2013-21323. Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS): 2015 Recruitment and Field Test

AGENCY:

Institute of Education Sciences/National Center for Education Statistics (IES), Department of Education (ED).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 3501 et seq.), ED is proposing a reinstatement with change of a previously approved information collection.

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before October 3, 2013.

ADDRESSES:

Comments submitted in response to this notice should be submitted electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov by selecting Docket ID number ED-2013-ICCD-0087 or via postal mail, commercial delivery, or hand delivery. Please note that comments submitted by fax or email and those submitted after the comment period will not be accepted. Written requests for information or comments submitted by postal mail or delivery should be addressed to the Acting Director of the Information Collection Clearance Division, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., LBJ, Room 2E105,Washington, DC 20202-4537.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kathy Axt, 540-776-7742 or electronically mail [e-mail]. Please do not send comments here.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Department of Education (ED), in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information. This helps the Department assess the impact of its information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. It also helps the public understand the Department's information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format. ED is soliciting comments on the proposed information collection request (ICR) that is described below. The Department of Education is especially interested in public comment addressing the following issues: (1) Is this collection necessary to the proper functions of the Department; (2) will this information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might the Department enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) how might the Department minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use of information technology. Please note that written comments received in response to this notice will be considered public records.

Title of Collection: Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS): 2015 Recruitment and Field Test.

OMB Control Number: 1850-0695.

Type of Review: A reinstatement with change of a previously approved information collection.

Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals or households.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 14,537.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 34,021.

Abstract: The Trends in Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) is an international assessment of fourth and eighth grade students' achievement in mathematics and science. Since its inception in 1995, TIMSS has continued to assess students every 4 years (1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011). Participation in this study provides data on current and past education policies and a comparison of U.S. education policies with its international counterparts. Periodically, TIMSS has also conducted an assessment of advanced mathematics and physics of students at the end of secondary school (1995 and 2008). The United States participated in TIMSS Advanced in 1995, but not in 2008. Because of the current strong policy interest in preparedness for college and for careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, the U.S. plans to participate in TIMSS Advanced in 2015. This submission describes the overarching plan for all phases of the data collection, including the field test that will take place in March-April, 2014, and the main study that will take place in April-May, 2015. The purpose of the TIMSS field test is to evaluate new assessment items and background questions (including the new parent questionnaire), to ensure practices that promote low exclusion rates, and to ensure that classroom and student sampling procedures proposed for the main study are successful. This submission requests approval for recruitment for the 2014 field test and the 2015 main study; the 2014 field test data collection for TIMSS at grades 4 and 8 and TIMSS Advanced in grade 12; and a description of the overarching plan for all of the phases of the data collection, including data collection in the 2015 main study.

Dated: August 28, 2013.

Stephanie Valentine,

Acting Director, Information Collection Clearance Division, Privacy, Information and Records Management Services, Office of Management.