Evaluation of the REL Appalachia Teaching Math to Young Children Toolkit
New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)
No
Regular
12/04/2023
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
320
0
95
0
0
0
Mathematics knowledge acquired in early childhood provides a critical foundation for long-term student success in math as well as reading (Duncan et al., 2007; Watts et al., 2014), but the professional development (PD) and curricular support for preschool teachers often lack specific content and training on high-quality math instruction delivered by math content experts. To address this problem, the REL Appalachia toolkit development team is developing a toolkit to provide preschool teachers with support in implementing core teaching practices essential to promoting early math skills and knowledge in children. The toolkit is based on the Teaching Math to Young Children IES practice guide (Frye et al., 2013) and is being developed in collaboration with state and district partners in Virginia.
IES requests clearance for activities to support the recruitment of schools and districts to participate in an efficacy study of the toolkit as part of the REL Appalachia contract. A second OMB package, which will be submitted later this year, will request clearance for data collection instruments and the collection of district administrative data.
The study will assess the efficacy of the professional development resources included in the toolkit. The evaluation will also assess how teachers implement the toolkit to provide context for the efficacy findings and guidance to improve the toolkit and its future use. The evaluation will take place in 50 schools across approximately 10 school divisions in Virginia and focus on mathematics teaching practices and student mathematics knowledge and skills in preschool classrooms. The purpose of this study will be to measure the efficacy and implementation of the REL APâdeveloped toolkit designed to improve teacher practice and preschool studentsâ math learning outcomes. The toolkit evaluation will produce a report for district and school leaders who are considering strategies to improve math learning in preschool. The report will be designed to help them decide whether and how to use the toolkit to help them implement the practice guide recommendations.
This is a new collection, therefore all burden is new. This results in a program change increase in burden and responses of 95 hours and 320 responses.
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.