Impact Evaluation of Departmentalized Instruction in Elementary Schools
Extension without change of a currently approved collection
No
Regular
06/07/2021
Requested
Previously Approved
12/31/2022
06/30/2021
4
8,531
80
3,202
0
0
This study is authorized by Section 8601 of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which tasks the U.S. Department of Education with conducting evaluations to build the evidence base in education. Finding creative ways to redeploy existing teachers in the classroom may yield academic benefits to students at little cost. One such strategy is departmentalized instruction, where each teacher specializes in teaching certain subjects to multiple classes of students instead of teaching all subjects to a single class of students (self-contained instruction). While nearly ubiquitous in secondary schools, departmentalization has only recently become more popular in upper elementary grades. This evaluation is examining the implementation and outcomes of teachers and students as they departmentalize in fourth and fifth grades. In doing so, it will generate valuable evidence on an improvement strategy that low-performing elementary schools identified under ESSA may consider adopting.
PL:
Pub.L. 114 - 95 8601
Name of Law: Elementary and Secondary Education Act (as amended by ESSA)
This evaluation's information collection was originally approved in 2018 (OMB 1850-0942) and included several activities (principal interviews, a teacher survey, district administrative records (e.g., teacher retention, student attendance/test scores)). Most of these activities are complete. About 100 schools from 12 districts across the nation were initially recruited for the evaluation, with half agreeing to implement departmentalization for two years while the others maintain self-contained instruction. Comparing the data between departmentalized and self-contained study schools will provide policy-relevant evidence on departmentalization as a potential school improvement strategy. However, due to delays and uncertainty from the coronavirus pandemic, it is infeasible to finish collecting the district data on students and teachers by the OMB expiration date. This package requests an extension to the original expiration date to finish collecting just that district data.
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;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Impact Evaluation of Departmentalized Instruction in Elementary Schools
Appendix B Confidentiality Pledge.docx
Impact Evaluation of Departmentalized Instruction in Elementary Schools