-----------------------------------------------------------------------
  **ESRA: Statistics**

  **FY 2008 Program Performance Plan**

  Strategic Goal 1

  Other

  ESRA, Part C
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  -------------- --------------------------------------------------------
  **Program      **To collect, analyze, and disseminate information on
  Goal:**        the condition of education in the United States and to
                 provide comparative international statistics.**

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  ------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------
  ***Objective 1 of 1:***   *Provide timely and useful data that are relevant to
                            policy and educational improvement.*

  ------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------

  ------------------------ ---------------- ------------------ ---------------------------
  **Measure 1.1 of 19:**                                       
  The percentage of                                            
  customer respondents                                         
  satisfied or very                                            
  satisfied with the ease                                      
  of understanding NCES                                        
  data files.   (Desired                                       
  direction: increase)                                         
    000002                                                     

  **Year**                 **Target**       **Actual\          **Status**
                                            (or date           
                                            expected)**        

  2006                                      89                 Measure not in place

  2007                     90               89                 Did Not Meet Target

  2008                     90               (October 2008)     Pending

  2009                     90               (October 2009)     Pending

  2010                     90               (October 2010)     Pending

  2011                     90               (October 2011)     Pending

  2012                     90               (October 2012)     Pending
  ------------------------ ---------------- ------------------ ---------------------------

**Source**. U. S. Department of Education, National Center for Education
Statistics, customer satisfaction survey.

**Frequency of Data Collection**. Annual

**Data Quality**. NCES collects customer survey data through an on-line
random sample survey of visitors to the NCES Web-site. Data will be
validated by using NCES review procedures and by applying NCES
statistical standards. The NCES Monitoring System will yield annual
updates on the use and applications of NCES data.

**Explanation**. NCES expects that each year, all user manuals for NCES
public-use data files and at least 50 percent of its public-use data
files will be available on the Web. NCES views Web release of its
reports as a source of increased efficiency and is committed to
releasing at least 90 percent of its reports on the Web. These
efficiency steps will facilitate easier, quicker, and wider access to
NCES products.

  ------------------------ ---------------- ------------------ ---------------------------
  **Measure 1.2 of 19:**                                       
  The percentage of                                            
  customer respondents                                         
  satisfied or very                                            
  satisfied with the                                           
  timeliness of NCES data                                      
  files.   (Desired                                            
  direction: increase)                                         
    1632                                                       

  **Year**                 **Target**       **Actual\          **Status**
                                            (or date           
                                            expected)**        

  1997                                      52                 Measure not in place

  1999                     85               67                 Made Progress From Prior
                                                               Year

  2001                     90               66                 Made Progress From Prior
                                                               Year

  2004                     90               78                 Made Progress From Prior
                                                               Year

  2006                     90               86                 Made Progress From Prior
                                                               Year

  2007                     90               84                 Did Not Meet Target

  2008                     90               (October 2008)     Pending

  2009                     90               (October 2009)     Pending

  2010                     90               (October 2010)     Pending

  2011                     90               (October 2011)     Pending

  2012                     90               (October 2012)     Pending
  ------------------------ ---------------- ------------------ ---------------------------

**Source**. U. S. Department of Education, National Center for Education
Statistics, customer satisfaction survey.

**Frequency of Data Collection**. Annual

**Data Quality**. In 2006, NCES changed its customer service survey data
collection to an on-line random sample survey of NCES customers who
visited the NCES Web-site. From 1997 through 2004 NCES administered a
biennial pen & pencil paper survey with a telephone follow-up to over
3,900 academic researchers, education associations, education
journalists, users of the NCES\'s National Education Data Resource
Center, and Federal, State, and local policymakers. The survey format
using pen and paper with the telephone follow-up was becoming
increasingly expensive vs. the limited costs of conducting on-line
surveys.\
\
When changing to the on-line survey, NCES also modified the questions
asked of respondents. Given these changes, data collected prior to 2006
are not comparable to those collected in 2006 and future years.\
\
Data will be validated by using NCES review procedures and by applying
NCES statistical standards. The NCES Monitoring System will yield annual
updates on the use and applications of NCES data.

**Explanation**. NCES expects that each year, all user manuals for NCES
public-use data files and at least 50 percent of its public-use data
files will be available on the Web. NCES views Web release of its
reports as a source of increased efficiency and is committed to
releasing at least 90 percent of its reports on the Web. These
efficiency steps will facilitate easier, quicker, and wider access to
NCES products.

  ------------------------ ---------------- ------------------- --------------------------
  **Measure 1.3 of 19:**                                        
  Percentage of customer                                        
  respondents satisfied or                                      
  very satisfied with the                                       
  ease of understanding of                                      
  NCES publications that                                        
  they used in the last                                         
  year.   (Desired                                              
  direction: increase)                                          
    000001                                                      

  **Year**                 **Target**       **Actual\           **Status**
                                            (or date            
                                            expected)**         

  2006                                      93                  Measure not in place

  2007                     90               90                  Target Met

  2008                     90               (October 2008)      Pending

  2009                     90               (October 2009)      Pending

  2010                     90               (October 2010)      Pending

  2011                     90               (October 2011)      Pending

  2012                     90               (October 2012)      Pending
  ------------------------ ---------------- ------------------- --------------------------

**Source**. U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education
Statistics, customer satisfaction survey.

**Frequency of Data Collection**. Annual

**Data Quality**. NCES collects customer survey data through an on-line
random sample survey of visitors to the NCES Web-site. Data will be
validated by using NCES review procedures and by applying NCES
statistical standards. Improvements: The NCES Monitoring System will
yield annual updates on the use and applications of NCES data.

  ------------------------ ---------------- ------------------ ---------------------------
  **Measure 1.4 of 19:**                                       
  The percentage of                                            
  customer respondents                                         
  satisfied or very                                            
  satisfied with the                                           
  timeliness of NCES                                           
  publications.   (Desired                                     
  direction: increase)                                         
    1634                                                       

  **Year**                 **Target**       **Actual\          **Status**
                                            (or date           
                                            expected)**        

  1997                                      72                 Measure not in place

  1999                     85               77                 Made Progress From Prior
                                                               Year

  2001                     90               74                 Made Progress From Prior
                                                               Year

  2004                     90               78                 Made Progress From Prior
                                                               Year

  2006                     90               85                 Made Progress From Prior
                                                               Year

  2007                     90               86                 Made Progress From Prior
                                                               Year

  2008                     90               (October 2008)     Pending

  2009                     90               (October 2009)     Pending

  2010                     90               (October 2010)     Pending

  2011                     90               (October 2011)     Pending

  2012                     90               (October 2012)     Pending
  ------------------------ ---------------- ------------------ ---------------------------

**Source**. U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education
Statistics, customer satisfaction survey.

**Frequency of Data Collection**. Annual

**Data Quality**. In 2006, NCES changed its customer service survey data
collection to an on-line random sample survey of NCES customers who
visited the NCES Web-site. From 1997 through 2004 NCES administered a
biennial pen & pencil paper survey with a telephone follow-up to over
3,900 academic researchers, education associations, education
journalists, users of the NCES\'s National Education Data Resource
Center, and Federal, State, and local policymakers. The survey format
using pen and paper with the telephone follow-up was becoming
increasingly expensive vs. the limited costs of conducting on-line
surveys.\
\
When changing to the on-line survey, NCES also modified the questions
asked of respondents. Given these changes, data collected prior to 2006
are not comparable to those collected in 2006 and future years.\
\
Data will be validated by using NCES review procedures and by applying
NCES statistical standards. The NCES Monitoring System will yield annual
updates on the use and applications of NCES data.

  ------------------------ ---------------- ------------------ ---------------------------
  **Measure 1.5 of 19:**                                       
  The percentage of                                            
  customer respondents                                         
  satisfied or very                                            
  satisfied with the                                           
  timeliness of NCES                                           
  services.   (Desired                                         
  direction: increase)                                         
    1637                                                       

  **Year**                 **Target**       **Actual\          **Status**
                                            (or date           
                                            expected)**        

  1997                                      89                 Measure not in place

  1999                     85               93                 Target Exceeded

  2001                     90               88                 Made Progress From Prior
                                                               Year

  2004                     90               84                 Made Progress From Prior
                                                               Year

  2006                     90               92                 Target Exceeded

  2007                     90               94                 Target Exceeded

  2008                     90               (October 2008)     Pending

  2009                     90               (October 2009)     Pending

  2010                     90               (October 2010)     Pending

  2011                     90               (October 2011)     Pending

  2012                     90               (October 2012)     Pending
  ------------------------ ---------------- ------------------ ---------------------------

**Source**. U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education
Statistics, customer satisfaction survey.

**Frequency of Data Collection**. Annual

**Data Quality**. Data will be validated by using NCES review procedures
and by applying NCES statistical standards. Improvements: The NCES
Monitoring System will yield annual updates on the use and applications
of NCES data.

**Explanation**. Beginning with FY 2006, the data will be collected
annually instead of biennially.  NCES expects that each year, all user
manuals for NCES public-use data files will be available on the Web, at
least 50 percent of its public-use data files will be available on the
Web, and 75 percent of nonassessment surveys will be administered either
through the use of computerized interviews or directly over the Web.
NCES views Web release of its reports as a source of increased
efficiency and is committed to releasing at least 90 percent of its
reports on the Web. These efficiency steps will facilitate easier,
quicker, and wider access to NCES products.

  ------------------------ ---------------- ------------------ ---------------------------
  **Measure 1.6 of 19:**                                       
  The percentage of                                            
  customer respondents                                         
  satisfied or very                                            
  satisfied with the                                           
  relevance of NCES data                                       
  files.   (Desired                                            
  direction: increase)                                         
    000030                                                     

  **Year**                 **Target**       **Actual\          **Status**
                                            (or date           
                                            expected)**        

  2006                                      94                 Measure not in place

  2007                     90               94                 Target Exceeded

  2008                     90               (October 2008)     Pending

  2009                     90               (October 2009)     Pending

  2010                     90               (October 2010)     Pending

  2011                     90               (October 2011)     Pending

  2012                     90               (October 2012)     Pending
  ------------------------ ---------------- ------------------ ---------------------------

**Source**. U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education
Statistics, customer satisfaction survey.

**Frequency of Data Collection**. Annual

**Data Quality**. NCES collects customer survey data through an on-line
random sample survey of visitors to the NCES Web-site. Data will be
validated by using NCES review procedures and by applying NCES
statistical standards. The NCES Monitoring System will yield annual
updates on the use and applications of NCES data.

  ------------------------ ---------------- ------------------ ---------------------------
  **Measure 1.7 of 19:**                                       
  The percentage of                                            
  customer respondents                                         
  satisfied or very                                            
  satisfied with the                                           
  courtesy of NCES staff                                       
  providing services.                                          
    (Desired direction:                                        
  increase)   000031                                           

  **Year**                 **Target**       **Actual\          **Status**
                                            (or date           
                                            expected)**        

  2006                                      95                 Measure not in place

  2007                     90               96                 Target Exceeded

  2008                     90               (October 2008)     Pending

  2009                     90               (October 2009)     Pending

  2010                     90               (October 2010)     Pending

  2011                     90               (October 2011)     Pending

  2012                     90               (October 2012)     Pending
  ------------------------ ---------------- ------------------ ---------------------------

**Source**. U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education
Statistics, customer satisfaction survey.

**Frequency of Data Collection**. Annual

**Data Quality**. NCES collects customer survey data through an on-line
random sample survey of visitors to the NCES Web-site. Data will be
validated by using NCES review procedures and by applying NCES
statistical standards. The NCES Monitoring System will yield annual
updates on the use and applications of NCES data.

  ------------------------ ---------------- ------------------- --------------------------
  **Measure 1.8 of 19:**                                        
  The percentage of NCES                                        
  Statistics program                                            
  initial releases that                                         
  either meet the target                                        
  number of months, or                                          
  show at least a 2-month                                       
  improvement over the                                          
  prior release, with the                                       
  starting point of 18                                          
  months in 2006, then                                          
  declining to 16 months                                        
  in 2007, 14 months in                                         
  2008, and 12 months in                                        
  2009 and beyond.                                              
    (Desired direction:                                         
  increase)   000033                                            

  **Year**                 **Target**       **Actual\           **Status**
                                            (or date            
                                            expected)**         

  2006                                      90                  Measure not in place

  2007                     90               100                 Target Exceeded

  2008                     90               (October 2008)      Pending

  2009                     90               (October 2009)      Pending

  2010                     92               (October 2010)      Pending

  2011                     94               (October 2011)      Pending

  2012                     95               (October 2012)      Pending
  ------------------------ ---------------- ------------------- --------------------------

**Source**. U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education
Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics

**Frequency of Data Collection**. Annual

  ------------------------ ----------------- ------------------- -------------------------
  **Measure 1.9 of 19:**                                         
  The percentage of                                              
  respondents who would                                          
  recommend NCES to others                                       
  and who would rely on                                          
  NCES in the future as                                          
  measured by the American                                       
  Customer Satisfaction                                          
  Index (ACSI).   (Desired                                       
  direction: increase)                                           
    89a0mk                                                       

  **Year**                 **Target**        **Actual\           **Status**
                                             (or date            
                                             expected)**         

  2008                     Set a Baseline    (September 2008)    Pending

  2010                     Maintain a        (September 2010)    Pending
                           Baseline                              
  ------------------------ ----------------- ------------------- -------------------------

**Frequency of Data Collection**. Annual

  ------------------------- ---------------- ------------------- --------------------------
  **Measure 1.10 of 19:**                                        
  The percentage of survey                                       
  data collections with                                          
  either a response rate of                                      
  85 percent or higher or a                                      
  non-response bias                                              
  analysis and weight                                            
  adjustments to adjust for                                      
  bias identified in the                                         
  nonresponse bias                                               
  analysis.   (Desired                                           
  direction: increase)                                           
    89a0ml                                                       

  **Year**                  **Target**       **Actual\           **Status**
                                             (or date            
                                             expected)**         

  2007                                       100                 Measure not in place

  2008                      100              (October 2008)      Pending

  2009                      100              (October 2009)      Pending

  2010                      100              (October 2010)      Pending

  2011                      100              (October 2011)      Pending

  2012                      100              (October 2012)      Pending
  ------------------------- ---------------- ------------------- --------------------------

**Frequency of Data Collection**. Annual

**Explanation**. 

Does not include international assessments.

  ------------------------- ---------------- ------------------ ----------------------------
  **Measure 1.11 of 19:**                                       
  Number of web visits to                                       
  NCES website, monthly                                         
  average.   (Desired                                           
  direction: increase)                                          
    89a0mm                                                      

  **Year**                  **Target**       **Actual\          **Status**
                                             (or date           
                                             expected)**        

  2008                      Set a Baseline   (October 2008)     Pending

  2009                      Maintain a       (October 2009)     Pending
                            Baseline                            
  ------------------------- ---------------- ------------------ ----------------------------

  ------------------------- ---------------- ------------------ ---------------------------
  **Measure 1.12 of 19:**                                       
  Number of users of the                                        
  NCES Data Analysis                                            
  System, monthly average.                                      
    (Desired direction:                                         
  increase)   89a0mn                                            

  **Year**                  **Target**       **Actual\          **Status**
                                             (or date           
                                             expected)**        

  2008                      Set a Baseline   (October 2008)     Pending

  2009                      Maintain a       (October 2009)     Pending
                            Baseline                            
  ------------------------- ---------------- ------------------ ---------------------------

  ------------------------- ---------------- ------------------ ---------------------------
  **Measure 1.13 of 19:**                                       
  Number of downloads of                                        
  electronic versions of                                        
  reports, monthly average.                                     
    (Desired direction:                                         
  increase)   89a0mo                                            

  **Year**                  **Target**       **Actual\          **Status**
                                             (or date           
                                             expected)**        

  2008                      Set a Baseline   (October 2008)     Pending

  2009                      Maintain a       (October 2009)     Pending
                            Baseline                            
  ------------------------- ---------------- ------------------ ---------------------------

**Frequency of Data Collection**. Annual

  ------------------------- ----------------- ------------------ --------------------------
  **Measure 1.14 of 19:**                                        
  Number of times NCES                                           
  Statistics program data                                        
  are cited on the web                                           
  sites of 90 education                                          
  associations and                                               
  organizations.   (Desired                                      
  direction: increase)                                           
    89a0mp                                                       

  **Year**                  **Target**        **Actual\          **Status**
                                              (or date           
                                              expected)**        

  2008                      Set a Baseline    (October 2008)     Pending

  2009                      Maintain a        (October 2009)     Pending
                            Baseline                             
  ------------------------- ----------------- ------------------ --------------------------

**Frequency of Data Collection**. Annual

  ------------------------- ---------------- ------------------ ---------------------------
  **Measure 1.15 of 19:**                                       
  The average cost per                                          
  completed case for the                                        
  Fast Response Survey                                          
  System, adjusted for                                          
  inflation (in 2006                                            
  dollars).   (Desired                                          
  direction: decrease)                                          
    89a0mq                                                      

  **Year**                  **Target**       **Actual\          **Status**
                                             (or date           
                                             expected)**        

  2007                                       159.09             Measure not in place

  2008                      159.09           (October 2008)     Pending

  2009                      159.09           (October 2009)     Pending

  2010                      159.09           (October 2010)     Pending

  2011                      159.09           (October 2011)     Pending

  2012                      159.09           (October 2012)     Pending
  ------------------------- ---------------- ------------------ ---------------------------

**Source**. U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education
Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics

**Frequency of Data Collection**. Annual

**Explanation**. NCES, along with other statistical agencies, is
experiencing increased difficulty in obtaining acceptable response
rates, and increasing the response rates is expensive, with agencies
needing to conduct more follow-ups than in the past, and to increasingly
rely on incentive payments. The Department believes that given this
difficulty, maintaining the current cost level per case will be
ambitious.

  ------------------------- ---------------- ------------------- --------------------------
  **Measure 1.16 of 19:**                                        
  The average cost per                                           
  completed case for the                                         
  Trends in Mathematics and                                      
  Science Study, adjusted                                        
  for inflation (in 2006                                         
  dollars).   (Desired                                           
  direction: decrease)                                           
    89a0mr                                                       

  **Year**                  **Target**       **Actual\           **Status**
                                             (or date            
                                             expected)**         

  2011                      177.77           (December 2012)     Pending
  ------------------------- ---------------- ------------------- --------------------------

**Frequency of Data Collection**. Annual

**Explanation**. NCES, along with other statistical agencies, is
experiencing increased difficulty in obtaining acceptable response
rates, and increasing the response rates is expensive, with agencies
needing to conduct more follow-ups than in the past, and to increasingly
rely on incentive payments. The Department believes that given this
difficulty, maintaining the current cost level per case will be
ambitious.

  ------------------------- ---------------- ------------------ ---------------------------
  **Measure 1.17 of 19:**                                       
  The average cost per                                          
  completed case for the                                        
  National Postsecondary                                        
  Student Aid Study,                                            
  adjusted for inflation                                        
  (in 2006 dollars).                                            
    (Desired direction:                                         
  decrease)   89a0ms                                            

  **Year**                  **Target**       **Actual\          **Status**
                                             (or date           
                                             expected)**        

  2004                                       174.12             Measure not in place

  2008                      174.12           (March 2009)       Pending
  ------------------------- ---------------- ------------------ ---------------------------

**Source**. U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education
Sciences

**Explanation**. NCES, along with other statistical agencies, is
experiencing increased difficulty in obtaining acceptable response
rates, and increasing the response rates is expensive, with agencies
needing to conduct more follow-ups than in the past, and to increasingly
rely on incentive payments. The Department believes that given this
difficulty, maintaining the current cost level per case will be
ambitious.

  ------------------------- ---------------- ------------------ ---------------------------
  **Measure 1.18 of 19:**                                       
  Percentage of customer                                        
  respondents satisfied or                                      
  very satisfied with the                                       
  ease of finding                                               
  information on the web                                        
  site nces.ed.gov .                                            
    (Desired direction:                                         
  increase)   00000d                                            

  **Year**                  **Target**       **Actual\          **Status**
                                             (or date           
                                             expected)**        

  2006                                       82                 Measure not in place

  2007                      90               81                 Did Not Meet Target

  2008                      90               (October 2008)     Pending

  2009                      90               (October 2009)     Pending

  2010                      90               (October 2010)     Pending

  2011                      90               (October 2011)     Pending

  2012                      90               (October 2012)     Pending
  ------------------------- ---------------- ------------------ ---------------------------

**Source**. U.S. Department of Education,National Center for Education
Statistics, customer satisfaction survey.

**Data Quality**. Data will be validated by using NCES review procedures
and by applying NCES statistical standards. Improvements: The NCES
Monitoring System will yield annual updates on the use and applications
of NCES data.

**Explanation**. NCES expects that each year, all user manuals for NCES
public-use data files will be available on the Web, at least 50 percent
of its public-use data files will be available on the Web, and 75
percent of nonassessment surveys will be administered either through the
use of computerized interviews or directly over the Web. NCES views Web
release of its reports as a source of increased efficiency and is
committed to releasing at least 90 percent of its reports on the Web.
These efficiency steps will facilitate easier, quicker, and wider access
to NCES products.

  ------------------------- ---------------- ------------------ ---------------------------
  **Measure 1.19 of 19:**                                       
  Percentage of customer                                        
  respondents satisfied or                                      
  very satisfied with the                                       
  relevance of NCES                                             
  publications that they                                        
  used in the last year.                                        
    (Desired direction:                                         
  increase)   00000e                                            

  **Year**                  **Target**       **Actual\          **Status**
                                             (or date           
                                             expected)**        

  2006                                       95                 Measure not in place

  2007                      90               94                 Target Exceeded

  2008                      90               (October 2008)     Pending

  2009                      90               (October 2009)     Pending

  2010                      90               (October 2010)     Pending

  2011                      90               (October 2011)     Pending

  2012                      90               (October 2012)     Pending
  ------------------------- ---------------- ------------------ ---------------------------

**Source**. U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education
Statistics, customer satisfaction survey.

**Frequency of Data Collection**. Annual

**Data Quality**. Data will be validated by using NCES review procedures
and by applying NCES statistical standards. Improvements: The NCES
Monitoring System will yield annual updates on the use and applications
of NCES data.

**Explanation**. NCES expects that each year, all user manuals for NCES
public-use data files will be available on the Web, at least 50 percent
of its public-use data files will be available on the Web, and 75
percent of nonassessment surveys will be administered either through the
use of computerized interviews or directly over the Web. NCES views Web
release of its reports as a source of increased efficiency and is
committed to releasing at least 90 percent of its reports on the Web.
These efficiency steps will facilitate easier, quicker, and wider access
to NCES products.