[Federal Register: April 11, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 70)]
[Notices]
[Page 17815]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11ap03-61]
[[Page 17815]]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request
Proposed Projects: Title: Implementation of the Head Start National
Reporting System on Child Outcomes.
OMB No.: New collection.
Description: The Administration on Children, Youth and Families
(ACYF), Administration for Children and Families (ACF) of the
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is requesting comments
on plans to implement the Head Start National Reporting System on Child
Outcomes. This implementation is being conducted to collect child
outcomes information that will be used to enhance Head Start program
quality and accountability.
The Head Start National Reporting System (HSNRS) has three major
goals. First, the HSNRS will provide teachers and local programs with
additional information regarding child progress by reporting on how
children are doing at the beginning and end of the program in a limited
number of areas. Second, the HSNRS will create a new national system of
data on child outcomes from every local Head Start agency for use in
planning targeted training and technical assistance services to
strengthen program effectiveness. Third, the HSNRS child outcomes
information will be used within Head Start Bureau monitoring of local
Head Start agencies, to strengthen program accountability for outcomes.
This effort will ensure that every Head Start program will assess
in a consistent fashion the progress made by every child in a limited
set of early literacy, language, and numeracy skills. All Head Start
children who are 4 years old or older will be administered a direct
child assessment twice a year, the data analyzed, and the findings
reported to the Head Start Bureau, ACF Regional Offices and local Head
Start agencies. The HSNRS assessment is designed to create aggregate
data on the progress of groups of children at the center and program
levels. It is not designed to report on the school readiness of
individual Head Start children.
Respondents: Head Start children and Head Start staff.
Annual Burden Estimates: Estimated Response Burden for Respondents
to the Full National Implementation of the Head Start National
Reporting System on Child Outcomes.
Estimated Annual Response Burden for Respondents To Implement the Head Start National Reporting System on Child
Outcomes
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Number of Average burden
Respondents and activities Number of responses per hours per Total burden
respondents respondent response hours
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Head Start Children: Complete Direct Assessments 500,000 2 \1/3\ 333,333
Head Start Staff: Administer Direct Assessments. 36,000 17x2 \1/3\ 408,000
Head Start Staff: Enter Child Demographic 36,000 17 \1/30\ 20,400
Information....................................
Head Start Staff: Enter Teacher Background 36,000 1 \1/60\ 600
Information....................................
Head Start Staff: Participating in Summer 3,000 1 24 72,000
Training.......................................
Head Start Staff: Training Local Assessors for 3,000 1 20 60,000
the Direct Child Assessment....................
Head Start Staff: Receiving Training for the 36,000 1 8 288,000
Direct Child Assesssments......................
Head Start Local Training Staff: Fall 3,000 2 \1/12\ 500
Implementation Evaluation Form.................
Head Start Local Program Staff: Focus Groups.... 600 2 1 1,200
Head Start Local Program Staff: Interview....... 180 2 1 360
Spring Refresher Training (Home Study): Trainers 3,000 1 8 24,000
Spring Refresher Training (Home Study): 36,000 1 4 144,000
Assessors......................................
-----------------
Totals Annualized........................... .............. .............. .............. 1,352,393
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In compliance with the requirements of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Administration for Children and
Families is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the
information collection described above. Copies of the proposed
collection of information can be obtained and comments may be forwarded
by writing to the Administration for Children and Families, Head Start
Bureau, 330 C Street, SW., Room 2010, Switzer Building, Washington, DC
20447, Attn: Tom Schultz, by e-mail to tschultz@acf.dhhs.gov, or by
telephone at 202-205-8323. All requests should be identified by the
title of the information collection.
The Department specifically requests comments on: (a) Whether the
proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the
information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of
information; (c) the quality, utility, and clarity of the information
to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection
of information on respondents, including through the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted
within 60 days of this publication.
Dated: April 8, 2003.
Bob Sargis,
Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-9086 Filed 4-10-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-M