WASHINGTON, D.C. 20006 -

July 20 , 2010 Dear CONTACT NAME HERE : The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) requests your assistance in improving the coverage and quality of our private school listings and statistics. Every 2 years, the NCES conducts the Private Scho ol Survey (PSS). The PSS data allow NCES to report on enrollment trends; counts of private schools, students, teachers, and high school graduates; program emphasis; and types of private schools. The PSS also serves as a list of private schools for updating the school search tool on the NCES website. In order to conduct the 2011 - 12 PSS, we must compile a complete and accurate list of all private schools in the United States and, new to this cycle, in Puerto Rico as well. Please help us to identify all privat e or nonpublic schools that currently belong to your association, including those in the United States and in Puerto Rico.

 **A computer file (preferably a spreadsheet) of all private and nonpublic schools that currently belong to your association and pr**  **ovide instruction for at least one grade between kindergarten**  **and grade 12**  **.**  If a computer list is not available, a paper list is acceptable.

 Please **include** all private, nonpublic, or religious - exempt schools with any of the grades kindergarten through grade 12.  Kindergarten is defined as: An educational program for children (primarily 5 - year - olds) who would normally enter first grade in the following year, even if “kindergarten” is not in the name of the program. 

###  Include programs such as transitio nal or developmental kindergarten if children are expected to enter the first grade upon completing the program.  Please **exclude** all programs that  teach only adult education or postsecondary students;  are designed only for 3 - or 4 - year - old children and do not include kindergarten (e.g., Head Start programs, prekindergarten, or nursery schools);  provide only before or afterschool care for children who attend school in another facility;  provide only child care and do not include kindergarten;  are considered a homeschool that teaches family members only. **What we request from you**

**Definition of eligible school** school name;  mailing address;  location address;  telephone number;  grade range;  enrollment;  number of teachers; and  school contact e -mail address. Please supply the date the list was last updated.

 The U.S. Census Bureau collects the private school lists for us. You may send your list to the U.S. Census Bureau by e - mail or regular mail. Please send your list by August 21, 2010. To transmit your file via e -mail, please send a message to the follo wing address: dsmd.private.school.lists@census.gov Note that e - mail attachments have a suggested size limit of 2MB (two megabytes). If you have difficulty sending your attachment because it is too large, please call 1 - 800 - 579 - 8520 to make alternative arrangements. To send your list on CD or paper, please mail the file to the following address: U.S. Census Bureau ATTN: **SMQAB -**  **SMS** Bldg. 66, Room 313 1201 E. 10th St. Jeffersonville, IN 47132 For additional information on the PSS and other surveys that NCES conducts, please visit our website: http://nces.ed.gov . I f you have any questions about our list updating, please contact **SMQAB** toll free at 1 - 800 - 579 - 8520. Thank you in advance for your assistance in improving the accuracy of our private school data collection. Sincerely yours,



### Jeffrey Owings Associate Commissioner for Elementary

/Secondary

and Library

Studies **The file or list should include the following information for each school:**

**Sending the list**