Overview
Title
Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; NAEP 2021 School Survey
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The Department of Education wants to check how schools are teaching kids during COVID-19 times—like if they are learning at home or in school—by asking this through a big survey. They want to do it quickly, so they're asking for special permission to skip some usual rules, but some people are worried it might not follow all the privacy and fairness rules.
Summary AI
The Department of Education is asking for emergency approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to collect data on schools as part of the NAEP 2021 School Survey. This survey is essential to understanding the impact of COVID-19 on students and teachers, including how they are learning—whether remotely, in-person, or through a mix of both. The information will be broken down by student characteristics like race, disability, and income status. The public can share their thoughts on this data collection until March 19, 2021.
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is requesting the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to conduct an emergency review of an information collection.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
In reviewing the document from the Federal Register, it is evident that the Department of Education is seeking an expedited approval process from the Office of Management and Budget. This urgent review is for the NAEP 2021 School Survey, an initiative aimed at capturing essential data regarding the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on students and teachers. The focus is on understanding how learning is being conducted across the nation—whether remotely, in-person, or through hybrid models—and disaggregating this data by various student demographics such as race and income status.
General Summary
This notice outlines a request for emergency authorization to conduct a school survey in 2021 as part of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The Department of Education aims to gather comprehensive data on the status of student learning environments during the pandemic, broken down by critical demographic factors. The survey will provide insights into the varying educational experiences of students, which will eventually inform policy and decision-making processes.
Significant Issues and Concerns
The notice raises several potential issues:
Expedited Review Process: One of the primary concerns is the use of an expedited, emergency review process, possibly bypassing some standard checks and balances. This accelerated timeline might lead to oversight or inadequate compliance with existing regulations, which demands careful examination.
Privacy Considerations: Collecting data on sensitive topics such as student demographics and income status can lead to privacy concerns. There needs to be clear communication and strict guidelines about how this data will be handled and protected to maintain the trust of respondents.
Burden on Respondents: The document estimates a significant burden—18,016 hours for over 36,000 responses—which may suggest that the data collection process is complex or onerous. Clarity on why these estimates are so high would provide reassurance that the data collection is as efficient as possible.
Standardization of Complex Data: Given the varied instructional environments documented (remote, in-person, hybrid), standardizing this data for reporting purposes could be challenging. Without clear guidelines, there is a risk of inconsistencies in how data is gathered and reported.
Public Comments and Transparency: While the document specifies that public comments will be considered public records, it does not detail how those comments will be addressed. Ensuring transparency in how feedback is incorporated or resolved is crucial.
Impacts on the Public
The outcomes of this survey can significantly influence educational policy and resource allocation, affecting millions of students nationwide. By understanding how different demographics are experiencing education during the pandemic, authorities can tailor interventions to ensure equity and effectiveness.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Educators and School Administrators: This survey can provide invaluable feedback for educators and administrators, illuminating areas where support or changes are necessary. However, the data collection process may add administrative burden.
Students and Families: Detailed insights into educational experiences can help identify disparities, leading to targeted support where it is most needed. Privacy concerns, however, must be alleviated to maintain trust among families.
Policymakers: For policymakers, the survey data is critical to crafting informed strategies and policies that address the educational challenges posed by the pandemic, potentially leading to more effective interventions.
Overall, while the NAEP 2021 School Survey presents opportunities to improve educational understanding and policy, it must navigate challenges around privacy, standardization, and potential burdens on respondents carefully. Transparency and clear communication with the public will be essential in legitimizing this effort and ensuring its success.
Issues
• The document mentions an 'emergency review' and 'emergency processing', which could indicate rushed processes that bypass some standard protocols or checks. This might need further scrutiny to ensure it aligns with regulations.
• The estimated burden hours and responses are high (18,016 hours for 36,030 responses), which could be seen as burdensome. Additional clarification on how these numbers were estimated would be useful to assess potential waste.
• The collection of data on student demographics, including 'free or reduced lunch status or other appropriate indicators of family income,' is mentioned but might raise privacy concerns or require clear guidelines for data handling and protection.
• There is mention of compliance with an Executive Order from January 21, 2021. It would be helpful to have more clarity on how exactly this executive order influences the specific goals and deadlines of the project.
• The document references utilizing a mixture of in-person, remote, and hybrid instructional data from schools, but it does not specify how this complex data will be standardized for reporting purposes. This could lead to inconsistencies in the data collected.
• The document mentions that written comments received will be considered public records but does not mention the process for resolving potential public concerns or comments, which could be an issue of transparency.