Department of Health and Human Services
Administration for Children and Families
Proposed Projects
Title: Head Start Impact Study.
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 conduct the Head Start Impact Study. This study is being conducted under contract with Westat, Inc. (with the Urban Institute, American Institutes for Research, and Decision Information Resources as their subcontractors) (#282-00-0022) to collect information for determining, on a national basis, how Head Start affects the school readiness of children participating in the program as compared to children not enrolled in Head Start and to determine under which conditions Head Start works best and for which children.
The Head Start Impact Study is a longitudinal study that will involve approximately 5,000-6,000 first time enrolled three- and four-year old preschool children across an estimated 75 nationally representative grantee/delegate agencies (in communities where there are more eligible children and families than can be served by the program). The participating children will be randomly assigned to either a Head Start group (that receives Head Start program services) or a comparison group (that does not receive Head Start services but may enroll in other available services selected by their parents or be cared for at home). Data collection for the study began in fall 2002 and extends through spring 2006 with child assessments, conducted in the fall and spring of the Head Start years and in the spring of the kindergarten and first grade years and parent interviews conducted in the fall and spring of each year. Interviews with teachers, care providers, and staff (setting interview), and quality of care assessments will be conducted each year. This schedule of data collection is necessitated by the mandate in Head Start's 1998 reauthorization (Coats Human Services Amendments of 1998, Pub. L. 05-285) that DHHS conduct research to determine, on a national level, the impact of Head Start on the children it serves.
A field test of instruments and procedures was conducted during fall 2001 and spring 2002. The field test involved approximately 450 first time enrolled three- and four-year old preschool children across eight grantee/delegate agencies representing different community contexts.
Respondents: Individuals or households, Head Start Agencies, School Districts, and other child care providers.
Annual Burden Estimates: Estimated Response Burden for Respondents to the Head Start Impact Study—Fall 2002, Spring 2003, Fall 2003, Spring 2004, Fall 2004, Spring 2005, Fall 2005, and Spring 2006.
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 Information Services, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447, Attn: ACF Reports Clearance Officer. 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.
| Instrument | Number of respondents | Number of responses per respondent | Average burden hours per response | Total burden hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 (Fall 2002): | ||||
| Parent interviews | 5,111 | 1 | 1.00 | 5,111 |
| Child Assessments | 5,111 | 1 | 0.9166 | 4,685 |
| Year 1 (Sprint 2003): | ||||
| Parent interviews | 4,599 | 1 | 1.00 | 4,599 |
| Father questionnaire | 4,599 | 1 | 0.50 | 2,300 |
| Child assessments | 4,599 | 1 | 0.9166 | 4,216 |
| Teacher provider ratings | 966 | 5 | 0.0833 | 403 |
| Center Directors/Principals Staff | 368 | 1 | 0.25 | 92 |
| Classroom teachers | 736 | 1 | 0.50 | 368 |
| Other care providers | 230 | 1 | 0.50 | 115 |
| Year 2 (Fall 2003): | ||||
| Parent interviews | 4,139 | 1 | 1.00 | 4,139 |
| Child assessments | 2,287 | 1 | 0.9166 | 2,096 |
| Year 2 (Spring 2004): | ||||
| Parent interviews | 3,910 | 1 | 1.00 | 3,910 |
| Child assessments | 3,910 | 1 | 0.9166 | 3,584 |
| Teach provider ratings | 803 | 5 | 0.0833 | 335 |
| Center directors/Principals/Staff | 349 | 1 | 0.25 | 87 |
| Classroom teachers | 700 | 1 | 0.50 | 350 |
| Other care providers | 103 | 1 | 0.50 | 52 |
| Year 3 (Fall 2004): | ||||
| Parent interviews | 3,519 | 1 | 1.00 | 3,519 |
| Year 3 (Spring 2005): | ||||
| Parent interviews | 3,519 | 1 | 1.00 | 3,519 |
| Child assessments | 3,519 | 1 | 0.9166 | 3,226 |
| Teacher ratings | 704 | 5 | 0.0833 | 293 |
| Principals/Staff | 352 | 1 | 0.25 | 88 |
| Classroom teachers | 704 | 1 | 0.50 | 352 |
| Year 4 (Fall 2005): | ||||
| Parent interviews | 1,667 | 1 | 1.00 | 1,667 |
| ( printed page 76410) | ||||
| Year (Spring 2006): | ||||
| Parent interviews | 1,667 | 1 | 1.00 | 1,667 |
| Child assessments | 1,667 | 1 | 0.9166 | 1,528 |
| Teacher ratings | 333 | 5 | 0.0833 | 139 |
| Principals/Staff | 167 | 1 | 0.25 | 42 |
| Classroom teachers | 333 | 1 | 0.50 | 167 |
| Annualized Totals: | ||||
| Year 1 | 21,889 | |||
| Year 2 | 14,553 | |||
| Year 3 | 10,997 | |||
| Year 4 | 5,210 | |||
| Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours | 13,162 | |||
Note:
The 13,745 Total Annual Burden Hours is based on an average of 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06 estimated burden hours.
Dated: December 4, 2002.
Bob Sargis,
Reports Clearance Officer.