Privacy Impact Assessment

For

National Longitudinal Transition Study-2 (NLTS2)

Date

November 3, 2009

System Owner:

Jacquelyn Buckley

Office of Institute of Education Sciences

U.S. Department of Education 
1. What information will be collected for the system?

This system of records contains responses to surveys and interviews administered to students, 

parents, guardians, administrators, and teachers. The responses may include a student’s

background and demographic data (e.g., ethnicity, primary language spoken in the student’s 

home), educational experiences, employment experiences, finances, aspirations, plans and 

goals, family variables (e.g., household income, number of adults living in the household, 

parental expectations for youth to attend postsecondary school), school characteristics, school 

programs, classroom experiences, adult services and supports, and early adult outcomes in 

employment, education, independence, and social domains. Records in this system of records 

also may include the student’s achievement test scores and high school transcript data.

2. Why is this information being collected?

The NLTS2 system contains records of a sample of more than 11,000 youth from the population 

of 13 through 16 year olds receiving special education services in seventh grade or above in

December of 2000. The sample is nationally representative of the types of disabilities, as 

defined by the 12 Federal special education disability categories, in this population.

3. How will the information be used?

The information contained in the records maintained in this system is used for the following 

purpose:

 To describe the critical influences, contexts, and educational and post-high school 

experiences for students with disabilities as they complete secondary education and transition 

to adulthood.

 Specifically, this study will examine the sample group of secondary students in special 

education and: 

 (a) Describe the characteristics of these students and their households;

 (b) describe these students’ secondary school experiences in special education, including 

their experiences in school, school programs, related services, and extracurricular activities; 

 (c) describe the experiences of these students once they leave secondary school, including 

their experiences in adult programs and services and social activities; 

 (d) measure the secondary school and postschool outcomes of these students in the

education, employment, social, and residential domains; and,

 (e) identify factors in these students’ secondary school and post-school experiences that

contribute to more positive outcomes.

4. Will this information be shared with any other agency or entity? If so, with which 

agency or agencies/entities?

Information is disclosed internally to administer the program. However, it is not shared 

externally, except as required by law, or under the routine uses listed in the Privacy Act System 

of Records notice. These disclosures may be made on a case-by-case basis, or if the 

Department has complied with the computer matching requirements of the Act, under a 

computer matching agreement. Such disclosures may include: for litigation purposes, to the 

Department of Justice for FOIA advice, to contractors conducting Department business, for law 
enforcement, to a member of Congress at the request of the data subject, or to a consumer 

reporting agency regarding a valid and overdue claim.

5. Describe the notice or opportunities for consent that would be or are provided to 

individuals about what information is collected and how that information is shared with 

other organizations.

There is not notice or opportunities for consent since information is provided voluntarily.

6. How will the information be secured?

Access to the records is limited to authorized personnel who are briefed regarding confidentiality 

of the data, are required to sign a written statement attesting to their understanding of the

significance of the confidentiality requirement, and have received Department of Education 

security clearances.

All physical access to the contractor and subcontractor sites where this system of records is 

maintained, is controlled and monitored by security personnel who check each individual

entering the buildings for his or her employee or visitor badge.

The computer systems employed by the contractor and subcontractor offer a high degree of 

resistance to tampering and circumvention. Security systems limit data access to contract staff 

on a ‘‘need to know’’ basis, and control each individual user’s ability to access and alter records 

within the system.

The contractor and subcontractor employees who ‘‘maintain’’ (including collect, maintain, use, or 

disseminate) data in this system of records must comply with the requirements of the

confidentiality standards in section 183 of the ESRA (20 U.S.C. 9573).

7. Is a system of records being created or updated with the collection of this 

information?

The system is covered under the system of records notice entitled National Longitudinal 

Transition Study-2 (NLTS2), dated November 3, 2009, (74 FR 56826--56828).