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## Public Comments Received **for ECLS**  **- K:2011 Spring 3rd**  **- Grade National**  **Data Collection, 4th -**  **Grade Recruitment, & 5th -**  **Grade Tracking During** 

**the 30 -**  **day Comment Period (OMB#**  **1850 -**  **0750 v.15 )** 

**and NCES Responses Docket:**  ED - 2013 - ICCD - 0096 Earl y Childhood L ongitudinal Study Kindergarten Class of 2010 - 11 (ECL S - K:2011) Spring Third - Grade National Collection, Fourth - Grade Recruitment, and Fifth - Grade Tracking **Comment s**  **On:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0006 Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; 

## Comments related to **Privacy Concerns/Voluntary Nature of the Study/Collection and Use of Information (All comments)**  **Received:** September 24, 2013 **Category:** Individual **Tracking No.** 1jx - 87sf

- izwl **Document:** ED - 2013 - I CCD - 0096 - 0009 **Submitter Information:** Anony mous The Tenth Amendment states that “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by

it to the States, are reserved to the States respectivel y, or to the people.” Based on the Tenth Amendment, education is not a power delegated to the federal government. It is a power delegated to the states and the people. Under the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution, it can be argued that the federal government does not have the right to obtain a student’s data and conduct research based on that data. Additionally under the General Educational Provisions Act the federal government is expressly prohibited from controlling, supervising or directing school sy stems. Parents and their childre n do not want their data mined and tracked b y the government. **Received:** September 24, 2013 **Category:** Academic/Think Tank **Tracking No.** 1jx - 87sf

- ui0s **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0010 **Submitter Information:** Anony mous I cannot see any possible reason that the government needs to track any thing about any

child. It is frankly none of their business and Iam tired of the education sy stem not focusing on EDUCATION instead of worrying about how to become a communist country . Stay out of our lives. This Common Core education is a JOKE. My child is in 6th grade learning 4th grade stuff now. How on earth do you think this is going to work? Go FLORIDA for taking a stand!2

**Received:** September 24, 2013 **Category:** Parent/Relative **Tracking No.** 1jx - 87sf

- wk3x **Document:** E D - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0011 **Submitter Information:** Tonia Broussard I do not want my

information shared nor the information of my children. It is our constitutional right as American Citizens that our privacy not be infringed. **Received:** September 24, 2013 **Cate gory:**  Parent/Relative **Tracking No.** 1jx - 87sf

- iibs **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0012 **Submitter Information:** Michael Lewis I have seen the data collection information that is happening and going to be happening and I am appalled. I knew nothing about Common C ore until recentl y and have been documenting my children's homework and gathering a bit of my own data to see what they are learning. Again, I am appalled! I am 100% against Common Core and will stand up against it every opportunity

Iget. I am speaking out and sharing m y information with everyone I know. Data Mining is Illegal. I do not consent to my children's nor my information being used and I suggest this be terminated immediately . Ido not need m y children's information data mined and ultimately track ed b y the government for government's use. I do not give permission for my

student's information to be gathered and disseminated and Ihave no need, desire, nor grant permission to the government to track my children. Cease and desist. **Received:** September 24, 2013 **Category:** Individual **Tracking No.** 1jx - 87sg -

jr4t **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0013 **Submitter Information:** Erin Raasch The federal government does not have the constitutional or ethical right to track, research or collect student data. As defined by the constitution, student data is a person's "papers" which are not to be searched b y the federal government. Student data is the property of the state or local school district and participation in federal education programs should not be tied to these local entities sharing private student data. Parents should be notified by the "owner" of student data of any potential for data sharing with any federal government agency and have the right to opt - out of any and all federal government student data trackin g and research. **Received:** September 24, 2013 **Category:** Parent/Relative **Tracking No.** 1jx - 87sg -

jzew **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0014 **Submitter Information:** Anony mous I am not ok with my

child's private information being collected by anyone. Any

private i nformation their school was given, was done so with the understanding it would not leave the school. Requesting data from other sources would be unconstitutional as most parents would be unknowing of the government doing so. Thank you3

**Received:** September 24, 2013 **Category:** Child advocate **Tracking No.** 1jx - 87sg - 119s **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0015 **Submitter Information:** Anony mous I do not want school children’s information data mined and ultimately tracked b y the government for government’s use. I do not give permission for my student’s information to be gathered and disseminated and have no need, desire or grant permission to the government to track my child. **Received:** September 24, 2013 **Category:** Individual **Tracking No.** 1jx - 87sg - rci8 **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0016 **Submitter Information:** Anony mous I do not give permission for my child's information data mined and ultimately tracked b y the government for government's use. I also do not grant permission to the government to track my child. **Received:** S eptember 24, 2013 **Category:** Parent/Relative **Tracking No.** 1jx - 87sg - 8kxj **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0017 **Submitter Information:** Anony mous There is no pedagogical justification for tracking my child's personal information in a government database. **Receiv ed:**  September 24, 2013 **Category:** Parent/Relative **Tracking No.** 1jx - 87sg - djph **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0018 **Submitter Information:** Tonya Long I have a child in the Kindergarten class of 2010 - 2011 and WILL NOT allow any government agency

to access my

chil d's personal information in any way , shape or form. Shame on the department of education for not insisting parents be contacted and asked whether they give their approval to collect information on their children. This is invasive and goes against the founding documents of this great republic which ensures the individual's right to life, liberty (the right to choose) and the pursuit of happiness. We have a right to choose who we give our personal information to so having individual parental permission is a must. **Received:** September 24, 2013 **Category:** Parent/Relative **Tracking No.** 1jx - 87sg - c9s7 **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0019 **Submitter Information:** Gloria Witt the Federal Government it does not have my permission to data mine and disseminate my student's in formation.4

**Received:** September 24, 2013 **Category:** Individual **Tracking No.** 1jx - 87sg - casm **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0020 **Submitter Information:** Rebecca Blankenship I do not need my child’s information data mined and ultimately tracked b y the government for government’s use. I do not give permission for my student’s information to be gathered and disseminated and I have no need, desire or grant permission to the government to track my child. **Received:** September 24, 2013 **Category:** Civil Rights **Tracking N o.**  1jx - 87sg - 47oa **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0021 **Submitter Information:** Anony mous You do not have my permission to track my children in any way. **Received:** September 24, 2013 **Category:** Individual **Tracking No.** 1jx - 87sh - 64da **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 00 22 **Submitter Information:** Melissa McNeal y I do need my childs information data mined. Then ultimately tracked b y gov't. I do not give persmission forcm y students information to be gathered and dissemenated. I have no desire for the gov't to track or use my students information. Ido not grant permissionto the government to track my child. You do not have my permission to gather ant information through this data sy stem. **Received:** September 24, 2013 **Category:** Child advocate **Tracking No.** 1jx - 87sj - htli **Docum ent:**  ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0023 **Submitter Information:** Roby n Jensen No to student tracking. The gov't has shown that it is a poor custodian and constantly shows poor judgment in policy

making. **Received:** September 24, 2013 **Category:** Teacher **Tracking No.** 1jx - 87sj - 2san **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0024 **Submitter Information:** Anony mous No, no, and no. I do not want my child or any

children's data collected in a database to be later mined. From the list submitted, it sounds like every piece of data that a school district holds for students will now be used b y the federal government and probabl y as unconstitutionally as the Common Core Standards are. Why do I say that? Well, the feds claim that CC are constitutional because they didn't come from the USDOE but other groups, but the feds are forcing states to implement them or go without funding. Now,5

these other organizations created the CC but the feds are the repository for the data? Sounds unconstitutional to me. **Received:** September 24, 2013 **Category:** Parent/Re lative **Tracking No.** 1jx - 87sk - o5lc **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0025 **Submitter Information:** Deborah Clark This study

does not seem to be a wise use of federal funds. The information being collected is personal, intimate, and invasive; even if the parents are volunteering to participate in the study , their children are not able to consent. For example, Icannot imagine how these answers could be necessary to the proper functions of the Department of Education: (child) do you have a lot of friends? (parent) ho w often would yo u say you're depressed? What can this information possibly be used for, regardless if it is in a timely fashion? Idon't believe most of this information is of any utility to the Department, and I think it violates the privacy

of the children and their families. **Received:** September 24, 2013 **Category:** Parent/Relative **Tracking No.** 1jx - 87sk - ovvv **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0026 **Submitter Information:** Anony mous I have not given or been asked for my permission to collect, use or share my child 's personal information.....Who is tracking and for what purpose? Who stores the information and who is it shared with? There are more questions than answers, and of course we can't ask our Dept. of Education because there will be no answers! Who is recrui ting 4th graders for what??? Where is the local control over education and private information? Something is very wrong with this picture. **Received:** September 24, 2013 **Category:** Academic/Think Tank **Tracking No.** 1jx - 87sl - fx g5 **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0027 **Submitter Information:** jean public i do not believe this agency has to do this nonessential study . it has previous studies, like ten of them to draw conclusions from. no need to gouge taxpayers for this one. they go on for eternity and achieve nothin g new for american kids. this federal fat cat buraeucracy in washington is doing nothing good for our money . we would achieve more for our kids by putting them all in the classrooms all over this country and having them give individualized attention. inste ad they hide in their cubicles making up arfcane language to justify

their existence. we need smaller govt. this crappy agency isworthless. **Received:** September 24, 2013 **Category:** Individual **Tracking No.** 1jx - 87sm - v2sf **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0028 **Sub mitter Information:**  Anony mous Absolutely

NOT!!!! How DARE this federal government collect ANY data...over 400 data points..on ANY MINOR CHILD!!!6

All for the Bill Gates, Pearson et al to profit off of?!!! We are a large group of parents, teachers, adminis trators, grandparents, and citizens who will not back down where our kids are concerned! **Received:** September 24, 2013 **Category:** Individual **Tracking No.** 1jx - 87sm - 4usg **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0029 **Submitter Information:** Anony mous Brown I have 4 childr en and 3 attend public school in New York State. I would like you to know that you do NOT have m y permission to take my children's personal information to use however you see fit. It also my understanding that you cannot guarantee that once you steal my ch ildren's information that you are capable of keeping it safe. DO NOT take my children's information. **Received:** September 24, 2013 **Category:** State Legislature **Tracking No.** 1jx - 87sm - stzz **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0030 **Submitter Information:** Amy Edmonds Is data collection necessary for running the US Dept. of Education? No it is not necessary and if data is needed to properl y run this Department that infringes on the privacy of children, parents and families, then the functions of the Dept. should be changed, scaled back or eliminated. Stop overreaching. Former State Legislator Amy Edmonds, Wyoming **Received:** September 24, 2013 **Category:** Parent/Relative **Tracking No.** 1jx - 87so - 9z8o **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0031 **Submitter Information:** Anony mous I do no t approve of Federal Government collecting data and tracking information about children. I do not give permission for my

student's information to be gathered and disseminated. Ihave no need, desire or grant permission to the government to track my children. As a parent I am do not support Common Core. **Received:** September 24, 2013 **Category:** Parent/Relative **Tracking No.** 1jx - 87sr - yj k3 **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0032 **Submitter Information:** Anony mous I do not give permission to the federal government to track my child. I have no desire or need for the tracking or gathering of information on my child. **Received:** September 25, 2013 **Category:** Child advocate **Tracking No.** 1jx - 87sz - g07e7

**Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0033 **Submitter Information:** Anony mous I stand i n absolute oposition of this data collection regarding our children. This data belongs to the an to them alone. We should be protecting it regardless of the perceived "good intentions" of gathering it. Condider this, would a adult surrender to this sort of data collection. I certainly would not. Additionally , these decisions must be made at the local level. **Received:** September 25, 2013 **Category:** Parent/Relative **Tracking No.** 1jx - 87sz - uyt a **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0034 **Submitter Information:** Chris Si mo - Kinzer As a parent with 3 children in the public school system, Ido not agree with any of the Common Core State Standards and especially not with any

of the data collection via high stakes testing and any quaternaries / survey s. As parent and legal gu ardian I do not consent to any personal information being collected nor will any performance evaluations and/or standardized tests be taken. Any information that is attained and without my

consent will be considered a violation of my child's individual rights and mine as parent of said child and these rights are protected by the 14th amendment of the US Constitution and SCOTUS as sited in a such cases as; Pierce v. Society of Sisters, 268 U.S. 510, 535, Prince v. Massachusetts, 321 U.S. 158, 166, and Meyer v. Nebraska, 262 U.S. 390, 402. **Received:** September 25, 2013 **Category:** Other **Tracking No.** 1jx - 87sz - snyq **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0035 **Submitter Information:** Kimberly Wood The Federal Government does not need my child's information data mined and ultimately tracked b y the government for government's use. I do not give permission for my student's information to be gathered and disseminated and I have no need or desire to grant permission to the government to track my child. This is an HUGE invasion of p rivacy . No one needs data on my family for any thing. I want the Federal Government out of my family's life! **Received:** September 25, 2013 **Category:** Individual **Tracking No.** 1jx - 87t1 - eq96 **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0036 **Submitter Information:** Jeff Hy mas I am against any and all data collection of students. The education sy stem exists for the parents, by the parents, and of the parents. It does not exist by the government, for the government and of the government. The fourth amendment to the Constitution is very clear that we have a God - given right to privacy and the onl y time such privacy should be violated is when there is probable cause that someone is invading or infringing on someone else's rights. Data collection is doing the very thing that the fourth amendment was established to prevent.8

**Received:** September 25, 2013 **Category:** Parent/Relative **Tracking No.** 1jx - 87t6 - 5i yv **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0037 **Submitter Information:** Callay Danford The federal government does not have a right to collect private information on my children. Any information Ihave given on my children to the school was under the understanding that information would not leave the school. Data collection and sharing directl y violates the fourth amendment to the Constitution which c learly states, "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized." **Received:** September 25, 2013 **Category:** Parent/Relative **Tracking No.** 1jx - 87t6 - mwak **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0038 **Submitter Information:** Anony mous Why does the Department of Education need this information? L ast I knew, the information my child(ren) school collects is for their use only unless I give permission for them to share it. The collection, tracking and mining of data infringes on privacy of informatio n that does not belong to the Federal Government for third party benefit. I have never given nor will I ever give permission for my child(ren) information to be used b y the Federal Government. Why are parents not given the option or notified what informati on is being used, who is using and why? ???? **Received:** September 25, 2013 **Category:** Parent/Relative **Tracking No.** 1jx - 87t9 - h5wu **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0039 **Submitter Information:** Maria Neuhaus I do not need my child’s information data mined and ultim ately tracked b y the government for government’s use. I do not give permission for my student’s information to be gathered and disseminated and I have no need, desire or grant permission to the government to track my child. **Received:** September 26, 2013 **C ategory:**  Parent/Relative **Tracking No.** 1jx - 87tl - qwau **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0040 **Submitter Information:** Anony mous I oppose the Federal Government collecting data and tracking information about children. I do not support Common Core. **Received:** September 27, 2013 **Category:** Parent/Relative **Tracking No.** 1jx - 87ue - kxw8 **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 00419

**Submitter Information:** D Walsh New York State, the Federal Government, inBloom and all of those 3rd party vendors DO NOT, I REPEAT DO NOT, have my permissi on to data mine my minor children. I am vehementl y opposed to all aspects of Common Core! Bill Gates, et al - you should be EMBARRASSED AND ASHAMED of yo urselves! You have NO business making a business out of our children's education. You do not know our c hildren - you do not have a clue what is best for the children of this country. You are making examples of poor performing school districts and dragging all of the great ones down to a dumber level to try to make those few look better - OH YEAH - and also to line your pockets with the profits! Get out of our schools!! Just because you have the money to buy the political power DOES NOT give you the right to infringe on our RIGHTS AS AMERI CANS by forcing your narrow minded, selfish views on the rest of us!! N O, you may NOT know anything about my children or m y famil y!! **Received:** September 27, 2013 **Category:** Parent/Relative **Tracking No.** 1jx - 87uh - q5tj **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0042 **Submitter Information:** Gary Ferrin Why is this information necessary to the Department of Education? (In particular the questions dealing with childhood relationships with their peers) What legal right does the Department of Education have to collect data on children with or without parental approval? Who will the information be s hared with? Can the student choose not to participate? How will the information be safeguarded? These and other questions are of particular concern to my self and others. Does anyone there have satisfactory answers for me? Please stop this study now. Thank you. **Received:** October 03, 2013 **Category:** Parent/Relative **Tracking No.** 1jx - 87yf

- 8l5e **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0043 **Submitter Information:** Eva Hill I, parent and legal guardian, DO NOT, I Repeat, I DO NOT give permission to Data Mine, Collect Biometri cs, or any

/all private information to be gathered on my children's (student) records. Illinois State, inbloom, and any /all of those 3rd party

vendors and any

/all Government Officials. I have no need, desire, or grant permission to the Government, Sarato ga Community Consolidated School District 60C and/or Board of Education, etc; to track my children stated above in any manner that has been implemented b y the President and all Government Officials and any/ all private organizations involved. **Received:** Oc tober 10, 2013 **Category:** Parent/Relative **Tracking No.** 1jx - 8835 - w3ci **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0044 **Submitter Information:** Kristy Hazel Are there not Federal Laws prohibitting such collection of information to a national data base?! Ido believe there ar e! And this information I S going to a National Data Base. You can call it the State10

Lo gitudinal Database S ystem, so people will believe it to be state led, but when every state has the same data base and they

are linked and available to the Federal Governm ent...It is a National Data Base!!! . There is no reason the department of education needs to collect and track this information, especially WITHOUT PARENTAL PERMI SSI ON! I demand, as a citizen of this country and state, I demand that this be stopped! Thank you, **Received:** October 10, 2013 **Category:** Four- Year Public Institution of Higher Education **Tracking No.** 1jx - 883a - os9r **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0045 **Submitter Information:** Stephen Coffin Rather than intrude on the privacy of public school children, the federal government should make sure all states submit accurate data by grade and student demographics by year for grade retention and special education. Policy

makers could use these data to make education policies that are more informed and thereb y pe rhaps better address these conditions. **Received:** October 10, 2013 **Category:** Child advocate **Tracking No.** 1jx - 883a - yw a8 **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0046 **Submitter Information:** Anony mous Don't data mine our school students. **Received:** October 10, 2013 **Cat egory:**  Individual **Tracking No.** 1jx - 883a - zltu **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0047 **Submitter Information:** Li nda Hall Keep your hands off our kids. This is a scheme to siphon taxpayer money to the edudiletanttes who create a crisis so they

can profit. Will you be mining for data from Sidwell friends, the Lakeside school...the children of Obama and Gates or is this scam only being forced on the lowly middle class and the poor? Special education students have rights and their records are their medical records protected by HIPAA. Tell Murdoch, Klein, Duncan, Gates and Obama to leave our kids alone. Your stimulus plan masquerading as reform is a hoax and the public is catching on. Shame on all of you. You will NEVER get my kids DATA because we are OPTING OUT an d encouraging all parents to do the same. **Received:** October 10, 2013 **Category:** Parent/Relative **Tracking No.** 1jx - 883d - la3f **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0048 **Submitter Information:** Anony mous11

Wake up. Parents do not what their children's school records tracked. You do not have my permission to follow my

children in any

way , shape or form. Their school performance is NONE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S BUSINESS. What is my business is how all these changes in public education seem to have occurred OVERNIGHT!!! What pay offs are people in the governemnt getting for looking the other way? UNCONSTITUTIONAL..............IMPEACHMENT................. Perhaps YOU can share your records with all of us......... SHAME ON YOU. The founding fathers are doing tumbles in their graves ....but the children are not - too busy taking TESTS. DO NOT DESTROY PUBLIC EDUCATION. **Received:** October 11, 2013 **Category:** Parent/Relative **Tracking No.** 1jx - 883l - bl52 **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0049 **Submitter Information:** John Makowiec Students deserve their privacy . Their test and other information about them should not be shared. **Received:** October 11, 2013 **Category:** Individual **Tracking No.** 1jx - 883y- z92v **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0050 **Submitter Information:** Anony mous Please do not allow the collection and tracking of student data that is associated with the Common Core Standards. This data can be sold to outside vendors. Moreover, the sensitive information contained in the data is stored in the cloud and therefore subjected to possible security bre aches. Thank you. **Received:** October 11, 2013 **Category:** Individual **Tracking No.** 1jx - 8840 - 5jfv **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0051 **Submitter Information:** Tiffany Rios I thought it necessary

to lend my

voice to the US Department of Education, since they are a sking for public comments on a proposal to track massive amounts of data on a set of children who were kindergarteners in the 2010 - 11 school year. Our children have rights and we must protect them, until they are old enough to protect those rights themselves. Do not allow our children's information to be farmed out like sheep. Let the parents (who protect the children) judge what's in the best interest of the children. This is a matter of our children's' civil rights. **Received:** October 16, 2013 **Category:** Child advocate **Tracking No.** 1jx - 886s - vh73 **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0052 **Submitter Information:** Anony mous12

First, constitutionally

the federal government should not be involved with our children's education! It is illegal! The education of our children should be up to state and local government because that keeps the power where it should be, IN THE PARENTS HANDS! Second, as we have learned recently of the many

way s data is being collected and stored and used as in the NSA and IRS I do not trust the fed eral government with private data. I especiall y do not trust the federal government with data on my children. And it is not only the federal government but anyone should know that the internet is not safe. Our children's data should not be on the internet and be shared. We know that information can be hacked and misused. It is a terrible idea to put our children's safety at risk like this! Third, this is a breach of the 4th Amendment to the Constitution and our right to privacy . FERPA does not protect info rmation anym ore. There is no repercussions for breaches of data! And there should be reporting of breaches of data also. There are many reasons this is not a good idea. Please listen to the people and do not do this to our children. **Received:** October 19, 2013 **Category:** Parent/Relative **Tracking No.** 1jx - 8893 -be72 **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0053 **Submitter Information:** Andria Cook I do not want my

child tracked in any education based government study requiring the collection of personal data & I will not permit that for my child now or in the future. Itis not necessary or justified. **Received:** October 20, 2013 **Category:** Parent/Relative **Tracking No.** 1jx - 889t - 4rrt **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0054 **Submitter Information:** Anony mous Data collection on students is unconstitutional. There should be no national data base. Where do our privacy laws kick in, Stop this nonsense now. **Received:** October 25, 2013 **Category:** Charter School or Charter School Organization **Tracking No.** 1jx - 88cu - pamt **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0 096 - 0055 **Submitter Information:** LINDA CARTER It is INSANE that the government has this issue being discussed ! I am deeply disturbed and i do not think tracking children is a good idea! I just dont see the logic ,its a lame excuse that is being used , I D O NOT AND WILL NOT HAVE MY CHILD TRACKED ! if anyone should be tracked, lets start with all the politicians ,that live off WE THE PEOPLE "S buck! lets track where that money is going ?Because our country

is not in debt because us taxpayers! GO TRACK YOURSE LVES! **Received:** September 26, 2013 **Category:** Individual **Tracking No.** 1jx - 87tp - oade **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0056 **Submitter Information:** Rachel Snow13

This information should not be collected on our children. It is not the responsibility of the Federal government to collect and use this data of students for study . It is the responsibility of the state to bear the education decision of the citizens of their state. I do not like the ever increasing role of federal government and the continued growth of the Department of Education in our state affairs. The changes to FERPA in 2008 and 2011 do not allow any protections for our children in regard to their privacy . This citizen does not want data collected on Il linois school children. It is neither the role or responsibility of the Department of Education. **Received:** September 26, 2013 **Category:** Individual **Tracking No.** 1jx - 87tx - 3y8 o **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0057 **Submitter Information:** Susan Pearce I oppose both the tracking of student data and Common Core S tate Standards. **Received:** September 26, 2013 **Category:** Parent/Relative **Tracking No.** 1jx - 87u1 - th79 **Document:** ED - 2013 - IC CD - 0096 - 0058 **Submitter Information:** Amy Skalicky I do not need my child's and my family's private information data mined and ultimately tracked b y the government for government's use. I DO NOT give permission for my child's information ever to be gathered and disseminated. Ihave no need, desire or grant permission to the government to track your child in any

way shape or form for any pur pose. You do not have permission to question my minor child, me, my friends and neighbors, family members or acquaintences or anyone else who may or may not have any relationship with my

child in any

capacity . 

### NCES **RESPONSE** Dear Commenters, Thank you for your comments submitted during the 30 - day public review process, responding to a request for comments on the request for approval for the third - grade data collection, fourth - grade recruitment, and fifth - grade tracking for the Earl y Childhood L ongitudin al Study, Kindergarten Class of 2010 - 11 (ECLS K:2011) , which was published by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in the Federal Register. The Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) provides an opportunity for an open and public comment period where comments on collections can be made. **Who is being surveyed?** This ECL S - K:2011 request is for approval to conduct an additional data collection in an on - going longitudinal study

that began in the 2010 - 11 school year . The children in the study were select ed during the 2010 - 11 school year. Participation in the study is completely voluntary ; all participants were informed of their selection and all children from or about whom data have been collected have parents who signed a written consent form, provided v erbal consent o ver the phone, or did not opt - out of the study . Though respondents may

choose to participate by

completing an assessment, interview, or questionnaire, they have the right to refuse to answer any question asked of them and/or withdraw complet el y from the study at any point .14

This is not a request for clearance to compile a database of all students in the United States, and information is not being collected from or about members of the public who are not part of the study . Members of the publ ic (parents and children) who were not originall y selected for the study , including those who were in kindergarten in the 2010 - 11 school year, are not being sought for participation now . This data collection is for parents and children who have participate d in the study in the past (approximately

18,300 children and their parents or guardians) . The study includes questionnaires for children’s teachers and school administrators/principals. In each round of data collection, new teachers must be recruited for the study because children change teachers from year to year. When children change schools, their new schools are asked to participate in the study . The study recruits only

school staff members who are associated with children already participating in the study . Teachers and school administrators who are part of the general public and not associated with a study child are not asked to participate in the study. As it is for parents and children, participation for school staff is completely voluntary , and any teacher or administrator/principal may refuse to participate or to answer any question he or she does not want to. **From whom is tracking information being collected?** The request to track students is not a request to track the general population of stud ents. Tracking, as used in survey research, refers to the process of maintaining current contact information for participating respondents (in this case, students and their families ) and updating their contact information when they move so that they

can be reached at the time of the next data collection. For example, the ECL S - K:2011 data collector requests contact information from participating students’ parents . **How are survey data used?** In formation collected as part of the ECL S - K:2011 is not being coll ected for the purpose of data mining b y the Federal Government. The data are used b y NCES to provide statistics on the condition of education in the United States, as is required by law. The ECLS - K:2011 is authorized by law under the Education Sciences Ref

orm Act of 2002 (20 U.S. Code Section 9543): (A ) “The Statistics Center shall collect, report, analyze, and disseminate statistical data related to education in the United States and in other nations, including -- (7 ) conducting longitudinal and special data collections necessary to report on the condition and progress of education;” The information is also used by researchers at academic institutions; policy organizations; other local, state, and federal government agencies ; and other organizations that cond uct research to better understand a range of important issues in education and child development . Parents and school staff were informed of the intended use of the collected data before the study began. **How is participant privacy maintained?** By law, all collected data may onl y be used for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required b y law [Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002), 20 U.S. Code, Section 9573]. Prior to relea se, the information collected from participants is compiled in data files that undergo a disclosure risk analysis and editing to protect against releasing information that allows for identification of any of the study’s participants . D irect identifiers suc h as participants’ name s are not associated with data provided to anyone outside the contract ed staff collecting the data . Employees of the National Center for Education Statistics are not provided with participants’ names . A ssessment score s and other coll ected information are separated from student’s name s and all other direct identifiers, and used only for statistical anal ys es . Additionally , children’s15

assessment scores are never provided to their parents or school staff , and c hildren’s performance on the assessments has no consequence for the children or their schools. The assessments are designed solely to allow researchers to better understand the relationship between a variety of factors and student learning and growth. Strict laws protect the data col lected, and strict security protocols are followed at all stages of data collection and use (see the clearance request documents that are part of this docket for details ) . **What is the purpose of ECLS -**  **K:2011?** The ECL S - K:2011 is a study of children’s growth and development with a particular focus on educational experiences and outcomes. Children’s educational outcomes are affected b y the children’s experiences in many contexts, both in and outside of school . Thus, the study collects information on a variety of topics and experiences in order to gain a more complete picture of how growth and development are affected by the variety of experiences in children’s lives . This is the reason the study collects information on topics that are not strictl y educational. For example, the study collects information on children’s health and disability as these factors can affect children’s ability to learn and the services they receive in school. In formation is collected about parents’ health, because parental health issues can have effects on children’s outcomes. Children’s peers (for example , their attitudes toward school and bullying behavior s ) can also have a substantial effect on how children experience school, which in turn can affect learning and achievement. While th e relationships between experiences and outcomes may have been investigated in other studies, the ECL S - K:2011 is unique in that it provides national level data, thereb y allowing researchers to determine whether findings from other studies hold true at a na tional level. Also, b ecause the study collects information abo ut a variety of topics, the ECL S - K:2011 allows researchers to determine whether documented effects are directl y related to a particular characteristic or experience, while controlling for other factors. **What is the study link to the Common Core Standards?** The study collect s information about c hildren’s experiences in school, including children’s dail y experiences in the classroom and, more specifically , the instruction to which they are exposed . In order to collect adequate data about instruction, it was necessary to develop questions about instruction that are based on instructional topics emphasized by the Common Core because many schools have recently adopt ed the Common Core standards. Alth ough the ECL S - K:2011 seeks to collect information relevant to current educational policies, as a statistical agency NCES is policy

neutral. This is not a study about the Common Core standards, nor is it directly linked to the Common Core. In clusion of items related to the Common Core is intended to facilitate , through research, an understanding of how Common Core is affecting children’s educational experiences and outcomes . Sincerel y yo urs, Earl y Childhood L ongitudinal Study staff at the National Center for Education Statistics