To gauge progress in addressing the needs of youth with disabilities, the U.S. Department of Education is sponsoring a five-year longitudinal study focused on the educational and transitional experiences of youth between the ages of 13 and 21 in December 2011.The study focuses on three sets of research questions: What are the characteristics of youth with disabilities? What services and accommodations do they receive and what are their courses of study? What are their transitional experiences as they leave high school and their educational, social, and economic outcomes?
To shed light on the distinctive experiences of youth with disabilities the study will contrast them with those of youth without disabilities. The study we also compare the experiences of youth with disabilities with those of two previous cohorts of youth with similar disabilities, providing information on progress in addressing the needs of these youth.
Districts and youth will be randomly selected to ensure that they are nationally representative. The study sample will include approximately 300 school districts and 15,000 students. Phase I data collection will occur in spring 2012 and spring 2014, when sample members will be ages 13-21 and 15-23, respectively. The study will collect data from parents, youth, principal teachers, and student school records.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
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