Attachment 2

District Courtesy Notification Letter

Fast Response Survey System (FRSS) 106:

School Safety and Discipline: 2013–14

OMB# 1850-0733 v. 29
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION SCIENCES

NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS 

February 2014

Dear District Superintendent:

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) wishes to inform you about the national survey on School Safety and 

Discipline: 2013–14, in which schools in your district are being asked to participate. We have enclosed a list of the schools in 

your district that have been sampled for the survey. This study was approved by the federal Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB No. 1850-0733). Westat, a research firm in Rockville, Maryland, is conducting the survey for NCES using the Fast 

Response Survey System (FRSS). The survey is designed to be completed in about 20 minutes.

This study has been designed to provide information about plans and practices schools have developed to provide a safe school 

environment, and to report various indices of school safety. Such national data will allow policymakers to make informed 

decisions on school safety and discipline based on accurate and current information.

The information collected through the survey may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in 

identifiable form for any other purpose unless otherwise compelled by law (Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002, 20 U.S.C. 

9573). A statement regarding the voluntary nature of the survey is included in cover letters to the sampled schools. All 

participating schools will be notified when the report of study findings is released on the NCES website.

Information copies of the study materials are enclosed for your records. If you have any questions about this study, please 

contact Cindy Gray, the Westat survey manager, at 800-937-8281, ext. 4336 (toll-free) or by e-mail at 

SafetySurvey@westat.com. You may also call Chris Chapman, the NCES Project Officer, at 202-502-7414.

Thank you for your support for this important study.

Sincerely,

Jack Buckley

Commissioner

Enclosures

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20006
Attachment 3

School Cover Letter

Fast Response Survey System (FRSS) 106:

School Safety and Discipline: 2013–14

OMB# 1850-0733 v. 29
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION SCIENCES

NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS 

February 2014

Dear Principal:

On behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), I request your school’s participation in the national 

survey School Safety and Discipline: 2013–14. The purpose of the survey is to provide the U.S. Department of Education 

with nationally representative data about safety and discipline in U.S. public schools. Westat, a research firm in Rockville, 

Maryland, is conducting the study for NCES using the Fast Response Survey System (FRSS). The survey is designed to 

be completed in about 20 minutes by the person(s) most knowledgeable about safety and discipline at your school.

 Why is NCES conducting the survey? This study has been designed to provide information about plans and 

practices schools have developed to provide a safe school environment, and to report various indices of school 

safety. Such national data will allow policymakers to make informed decisions on school safety and discipline 

based on accurate and current information.

 Why is participation by your school important? Your school’s participation, while voluntary, is vital to the 

development of national estimates. Because your school is one of a small sample of schools selected for the study, 

your cooperation is critical to make the results of this survey comprehensive, accurate, and timely.

 How does NCES protect the confidentiality of the information that you provide? The information collected 

through the survey may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable 

form for any other purpose unless otherwise compelled by law (Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002, 20 

U.S.C. 9573). Your district has been informed about this study and the federal Office of Management and Budget 

has approved the survey (OMB No. 1850-0733). 

 What do you get from the study? Once the study is completed, NCES will present the findings in a report that 

will be released on the NCES website. Your school will be notified when it is released.

The person(s) most knowledgeable about safety and discipline at your school may complete the survey using either the 

enclosed questionnaire or an online version. The online version of the survey is available at www.frss-XXX.org. The 

username and password appear on the enclosed Web Survey Information Sheet. If your school completes the paper 

version of the questionnaire, please return it to Westat in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. Please complete the survey 

only once, using either the paper or the online version. 

We ask that the survey be completed within 3 weeks, and that you keep a copy of the completed survey for your files. If 

you have any questions about this survey, please contact Cindy Gray, the Westat survey manager, at 800-937-8281, ext. 

4336 (toll-free) or by e-mail at SafetySurvey@westat.com. You may also call Chris Chapman, the NCES Project Officer, 

at 202-502-7414. Thank you for your assistance.

Sincerely,

Jack Buckley

Commissioner

Enclosures

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20006
Attachment 4

Web Information Sheet

Fast Response Survey System (FRSS) 106:

School Safety and Discipline: 2013–14

OMB# 1850-0733 v. 29
U.S. Department of Education  Institute of Education Sciences  National Center for Education Statistics

SCHOOL SAFETY AND DISCIPLINE: 2013–14

Web Survey Information Sheet for:

[School Name], [State]

Survey Website: www.frss-XXX.org

Username: 

Password: 

Questions? If you have questions about the completion of this survey, please contact 

Cindy Gray at 1-800-937-8281, Ext.4336, or by email at SafetySurvey@westat.com.
Attachment 5

Nonresponse Follow-up Letter

Fast Response Survey System (FRSS) 106:

School Safety and Discipline: 2013–14

OMB# 1850-0733 v. 29
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION SCIENCES

NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS 

[Date]

Dear Principal:

Recently, you were asked to have your school complete a survey on school safety and discipline for the National 

Center for Education Statistics (NCES), U.S. Department of Education. This study, approved by the federal 

Office of Management and Budget (OMB No. 1850-0733), will provide national data that can only be obtained 

from public schools. If your school has already completed the questionnaire, I wish to thank you for your 

participation. It is only through the help of school personnel such as you that NCES is able to provide 

policymakers with valuable national data on school safety and discipline.

If your school has not yet completed the three-page survey, I ask that you do so as soon as possible because the 

data are urgently needed to report a current picture of school safety and discipline in public schools. The 

questionnaire is designed to be completed in about 20 minutes by the person(s) most knowledgeable about safety 

and discipline at your school. 

Your school’s participation, while voluntary, is vital to the development of national estimates. Your input is 

needed because your school is one of a small sample selected for the study. It is only through the participation of 

the selected schools that we can fully represent information about safety and discipline across all types of public 

schools. Your school’s answers may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in 

identifiable form for any other purpose unless otherwise compelled by law (Education Sciences Reform Act of 

2002, 20 U.S.C. 9573). Your district has been informed about this study.

The online version of the survey is available at www.frss-XXX.org, the survey website. Your username and 

password appear on the enclosed Web Survey Information Sheet. If you prefer to complete a paper questionnaire, 

you may obtain a printable version from the survey website and fax it to 1-800-254-0984 when completed. 

Westat, an independent research firm, is conducting the survey for NCES. If you have any questions, please 

contact Cindy Gray, the Westat survey manager, at 1-800-937-8281, ext. 4336 (toll-free) or by email at 

SafetySurvey@westat.com. You may also call me at 202-502-7414. Thank you for your assistance.

Sincerely,

Chris Chapman

Project Officer

Enclosures

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20006
Attachment 6

Nonresponse Follow-up Script

Fast Response Survey System (FRSS) 106:

School Safety and Discipline: 2013–14

OMB# 1850-0733 v. 29
RESPONDENT INFORMATION SHEET (RIS)

FRSS 106 – SCHOOL SAFETY AND DISCIPLINE: 2013–14

[LABEL WITH SCHOOL CONTACT INFORMATION]

I. SCHOOL CONTACT

Hello, my name is [GIVE NAME]. I'm calling from Westat on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education. Have 

I reached [GIVE NAME OF SCHOOL]? 

We are calling to follow up on a packet that we recently sent to your principal. May I please have your 

principal’s name? (RECORD NAME IN SPACE BELOW) Also, is there a direct line at which we could reach 

him/her? (IF YES, RECORD NUMBER IN SPACE BELOW.)

PRINCIPAL’S NAME: ___________________________________________________________

PRINCIPAL’S NUMBER:_________________________________________________________

Is he/she available?

YES (GO TO B ON PAGE 2)

NO (GO TO A ON PAGE 2)
A. PRINCIPAL NOT AVAILABLE

The packet we mailed to your principal contained a (INSERT)-colored questionnaire from the U.S. Department of 

Education on school safety and discipline. It is designed to be completed by the person(s) most knowledgeable 

about safety and discipline at your school. Do you know to whom the principal would have given it?

YES 

May I have the name, title, and contact information for that person? (GO TO DESIGNATED 

RESPONDENT CONTACT INFORMATION ON PAGE 5 AND RECORD INFORMATION, 

INCLUDING BEST AVAILABLE TIMES.)

NO (CONTINUE BELOW)

Would you please leave a message for the principal mentioning that I called about the survey on school safety and 

discipline? When is a good time to call back?

Callback Date/Time:______________________________________________________________

Thank you for your time, I will call back.

B. PRINCIPAL CONTACT

Hello, my name is (YOUR NAME) and I am calling from Westat on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education 

regarding a packet that we recently mailed to your attention. The packet contained a (INSERT) -colored 

questionnaire on school safety and discipline. The packet also included a cover letter from the U.S. Department 

of Education explaining the purpose of the study, and requested that the questionnaire be completed by the 

person(s) most knowledgeable about safety and discipline at your school. Did you receive the questionnaire?

Yes, questionnaire received (CONTINUE WITH C BELOW)

No, questionnaire not received (GO TO E ON PAGE 4)

C. QUESTIONNAIRE RECEIVED

Will you complete the survey yourself or have you given it to someone else?

Yes, principal responsible (GO TO 1 BELOW)

No, someone else responsible (GO TO 2 ON PAGE 3)

1. Have you had a chance to complete the questionnaire? (CHECK ON)

Questionnaire completed and returned to Westat

DATE RETURNED: _______________________________________________

MODE (Mail/web/fax): _____________________________________________

Thank you very much for participating in the survey. We will look for your questionnaire. If 

we do not receive it soon, we will call back to let you know.

Still working on questionnaire

We would like to have all questionnaires completed as soon as possible. Can you give us an 

idea of when we can expect your completed questionnaire?

EXPECTED DATE OF COMPLETION:_________________________________________

(CONTINUE ON PAGE 3)
Please remember that you have the option of completing the questionnaire online at 

www.frss-XXX.org, or you can complete the paper copy and return it by mail or fax, using 

our toll free number 1-800-254-0984. Please keep a copy for your records. We will look 

for your questionnaire; if we do not receive it, we will call back to let you know. What is the 

best time to reach you?

RECORD TIME:_______________________________________________

Thank you for your time.

{INTERVIEWER: IF THE RESPONDENT PREFERS TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY ONLINE, PLEASE 

PROVIDE THE SCHOOL’S USER ID AND PASSWORD AND THE WEB ADDRESS; IF HE/SHE HAS THE 

QUESTIONNAIRE IN FRONT OF HIM/HER, REFER THE RESPONDENT TO THE INFORMATION ON THE 

SMALL LABEL AFFIXED TO THE COVER PAGE.}

2. May I please have the name of the respondent, his/her title, and the best times to reach that person?

YES (GO TO DESIGNATED RESPONDENT CONTACT INFORMATION ON PAGE 5)

NO (CONTINUE WITH D BELOW)

D. REFUSED DIRECT CONTACT WITH RESPONDENT

Do you know the status of the questionnaire? (CHECK ONE)

Questionnaire completed and returned to Westat

DATE RETURNED: ________________________________________________

MODE (Mail/web/fax): ______________________________________________

Thank you very much for participating in the study. We will look for your questionnaire. If we do 

not receive it soon, we will call back to let you know. Thank you for your time.

Respondent still working on the questionnaire

We are trying to have all questionnaires completed as quickly as possible. Can you give us an idea 

of when we can expect your questionnaire?

EXPECTED DATE OF COMPLETION: _________________________________________

Please remind the respondent that he/she has the option of completing the questionnaire online at 

www.frss-XXX.org or he/she can complete the paper copy and return it by mail or by fax, using our 

toll free fax number 1-800-254-0984. Also, remind him/her to keep a copy of the completed 

questionnaire for their records. We will look for your questionnaire; if we do not receive it, I will 

call back to let you know. What is the best time to reach you? 

BEST TIME: _______________________________________________

Thank you for your time.

Status unknown

Will you please check on the status of the questionnaire? I will call you back to check on the status. 

When would be a convenient time for me to call back?

CALLBACK TIME: __________________________________________________
E. SURVEY NOT RECEIVED

The survey is being conducted for the U.S. Department of Education to collect nationally representative 

information about school safety and discipline. It is designed to be completed by the person(s) at your school 

most knowledgeable about safety and discipline.

You have the option of completing the questionnaire online, or we can send another copy of the questionnaire to 

your school. Would it be possible to send the survey directly to the person who is most knowledgeable about 

safety and discipline at your school? (CHECK ONE BOX BELOW AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS.)

NO. Send to principal (CONTINUE BELOW; VERIFY/RECORD NAME, TITLE, AND ADDRESS 

ON LABEL. REQUEST FAX NUMBER OR EMAIL ADDRESS IF NEEDED. COMPLETE A 

REMAIL, FAX, OR EMAIL REQUEST FORM.) 

YES. Send to designated respondent (RECORD NAME, TITLE, ADDRESS, PHONE, AND FAX 

NUMBERS, AND EMAIL ADDRESS IN PART II PAGE 5, DESIGNATED RESPONDENT 

CONTACT INFORMATION. COMPLETE A REMAIL, FAX OR EMAIL REQUEST FORM FOR 

DESIGNATED RESPONDENT.)

I will mail/fax/email the questionnaire out today. We are trying to obtain all completed questionnaires as soon as 

possible because the data are urgently needed. (CONTINUE BELOW. BASED ON PREFERENCE, ADJUST THE 

SENTENCE.)

May I please confirm your mailing address/get your fax number/get your email address? (VERIFY OR UPDATE 

ADDRESS AND OBTAIN FAX NUMBER AND/OR EMAIL ADDRESS.)

The questionnaire can also be completed and returned online at www.frss-XXX.org. If you prefer, you may 

complete the paper copy and return it by mail or by fax, using our toll free number 1-800-254-0984. When can 

we expect your completed questionnaire?

EXPECTED COMPLETION DATE: ___________________________________________

Thank you for your time. We will look for your questionnaire. Please remember to keep a copy of the 

completed survey for your records.

INTERVIEWER: IF THE RESPONDENT PREFERS TO COMPLETE THE QUESTIONNAIRE 

ONLINE, PLEASE PROVIDE THE SCHOOL’S USER ID, PASSWORD, AND WEB ADDRESS: 

www.frss-XXX.org.
II. DESIGNATED RESPONDENT CONTACT INFORMATION

NAME: _____________________________________________________________________________

TITLE:______________________________________________________________________________

Phone #:___________________________________________________________________________

FAX #:____________________________________________________________________________

Address: __________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

Time M T W TH F

Available time

Other time

Comments
III. RESPONDENT CONTACT

Hello, my name is (YOUR NAME). I'm calling from Westat on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education. 

Your principal (GIVE NAME) referred me to you regarding the (INSERT)-colored questionnaire from the U.S. 

Department of Education on school safety and discipline. Did you receive the questionnaire?

YES (CONTINUE WITH A BELOW)

NO (GO TO B ON PAGE 7)

A. RESPONDENT RECEIVED SURVEY

Have you had a chance to complete the questionnaire?

Questionnaire completed and returned to Westat

DATE RETURNED: _______________________________________________

MODE (Mail/web/fax): ______________________________________________

Thank you very much for participating in the survey. We will look for your questionnaire. If 

we do not receive it soon, we will call back to let you know. What is the best time to reach 

you?

BEST TIME:_______________________________________________

Thank you for your time.

Still working on questionnaire

We would like to have all questionnaires completed and returned as soon as possible. Can 

you give us an idea of when we can expect your questionnaire?

EXPECTED DATE OF COMPLETION: ________________________________________

Please remember that you have the option of completing the survey online at www.frssXXX.org, or you can complete the paper copy and return it by mail or by fax, using our tollfree fax number 1-800-254-0984. Please keep a copy of the completed survey for your 

records. We will look for your questionnaire; if we do not receive it, we will call back to let 

you know. What is the best time to reach you?

BEST TIME:_______________________________________________

Thank you for your time.

INTERVIEWER: IF THE RESPONDENT PREFERS TO COMPLETE THE QUESTIONNAIRE 

ONLINE, PLEASE PROVIDE THE SCHOOL’S USER ID AND PASSWORD AND WEB ADDRESS:

www.frss-XXX.org.. IF HE/SHE HAS THE QUESTIONNAIRE IN FRONT OF THEM, REFER 

HIM/HER TO THIS INFORMATION ON THE SMALL LABEL AFFIXED TO THE COVER PAGE.
B. SURVEY NOT RECEIVED

The survey is being conducted for the U.S. Department of Education to collect nationally representative 

information about school safety and discipline. It is designed to be completed by the person(s) at your school 

most knowledgeable about safety and discipline.

You have the option of completing the questionnaire online or we can send another copy of the questionnaire to 

you (CONTINUE BELOW. BASED ON PREFERENCE, ADJUST THE SENTENCE.)

May I please confirm your mailing address/get your fax number/ get your email address?

The survey can also be completed and returned online at www.frss-XXX.org. If you prefer, you may complete 

the paper copy and return it by mail or by fax, using our toll free number 1-800-254-0984. When can we expect 

your completed questionnaire?

EXPECTED COMPLETION DATE: ___________________________________________

Thank you for your time. We will look for your questionnaire. Please remember to keep a copy of the 

completed survey for your records.

INTERVIEWER: IF THE RESPONDENT PREFERS TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY ONLINE, 

PLEASE PROVIDE THE SCHOOL’S USER ID, PASSWORD, AND WEB ADDRESS: www.frss-XXX.org