82 FR 35213 - Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 144 (July 28, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 144 (Friday, July 28, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 35213]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-15850]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

    Title: Culture of Continuous Learning Project: A Breakthrough 
Series Collaborative for Improving Child Care and Head Start Quality.
    OMB No.: New Collection.
    Description: The Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE) 
in the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is proposing an 
information collection activity for the Culture of Continuous Learning 
Project. The goal of the project is to assess the feasibility of 
implementing continuous quality improvement methods in early care and 
education programs to support the use and sustainability of evidence-
based practices. A Breakthrough Series Collaborative (BSC), a specific 
model designed to support learning and improvement among practitioners 
at all levels of an organization, will be implemented in Head Start and 
child care settings. The BSC methodology has not been tested rigorously 
in early care and education programs, but has been studied in health 
care and other fields. The findings will be of broad interest to child 
care early education programs as well as training and technical 
assistance providers and researchers, all of whom are interested in 
improving the quality of services young children receive.
    Head Start and child care programs that voluntarily participate in 
the BSC will be asked to complete a number of implementation tools as 
part of the BSC activities. Data collection for the feasibility study 
will involve focus groups, online surveys, direct observation, and 
document review.
    Respondents: Up to 18 early childhood centers will be invited to 
express interest in participating in the BSC. Up to 8 centers will be 
selected to participate in the BSC and feasibility study. Core BSC 
Teams consisting of up to 6 individuals (e.g., directors, lead 
teachers, assistant teachers, teacher aides, parents, curriculum 
specialists, etc.) each from four Early Head Start or Head Start 
programs and four child care programs in a selected geographic location 
(for a total of 48 individuals); and up to 24 additional teachers or 
program staff at the same centers who are not part of the Core BSC 
Team.

                                             Annual Burden Estimates
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                                                   Total/annual      Number of    Average burden
                   Instrument                        number of     responses per     hours per     Annual burden
                                                    respondents     respondent       response          hours
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Selection Questionnaire.........................              18               1               1              18
Pre-Work Assignment: Team Meeting...............              48               1               1              48
Pre-Work Assignment: Data Collection Plan.......              16               1               2              32
Plan, Do, Study, Act Worksheets.................              48              48             .25             576
Discussion Forum Postings.......................              48              48             .25             576
Learning Session Day 1 Evaluation...............              48               4             .17              33
Learning Session Day 2 Evaluation...............              48               4             .25              48
Teaching Pyramid Observation Tool (TPOT)........              28               2             .25              14
Early Childhood Work Environment Survey (ECWES).              72               2             .25              36
Pre-/Post-Online Survey.........................              72               2             .67              96
Self-report of BSC Activities...................              72               1             .08               6
Teacher Background Questionnaire................              40               2             .17              14
Core BSC Team Focus Group Topic Guide...........              48               1            1.25              60
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    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,557.
    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, Office of 
Planning, Research, and Evaluation, 330 C Street SW., Washington, DC 
20201, Attn: OPRE Reports Clearance Officer. Email address: 
[email protected]. 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.

Mary Jones,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-15850 Filed 7-27-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4184-23-P