organization in North Carolina, is conducting the study for NCES.

Q. When will the data for the study be collected?

A. We will collect interview data from July 2011 through December 2011.

Q. Whom may I contact for further information about ELS?

A. For more information, you may contact Tiffany Mattox at Research Triangle Institute toll-free at <tollfreenumber> or send an e-mail message to els@rti.org.

You can also simply visit the ELS website at: https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/els/ for additional information or to complete an interview once data collection begins.

Sample Member Lead Letter

<date>

<stu_name >
<stu_addr1>
<stu_addr2>
<stu_city> <stu_state> <stu_zip>

Dear <stu_name>:

Thank you for your ongoing participation in the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002). Your participation, and the participation of other young adults like you, has made ELS:2002 a great success so far and has provided valuable data about young peoples’ experiences in and out of school. As you may recall, ELS:2002 follows the same set of over 15,000 young adults as they go from high school onto further schooling or into the workforce.

We are now asking you and all other young adults who participated in prior rounds of the study to complete another interview about work experiences, further schooling, and other activities since we last talked to you. The interview will take about 35 minutes to complete. Starting in July, 2011 you will be able to complete the interview through the ELS:2002 website. We will provide <Incentive> to you as a token of our appreciation if you complete the interview by <Date>.

To complete the interview through the ELS:2002 website:

  1. Go to https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/els

  2. On the left side of the page, click on “Login to the Interview”

  3. At the login and password prompts, enter your study ID and password from the lower right corner of this letter

  4. Click “Login” or press “Enter” to begin the interview

The enclosed brochure answers many common questions about the study and contains additional information on laws and procedures that protect the confidentiality of your responses. ELS:2002 is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). NCES is required to follow strict procedures to protect the confidentiality of persons in the collection, reporting, and publication of data. Your answers may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law [Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002) Public Law 107-279, Section 183]. Data will be combined to produce statistical reports for Congress and nationwide distribution.

Research Triangle Institute (RTI) of North Carolina is conducting this study for the U.S. Department of Education. If you have any questions about ELS:2002 or your participation in the study, please call Tiffany Mattox at RTI using the toll-free number <toll-free number>. You can also send an e-mail message to els@rti.org. If you have any questions about your rights as a study participant, you can call RTI’s Office of Research Protection toll-free at 1-866-214-2043.

Your participation in ELS:2002 is voluntary. There is no penalty if you decide not to participate. However, your participation is very important because you represent many other young adults who were not selected to take part. You may skip any question you do not want to answer. There are no risks to you from taking part in the study. Results of this study may help all young adults in the future.

We greatly appreciate your continued participation in this important research!

S

Go to https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/els

Your study ID: <caseid>

Your password: <password>

incerely,

Jeffrey Owings, Ph.D.
Associate Commissioner, Elementary/Secondary & Libraries Studies
National Center for Education Statistics

How to Complete the
ELS:2002 Interview


To complete the Web self-interview:

  1. Go to: https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/els

  2. Click on “Login to the Interview” on the left side of the page

  3. At the Study ID and Password prompts, enter your information from the box in the lower right corner of the enclosed letter

  4. Click “Login” or press “Enter” to begin the interview

To avoid problems logging in to the interview, please make sure you enter your password exactly as it appears on the enclosed letter. If you are using a pop-up blocker you will need to temporarily disable it to access the survey. Also, make sure that the “CAPS lock” key on your computer is not pressed. If you need assistance in completing the Web interview or if you would like to complete the interview over the phone, please call our Help Desk toll-free at <tollfreenumber> for assistance.


You may complete the ELS:2002 interview on the website at any time during the current data collection period. Soon, we will also begin calling study participants to see if they would like to complete the interview over the phone.


For more information about ELS:2002 visit our website at:

https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/els



NOTE: The study has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number of this information collection is 1850-0652 and it is completely voluntary. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average around 35 minutes per response. If you have any comments concerning the accuracy of the time estimate or suggestions for improving the interview, please write to: U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC 20202-4537. If you have comments or concerns regarding the status of your individual interview, write directly to: Education Longitudinal Study (ELS), National Center for Education Statistics, 1990 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20006.

Parent Lead Letter

<date>

<par_panel>

<par1_name>
<par1_addr1>
<par1_addr2>
<par1_city> <par1_state> <par1_zip>

Dear ELS:2002 Parent:

Thank you for your ongoing support of the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002). As you may recall, ELS:2002 is sponsored by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) of the U.S. Department of Education. The participation of your young adult has helped to make ELS:2002 a great success so far and has provided valuable data about young adults’ experiences in and out of school.

We are now asking your young adult and all other young adults who have participated in prior rounds of ELS:2002 to complete another interview about work experiences, further schooling, and other activities since we last talked with them. The interview will take about 35 minutes to complete. Starting in July, 2011, your young adult will be able to complete the interview through the ELS:2002 website. He or she has been sent a letter with instructions on how to login to the interview. We will provide him/her <Incentive> as a token of our appreciation if he/she completes the interview by <Date>. If he/she has not received the letter, we ask that you please pass the study website https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/els and toll-free number <tollfreenumber> on to him/her.

The enclosed brochure answers many common questions about the study and contains additional information on laws and procedures that protect the confidentiality of participants’ responses. ELS:2002 is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). NCES is required to follow strict procedures to protect the confidentiality of persons in the collection, reporting, and publication of data. Your answers may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law [Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002) Public Law 107-279, Section 183]. Data will be combined to produce statistical reports for Congress and nationwide distribution.

Research Triangle Institute (RTI) of North Carolina is conducting ELS:2002 for the U.S. Department of Education. If you have any questions about the study or your young adult’s participation in the study, please call Tiffany Mattox at RTI using the toll-free number <tollfreenumber>. You can also send an e-mail message to els@rti.org. If you or your young adult has any questions about their rights as a study participant, you can call RTI’s Office of Research Protection toll-free at 1-866-214-2043.

Your young adult’s participation in ELS:2002 is voluntary. There is no penalty if your young adult decides not to participate. However, your young adult’s participation is very important because they represent many other young adults who were not selected to take part. Your young adult may skip any question they do not want to answer. There are no risks or direct benefits to your young adult from taking part in the study. Results of ELS:2002 may help all young adults in the future.

We greatly appreciate your continued support of this important research!

Sincerely,

Jeffrey Owings, Ph.D.
Associate Commissioner, Elementary/Secondary & Libraries Studies
National Center for Education Statistics

Reminder Letter


<date>


«fname» «mname» «lname» «suffix» Study ID: «caseid»

«addr1» «panelinfo»

«addr2»

«city», «state» «zip» «zip4»


Dear «fname» «lname»:

I am writing to ask that you take a few moments to complete your interview for the Third Follow-up of the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002), sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). It takes, on average, only 35 minutes, and with your participation, you will be helping researchers and policymakers better understand the experiences of young adults during and after high school including plans for the future, work experiences, and further schooling. You will receive a $«IncAmt» check as a token of our appreciation for the time you take to complete the interview.

You can complete the interview on our secure website, https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/els/, using your unique Study ID number and password provided below:

Study ID number = [CASEID]

Password = [PASSWORD]x

The password is case sensitive, so be sure to enter it exactly as it appears above. If you are using a pop-up blocker, you will need to temporarily disable it to access the interview before logging in to complete the interview.

Alternatively, you may complete the interview with one of our professional telephone interviewers by calling us at <tollfreenumber> (toll-free).

Your answers may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law [Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002) Public Law 107-279, Section 183]. You can learn more about the study by visiting our website at https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/els/. If you have any questions or concerns about the study or your interview, please do not hesitate to contact me toll-free at <tollfreenumber> (e‑mail: djp@rti.org), or the NCES Project Officer, John Wirt, at 1-202-502-7478 (e-mail: john.wirt@ed.gov).

Thank you for helping to make ELS:2002 a success!



Sincerely,

Dan Pratt

Project Director

RTI International


Refusal/Hard to Reach Letter



<date>


«fname» «mname» «lname» «suffix» Study ID: «caseid»

«addr1» «panelinfo»

«addr2»

«city», «state» «zip» «zip4»


Dear «fname» «lname»:

On behalf of the U.S. Department of Education, I am writing to ask for your participation in the Third Follow-up of the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002). It is vitally important we obtain updated information on all sample members each time that data are collected for the data to be accurate and remain nationally representative of all high school sophomores and seniors in the original study sample. Also, your response to our survey is extremely valuable because you will be acting on behalf of all those young adults like you who were not chosen to participate. The interview itself covers topics such as your experience in the workforce, earnings and expenses, and family life.

On average, the interview takes about 35 minutes to complete. You will receive a $«IncAmt» check as a token of our appreciation for the time you take to complete the interview.

Please call us toll-free at <tollfreenumber> to complete a telephone interview. If you wish to complete the interview yourself over our secure website, log on to https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/els/.

You will need the Study ID and password provided below to access the web interview. The password is case sensitive; you will need to enter it exactly as it appears here.

Study ID = «caseid»

Password = «password»

Be assured that all of your answers will be kept confidential and will be protected to the fullest extent allowable under law.

You can learn more about the study by visiting our website at https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/els/. If you have any questions or concerns about the study or your interview, please do not hesitate to contact me toll-free at <tollfreenumber> (e‑mail: djp@rti.org), or the NCES Project Officer, John Wirt, at 1-202-502-7478 (e-mail: john.wirt@ed.gov).

Thank you in advance for your participation in this important study. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.



Sincerely,

Dan Pratt John Wirt

Project Director NCES Project Officer

RTI International National Center for Education Statistics

U.S. Department of Education


Enclosure


Final Contact Letter

<date>


«fname» «mname» «lname» «suffix» Study ID: «caseid»

«addr1» «panelinfo»

«addr2»

«city», «state» «zip» «zip4»


Dear «fname» «lname»:

You may be wondering why we have been trying to contact you in recent weeks. We would like you to complete a follow-up interview for the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences. The Education Longitudinal Study (ELS:2002) collects information the experiences of young adults during and after high school including work experiences, college experiences, and family life. It is vitally important we obtain updated information on all sample members each time that data are collected for the data to be accurate and remain nationally representative of all high school sophomores and seniors in the original study sample. Also, your response to our survey is extremely valuable because you will be acting on behalf of all those young adults like you who were not chosen to participate.

Our final date of data collection is «date». If you complete the interview by then, you will receive a $«IncAmt» as a token of our appreciation. The interview takes approximately 35 minutes to complete.

To complete the interview by telephone with a professional interviewer, call the Help Desk toll-free at <tollfreenumber>. If you wish to complete the interview yourself on the Web, simply log on to our secure website at https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/els/ using the Study ID and password provided below. The password is case sensitive; you will need to enter it exactly as it appears here.

Study ID = «caseid»

Password = «password»

Your answers may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law [Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002) Public Law 107-279, Section 183]. You can learn more about the study by visiting our website at https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/els/. If you have any questions or concerns about the study itself, please contact the Project Director, Dan Pratt, toll-free, at <phonenumber> (e‑mail: djp@rti.org) or contact me at 202-502-7478 (e-mail: john.wirt@ed.gov).

Thank you in advance for your participation in this important study. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated and needed to make this study a success.

Sincerely,


John Wirt

NCES Project Officer

National Center for Education Statistics

U.S. Department of Education


Enclosure


Letter Was Requested by Sample Member


<date>


«fname» «mname» «lname» «suffix» «caseid» (Study ID number)

«addr1» «panelinfo» (Address ID)

«addr2»

«city», «state» «zip» «zip4»


Dear «fname» «lname»:

Per your request, we are providing you with more information on the Third Follow-up of the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 that is now being conducted. Data from this important study will help researchers better understand the experiences of young adults during and after high school including plans for the future, work experiences, and further schooling. Enclosed you will find a brochure with a brief description of ELS:2002.

To make the interview process as easy as possible for you, you may either complete the interview on the Web or over the telephone with one of our professionally trained interviewers. The interview takes about 35 minutes. [If early response period: If you complete the interview by <date>, otherwise: Once you complete the interview], you will receive a $«IncAmt» check as a token of our appreciation.

Please call us toll-free at <tollfreenumber> to complete a telephone interview, or if you wish to complete the interview yourself on our secure website, log on to https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/els/. You will need the study ID number and password provided below to access the web interview. The password is case sensitive; you will need to enter it exactly as it appears here.

Study ID number = «caseid»

Password = «password»n

Please be assured that your answers will be kept confidential and protected to the fullest extent allowable under law.

You can learn more about the study by visiting our website at https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/els/. Do not hesitate to contact me directly at <phone number> (toll-free), or by e-mail at djp@rti.org, so I can provide any additional information about the study or your interview.

Thank you in advance for your participation in this important study. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.


Sincerely,

Dan Pratt

Project Director

RTI International

Enclosures    



Incentive/Thank You Letter






<Date>



Dear ELS:2002 Study Participant:


As a token of our appreciation of your assistance with the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002), enclosed is a check for you. Your participation, and the participation of other young adults like you, has made ELS:2002 a great success and has provided valuable data about young peoples’ experiences in and out of school.


Thank you for your assistance!


Sincerely,


Dan Pratt

Project Director

RTI International



Thank You/Reminder Postcard (Folded and Sealed)


<NCES logo>

National Center for Education Statistics



PO Box 12194

Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2194

RTI Project #<project number>


ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED


«fname» «mname» «lname» «suffix»

«addr1»

«addr2»

«city», «state» «zip» «zip4»


12345678/


<ELS logo>

Education

Longitudinal

Study of 2002


Recently, we sent you information on how to complete the interview for the Third Follow-up of the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002). RTI International is conducting this study for the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences. If you have already completed the interview, we would like to thank you. Your assistance is very much appreciated.


If you have not yet completed your interview, we would like to remind you that if you complete the interview by «date», you will receive $«IncAmt» as a token of our appreciation. To complete a web interview over our secure website, log on to https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/els/.


If you have any questions or problems completing your web interview or would like to complete the interview over the telephone with a professionally trained interviewer, please contact the Help Desk at <tollfreenumber>.

Thank you.
Last Contact Postcard (Folded and Sealed)




<NCES logo>

National Center for Education Statistics



PO Box 12194

Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2194

RTI Project #<project number>


ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED


«fname» «mname» «lname» «suffix»

«addr1»

«addr2»

«city», «state» «zip» «zip4»


12345678/





What have you been doing since high school?


An important study wants to know.




www.ed.gov ies.ed.gov


Email 1: Your Interview


Dear [FIRSTNAME],


I would like to encourage you to complete your interview for the Third Follow-up of the Education Longitudinal Study (ELS:2002). ELS:2002 is sponsored by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in the U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences. Its main purpose is to help researchers better understand the experiences of young adults during and after high school including plans for the future, work experiences, and further schooling.


If you complete your ELS:2002 interview by [WEB_INC_DATE], you will receive a $[INCAMT] check as a token of our appreciation.


To access the interview online or to obtain more information, please visit our secure website at https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/els/. To log in to the interview, use the Study ID and password listed below. The password is case sensitive; please enter it exactly as it appears here.


Study ID = [CASEID]

Password = [PASSWORD]a


Your answers may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law [Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002) Public Law 107-279, Section 183].


If you encounter problems completing your interview online, simply call the Help Desk at <tollfreenumber>. If you have any questions or concerns about the study, please contact me toll-free at <phonenumber> (e-mail: djp@rti.org), or the NCES Project Officer, John Wirt, at 1-202-502-7478 (e-mail: john.wirt@ed.gov).


Thank you in advance for helping to make ELS:2002 a success.


Sincerely,


Dan Pratt

ELS:2002 Project Director


Email 2: Don’t Forget Interview




Dear [FIRSTNAME],


We would like to remind you that the early response period for the Third Follow-up of the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002) is drawing to a close. I hope that you will participate in the study soon.


If you complete your interview by [WEB_INC_DATE], you will receive a $[INCAMT] check as a token of our appreciation.


To access the online interview, go to https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/els/, and log in using the Study ID and password listed below. The password is case sensitive; please enter it exactly as it appears here.


Study ID = [CASEID]

Password = [PASSWORD]b


If you need help accessing the online interview, or if you prefer to complete the interview by telephone, please call our Help Desk toll-free at <tollfreenumber>.


RTI International is conducting this study for the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in the U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences. You can learn more about the study by visiting our website at https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/els/. If you have any questions or concerns about the study, please contact me toll-free at <phonenumber> (e-mail: djp@rti.org), or the NCES Project Officer, John Wirt, at 1-202-502-7478 (e-mail: john.wirt@ed.gov).


Thank you in advance for your participation in this very important study.


Sincerely,


Dan Pratt

ELS:2002 Project Director


Email 3: We Need Your Participation




Dear [FIRSTNAME] [LASTNAME],


I am writing to ask that you take a few moments to complete your interview for the Third Follow-up of the Education Longitudinal Study (ELS:2002), sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). It takes, on average, only 35 minutes, and with your participation, you will be helping researchers and policymakers better understand the experiences of young adults during and after high school including plans for the future, work experiences, and further schooling.


You can complete the interview on our secure website, https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/els/, using your unique Study ID number and password provided below:

Study ID number = [CASEID]

Password = [PASSWORD]k


The password is case sensitive, so be sure to enter it exactly as it appears above. If you are using a pop-up blocker, you will need to temporarily disable it to access the interview before logging in to complete the interview.


Alternatively, you may complete the interview with one of our professional telephone interviewers by calling us at <tollfreenumber> (toll-free).


Your answers may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law [Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002) Public Law 107-279, Section 183]. You can learn more about the study by visiting our website at https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/els/. If you have questions or problems completing your interview, simply call the Help Desk at <tollfreenumber> or reply to this e-mail.


Thank you for helping to make ELS:2002 a success!


Sincerely,


Dan Pratt

ELS:2002 Project Director


Email 4: Data Collection Continues



Dear [FIRSTNAME] [LASTNAME],


This summer, you may have received information about the U.S. Department of Education's Third Follow-up of the Education Longitudinal Study (ELS:2002). We would like to inform you that data collection is continuing for ELS:2002, and your participation is critical to the study's success.


To access the online interview or to learn more about the study, please visit our secure website at https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/els/. To log in to the online interview, use the study ID and password provided below.


The password is case sensitive; please enter it exactly as it appears here.


Study ID = [CASEID]

Password = [PASSWORD]f


If you have questions or problems completing your interview online, or if you prefer to complete the interview over the telephone, please call the Help Desk at <tollfreenumber>.


Your participation is voluntary. To ensure confidentiality, your responses will be secured behind firewalls and will be encrypted during internet transmission. Federal law requires that we protect your privacy. Your answers may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law [Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002) Public Law 107-279, Section 183].


RTI International is conducting this study for the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in the U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences. If you have any questions or concerns about the study, please contact me toll-free at <phonenumber> (e-mail: djp@rti.org), or the NCES Project Officer, John Wirt, at 1-202-502-7478 (e-mail: john.wirt@ed.gov).


Thank you in advance for your participation in this very important study.


Sincerely,


Dan Pratt

ELS:2002 Project Director



Email 5: Don’t Delay



Dear [FIRSTNAME],


Young adults face many challenging decisions about further education, beginning a career, and starting a family. The main purpose of the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002) is to help researchers better understand the experiences of young adults during and after high school including plans for the future, work experiences, and further schooling. It is vitally important we obtain updated information on all sample members each time that data are collected for the data to be accurate and remain nationally representative of all high school sophomores and seniors in the original study sample. Also, your response to our survey is extremely valuable because you will be acting on behalf of all those young adults like you who were not chosen to participate.


After you complete the ELS:2002 Third Follow-up interview, we will send a $[INCAMT] check as a token of our appreciation. The interview will take, on average, approximately 35 minutes to complete. You can access the interview by logging on to our secure website at https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/els/ using the study ID number and password provided below. The password is case sensitive; you will need to enter it exactly as it appears here.


Study ID = [CASEID]

Password = [PASSWORD]2


We are required by federal law to protect your privacy. All information you provide, including your interview responses and contact information, is completely confidential and can be used only for research purposes (Public Law 107-279).


You can learn more about the study by visiting our website at https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/els/. If you have questions, problems completing your interview online, or would prefer to complete the interview over the telephone, simply call the help desk toll-free at <tollfreenumber>.


Thank you in advance for participating in the ELS:2002 Third Follow-up.


Dan Pratt

ELS:2002 Project Director


Email 6: Your Participation is Important



Dear [FIRSTNAME],


You may be wondering why we keep contacting you about the Third Follow-up of the Education Longitudinal Study (ELS:2002) and why your participation is so important. It is vitally important we obtain updated information on all sample members each time that data are collected for the data to be accurate and remain nationally representative of all high school sophomores and seniors in the original study sample. Also, your response to our survey is extremely valuable because you will be acting on behalf of all those young adults like you who were not chosen to participate.


The interview will take, on average, only 35 minutes of your time, and when completed, we will send you a $[INCAMT] check as a token of our appreciation.


Please access the interview by logging on to our secure website at https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/els/ using the Study ID number and password provided below. The password is case sensitive; you will need to enter it exactly as it appears here.


Study ID = [CASEID]

Password = [PASSWORD]q


All information that you provide, including your interview responses and all contact information, is completely confidential and can be used only for research purposes. Federal laws require that we protect your privacy.


You can learn more about the study by visiting our website at https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/els/. If you have questions, problems completing your interview online, or prefer to complete the interview over the telephone, simply call the Help Desk toll-free at <tollfreenumber>.


Thank you in advance for making the ELS:2002 Third Follow-up a success.


Dan Pratt

ELS:2002 Project Director



Email Was Requested by Sample Member




Dear <FNAME>,

Per your request, we are providing you with more information on the Third Follow-up of the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 that is now being conducted. Data from this important study will help researchers better understand the experiences of young adults during and after high school including plans for the future, work experiences, and further schooling.

To make the interview process as easy as possible for you, you may either complete the interview on the Web or over the telephone with one of our professionally trained interviewers. [If early response period: If you complete the interview by <date>, otherwise: Once you complete the interview], you will receive a $<INCAMT> check as a token of our appreciation.

Please call us toll-free at <tollfreenumber> to complete a telephone interview, or if you wish to complete the interview yourself on our secure website, log on to https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/els/. You will need the study ID number and password provided below to access the web interview. The password is case sensitive; you will need to enter it exactly as it appears here.

Study ID number = <CASEID>

Password = <PASSWORD>c

Please be assured that your answers will be kept confidential and protected to the fullest extent allowable under law.

You can learn more about the study by visiting our website at https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/els/. Also, do not hesitate to contact me directly at <phonenumber> (toll-free), or by e-mail at djp@rti.org, so I can provide any additional information about the study or your interview.

Thank you in advance for your participation in this important study. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.


Sincerely,

Dan Pratt

ELS:2002 Project Director


Email from John Wirt


Dear [FIRSTNAME],


By now I’m sure that you’ve heard from us many times, but I am writing you as a last effort requesting your participation in the U.S. Department of Education’s Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 Third Follow-up. It is vitally important we obtain updated information on all sample members each time that data are collected for the data to be accurate and remain nationally representative of all high school sophomores and seniors in the original study sample. Also, your response to our survey is extremely valuable because you will be acting on behalf of all those young adults like you who were not chosen to participate.


The important details are as follows:

• 35 min. (approx.) survey on topics such as work experiences, college experiences, and starting a

family.

• Deadline to complete is 11:59 PM on <date>.

• $[INCAMT] check in the mail if you complete the survey.

• Survey website: https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/els/ (secure).

• Your Study ID is [CASEID]

• Your password is [PASSWORD] (case-specific).

• Alternatively, you can complete the survey over the phone: <tollfreenumber>.


For more information on the study, please visit our information site at https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/els/about.aspx; the study website at https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/els/; or contact me directly (details below).


Thank you for your assistance. I look forward to receiving your completed survey.


Sincerely,



John Wirt

Project Officer

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

Tel: (202) 502-7478

E-mail: John.Wirt@ed.gov

Address: 1990 K Street NW

Washington, DC 20006

Informed Consent Text for All Survey Modes


Recently, we sent you material about a study that you have participated in for the U.S. Department of Education about experiences of students during and after high school.  The material explains that your participation in the current interview is critical to the study’s success and as a token of our appreciation you will receive a <incentive amount> check once you complete the survey.  Have you had a chance to read the material? 


If sample member received the cover letter and brochure:


“As mentioned in the letter, you previously participated in ELS:2002 with other students across the country who were selected from 10th-grade classes in 2001 or 12th-grade classes in 2003. This survey is part of an education research study sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. The purpose of ELS:2002 is to provide information that will be used to improve the quality of education in America. The interview will ask questions about your further schooling and work experiences. On average, it takes about 35 minutes to complete, depending on your responses.


Participation is voluntary. Your answers may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law [Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002) Public Law 107-279, Section 183]. You may withdraw from the study at any point. However, your answers are very important because they represent many others who were not selected to take part. You may skip any question that you don’t want to answer. {IF CATI: May we begin the interview now?}”


(If you have any questions about ELS or your participation in the survey, please call Tiffany Mattox at RTI, toll-free, at <toll free number>. If you have questions about your rights as a study participant, you may call RTI’s Office for Research Protection, toll-free, at 1-866-214-2043).”


If sample member did not receive the cover letter and brochure:


“We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected to participate in the next phase of the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002), a research study sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. The purpose of ELS:2002 is to provide information that will be used to improve the quality of education in America. About 16,000 young adults across the nation are part of this study. We thank you for taking part in a prior round of ELS:2002.


On average, the interview takes 35 about minutes to complete, depending on your responses {IF CATI: and may be monitored or recorded for quality assurance purposes}.You will be asked questions about work experiences, further schooling, and other activities since we last talked to you. In addition to your survey responses, we plan to collect student transcripts, financial aid history, and associated information from institutions attended after high school and sources such as student loan databases and testing service agencies. Participation is voluntary. Your answers may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law [Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002) Public Law 107-279, Section 183]. You may withdraw from the study at any point. However, your answers are very important because they represent many others who were not selected to take part. You may skip any question that you don’t want to answer. {IF CATI: May we begin the interview now?}”


(If you have any questions about ELS or your participation in the survey, please call Tiffany Mattox at RTI, toll-free, at <toll free number>. If you have questions about your rights as a study participant, you may call RTI’s Office for Research Protection, toll-free, at 1-866-214-2043).”


{IF WEB: To review the information that we sent on line, or to request that the materials be resent to you, click on the appropriate button below.


___ Review information online

___ Request that materials be resent


Please indicate your agreement to participate by clicking the appropriate button below.


___ I agree to participate

___ I decline to participate}








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File TitleAppendix 6
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Last Modified By#Administrator
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