Newsgroups: bit.listserv.erl-l
Date:         Sun, 26 Jul 1992 10:59:00 CDT
From:         P30JWP1@NIU.BITNET
Subject:      OERI: NCES status report (260 lines)

The following is provided by the Office of Educational Research
and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education.  Please feel
welcome to distribute.

         OFFICE OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH AND IMPROVEMENT

                         PROGRAM REPORTS

            NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) collects,
analyzes, and disseminates data on education in the United
States; conducts studies on international comparisons of
education statistics; and provides leadership in developing and
promoting the use of standardized terminology and definitions for
the collection of those statistics.  In carrying out its
functions, NCES works collaboratively with states, local
education agencies, other federal agencies, international
organizations, and education constituent groups.

PROGRAM ACTIVITIES

National Cooperative Education Statistics System (NCESS) - The
purpose of NCESS is to "produce and maintain, with the
cooperation of the states, comparable and uniform educational
information and data that are useful for policymaking at the
federal, state, and local level."  To meet this goal, the Center
established the National Forum on Education Statistics which is
composed of federal and state representatives.  The Forum
convenes twice a year and met for the seventh time January 22-24,
1992, in Washington, D.C.  Major projects of the NCESS include
improvements to the collection of state fiscal data, collection
of data on dropouts, and the development of sP
collection and reporting.  (Contact:  Lee Hoffman, 219-1621)

Postsecondary Longitudinal Study (PLS) - PLS, a study of
education services and outcomes at the postsecondary level, will
<{follow up on the beginning postsecon"
spring 1992 and has begun the 4th Followup of the High School and
Beyond sophomore cohort.  (Contact:  Dennis Carroll, 219-1774)

National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) - Data
collection for the expanded NAEP has begun.  The 1990 assessment
included mathematics, reading, and science at the national level
and, for the first time, state level data with a "Trial State
Assessment" of mathematics in grade eight, released in June 1991.
The mn{Q92 asQ3essment includes at the national level, mathematics,
reading, and writing, and the "Trial State Assessment" is
expanded to include reading in grade four and mathematics in
grades four and eight.  The National Assessment Governing Board
is continuing work on the development of science, history, and
geography objectives through a broadly-based consensus process.
These objectives will be the basis for the test items for the
1994 assessment.  (Contact:  Eugene Owen, 219-1746)
National Adult Literacy Survey (NALS) - The 1991 field test
interviews were completed and analyzed.  Household residents will
be interviewed from February to July of 1992, and results
<{reported the following year.  The survey has been considerably
expanded beyond its initial limits:  eleven states are sponsoring
state sample supplements; Alaska and Hawaii are now included in
the population; adults over 65 are now included in the sample;

219-1773)
7H/
<{International Statistics - The Center's international statistics
program includes increased activities with the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).  The Center and OECD
are working together to develop a set of international education

<
participating in the Second International Assessment of
Educational Progress of students at ages 9 and 13 in 20 countries
in mathematics, science, and geography.  Additionally, NCES has
been designated as the U.S. Center for the IEA Reading Literacy
Study to compare reading literacy of students at the fourth and
<{ninth grade levels in 37 countries.  NCES has initiated work with
the IEA and other members of the international comparative
education research community on a Third International Mathematics
and Science Study (TIMSS), to be conducted in 1994 and repeated
in 1998.  This study will support efforts to monitor the National
Education Goals.  (Contact:  Eugene Owen, 219-1746)

Common Core of Data (CCD) - Work is proceeding to make data more
consistent from state to state through the National Cooperative
Project with t
school year 1989-90, an expanded finance data collection program

26 states, the District of Columbia, and two outlying areas.  The
dropout statistic will be added to the 1992-93 Common Core of
Data collection.  Work continues on the development and
maintenance of a universe listing of private schools, and
<{<{implementation of a biennial census of all private schools, to
fill out basic systems and make private school data comparable to
the public school data collected through the CCD.  Early
estimates of enrollments and numbers of teachers are
released every Decembeo;5

Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) - SASS provides data on public
and private schools, teachers, principals, on teacher supply and
<{demand, school conditions, and characteristics of the teacher and
principal workforce.  Data from the 1988 study were released
during the spring and summer of 1991.  The second administration
of the survey has just been completed and will be available in
the summer of 1992.  (Contact:  Sharon Bobbitt, 219-1461)
National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88) - Base
year data from NELS:88 have been released in a report titled
PROFILE OF THE AMERICAN EIGHTH GRADER.  First followup data
collection was completed in spring 1991 and data are scheduled
for release in winter 1992.  (Contact:  Jeff Owings, 219-1777)

National Postsecondary Study Aid Study (NPSAS) -  The data
collection from school records, students, and parents has been
completed.  An EDTab, NPSAS:  PRELIMINARY ESTIMATES ON STUDENT
FINANCIAL AID RECIPIENTS, 1989-90, and an encrypted data system
for tabular analyses were recently released using records on
aided students.  (Contact:  Drew Malizio, 219-1448)

National Survey of Postsecondary Faculty (NSOPF) - Data from the
faculty survey component will not be released as a public use
file because of confidentiality requirements.  The Center will
produce tabulations on the faculty survey data for researchers
upon request, as resources permit.  An encrypted, updated version
of the faculty survey file with most variables from the faculty
survey is available on floppy disk for use in tabular analysis.
The second cycle of NSOPF is being planned for the 1992-93
academic year.  (Contact:  Linda Zimbler, 219-1834)

Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) -
Beginning with the 1991 mailout, the Bureau of the Census became
the IPEDS data collection agent.  A comprehensive review of IPEDS
has been completed.  Any changes to IPEDS forms, institutional
universe, or procedures resulting from this review will be
incorporated into the system for the 1993-95 surveys. (Contact:
Susan Broyles, 219-1359)

Higher Education Institutional Facilities Handbook - A project to
update this handbook is underway.  The updated handbook was
available for review and comment by the postsecondary education
community in the spring of 1991.  Publication is expected in
early 1992.  (Contact:  William Freund, 219-1373)

Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) - The update of
CIP in printed form is now available as is a diskette version.
The new codes will be implemented with the 1992 IPEDS mailout.
(Contact:  William Freund, 219-1373)

<{

<{<{characteristics of adults who participated in any part-time
<{educational activity either through a postsecondary institution,
an elementary or secondary school or school district, a community
<{organization, or an employer.  This survey was conducted in the
<{spring of 1991 aC4
Survey.  A brief report has been published and additional reports
are planned.  It will continue a data series that was begun in
1965.  (Contact:  Jeff Owings, 219-1777)

National Household Education Survey (N<lES) - Data for the first
<{{Ffull cycle of NHES, was c
two topics:  early childhood experiences of children 3-to 8-
years-old, and participation in adult education.  Data will be
available in winter of 1992.  (Contact:  Jeff Owings, 219-1777)

Recent College Graduates Study (RCG) - Currently in its sixth
cycle, RCG examines the employment and economic outcomes of
individuals who received a baccalaureate or master's degree in
the 1989-90 academic year.  Outcomes were assessed one year after
graduation in the spring and summer of 1991.  Data files will be
available in the spring 1992.  (Contact:  Peter Stowe, 219-1363)

Postsecondary Education Quick Information Survey (PEQIS) - PEQIS
will start operating in the spring of 1992.  It will survey
postsecondary institutions and state higher education agencies
"as needed" and "as requested" to inform immediate and
particularly salient issues in postsecondary education.
(Contact:  Bernard Greene, 219-1366)

Public Library Data - The public library statistics program uses
<{the technology of personal computers to collect and process the
survey data.  This technology has made it possible for the
program to collect data without the use of paper forms,
and to publish shortly after survey closeout.  A computerized
public library universe file has also been established and will
be available in the fall.  During the next year, an additional
survey will be planned for the State Library Agencies.  (Contact:
Carrol Kindel, 219-1371)

Academic Library Data - Academic Library data is collected on a
2-year cycle as part of IPEDS.  We have established a network of
library professionals who will work closely with the IPEDS
coordinator in each state to ensure prompt and accurate data
collection.  Data are expected to be available in winter 1992.
(Contact:  Carrol Kindel, 219-1371)

School Library Media Centers - Questions have been added to the
Schools and Staffing Survey and two new questionnaires have been
developed on school library media specialists and the school
library media center.  The first field test of the new data items
was mailed in March 1991.  Data from the questions added to the
Schools and Staffing Survey are expected to be available in the
spring of 1992.  (Contact:  Sharon Bobbitt, 219-1461)

PUBLICATIONS

The following publications have been released since January 1992:

Basic Student Charges at Postsecondary Institutions: Academic
Year 1990-91 (Contact:  Elaine Kroe, 219-1373)

Early Estimates on National Higher Education  Statistics:  Fall
1991  (Contact:  Frank Johnson, 219-1618)

Early Estimates on Public and Private Elementary and Secondary
Education Statistics:  School Year 1991-92  (Contact:  Frank
Johnson, 219-1618)
E.D. TABS Characteristics of Doctorate Recipients:  1979, 1984,
and 1989 (Contact:  Teresita L. Chan Kopka, 219-1771)

E.D. TABS Fall Staff in Postsecondary Institutions, 1989
(Contact:  Rosa Fernandez, 219-1358)

Language Characteristics and Academic Achievement:  A Look At
Asian and Hispanic Eighth Graders in NELS:88  (Contact:  Peggy
Quinn, 219-1743)

Pocket Projections:  Projections of Education Statistics to 2002
(Contact:  William Hussar, 219-1682)

Pocket Digest:  Digest of Education Statistics 1991  (Contact:
Charlene Hoffman, 219-1688)

Projections of Education Statistics to 2002  (Contact:  Debra E.
Gerald, 219-1581)

SEDCAR (Standards for Education Data Collection and Reporting)
(Contact:  Lee Hoffman, 219-1621)

Statistical Analysis Report "National Dropout Statistics Field
Test Evaluation"   (Contact:  Lee Hoffman, 219-1621)

Statistical Analysis Report "Participation in Secondary
Vocational Education, 1982-87"  (Contact:  Jim Houser, 219-1419)
Statistics in Brief "Eighth to Tenth Grade Dropouts" (Contact:
Marilyn McMillen, 219-1754)

Statistics in Brief "Experiences in Child Care and Early
Childhood Programs of First and Second Graders"  (Contact:  Jerry
West, 219-1574)

Statistics in Brief "Home Activities of 3- to 8-year-olds"
(Contact:  Jerry West, 219-1574)

Survey Report "Federal Support for Education:  Fiscal Years 1980 A>t

Technical Report "Diversity of Private Schools"  (Contact:
Marilyn McMillen, 219-1754)

Trends in Academic Progress:  Achievement of U.S. Students in
Science, 1969-70 to 1990; Mathematics, 1973 to 1990; and Writing,
1984 to 1990 (Contact:  Barbara Marenus, 219-1828)
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU