Overview
Title
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Private School Universe Survey (PSS) 2025-26 and 2027-28 Data Collections, and 2027-28 PSS Frame Development Activities
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The Department of Education wants to check on private schools in the country by asking questions about how many schools, teachers, and students there are, and they're asking people for ideas on how to make this better. They're hoping people can tell them if this is really needed and how they might make it easier without being too much work.
Summary AI
The Department of Education, through the Institute of Educational Sciences, is proposing changes to the information collection for the Private School Universe Survey (PSS) covering the years 2025-26 and 2027-28. This survey collects data on private elementary and secondary schools, including the number of schools, teachers, and students. They invite public comments on issues like the necessity of this collection, its accuracy, and how the process might be improved. Comments are open until January 16, 2025, and all submissions will be public records.
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Department is proposing a revision of a currently approved information collection request (ICR).
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document under review is a formal notice from the U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Educational Sciences regarding proposed revisions to the Private School Universe Survey (PSS) for the 2025-26 and 2027-28 data collections. It invites public comment on the necessity, accuracy, and efficiency of this data gathering effort. Responses are being solicited from individuals or households until January 16, 2025. This is part of the Department's compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, which aims to minimize the paperwork burden on the public.
Summary of the Document
The document outlines the department's plan to gather information from private elementary and secondary schools across the United States. It aims to collect essential data about the number of schools, teachers, and students, creating a comprehensive database or "universe frame" that serves as a key resource for other surveys conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
Significant Issues and Concerns
Several issues arise from this notice:
Lack of Cost Details: The document does not specify the financial implications of conducting the survey. This information could provide transparency regarding potential expenditure and aid in the evaluation of cost-effectiveness.
Technical Language: Terms like "universe frame" and "sampling frame" might not be easily understood by those unfamiliar with statistical jargon. This could hinder public comprehension and participation in the feedback process.
Estimation Transparency: Although the document offers estimates on the number of responses and burden hours, it fails to explain the calculations behind these figures. More detailed information would enable better scrutiny and reliability checks.
Guidance for Public Comment: While the document seeks public input, it does not provide specific guidance on how respondents can meaningfully evaluate or suggest improvements, particularly concerning the role of technology in reducing respondent burden.
Privacy Considerations: The notice does not address how data privacy will be managed, a critical concern when collecting information from individuals or households.
Public Impact
Broadly, this document impacts the public by recognizing the importance of having comprehensive data on the private school sector, which can influence educational policy making. Data collected can aid in understanding demographic and staffing trends and inform decision-making processes regarding education programs and resources.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Positive Impact:
- Educational Researchers and Policymakers: Access to a well-curated dataset supports informed decision-making and policy development, likely benefiting educational strategies at national and local levels.
Negative Impact:
- Private Schools and Households: Schools and individuals involved in the survey may find participating time-consuming, especially without clear guidance on minimizing this burden or understanding privacy safeguards.
The document serves as an invitation to stakeholders, particularly those involved in or affected by private education, to voice their opinions on how such data collection tasks should be approached, aiming to optimize both the process and the resulting data's utility. The underlying aim is to ensure efficiency and necessity while limiting any undue burden on respondents.
Issues
• The document does not provide specific details regarding the cost or budget associated with conducting the Private School Universe Survey (PSS), which could be necessary to assess potential wasteful spending.
• The abstract section uses terms such as 'universe frame' and 'sampling frame,' which may not be clear to individuals unfamiliar with statistical survey methodologies.
• Although the document mentions the estimated number of annual responses and burden hours, it does not explain how these estimates were calculated, which could help in assessing their accuracy.
• While soliciting public comment, the document could provide more detailed examples to guide respondents on how to evaluate issues such as the necessity of the collection and how to minimize respondents' burden through IT use.
• The document lacks any mention or consideration of privacy concerns related to the collection of data from individuals or households.