QUICK RESPONSE INFORMATION SYSTEM

(QRIS)

SUPPORTING STATEMENT PART A

SYSTEM CLEARANCE PROPOSAL

FOR THE YEARS 2015–2018

OMB # 1850-0733 v.30

October 10, 2014
1

Section A. Justification

A.1. Importance of the Information

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Quick Response Information System (QRIS) consists of the 

Fast Response Survey System (FRSS) and the Postsecondary Education Quick Information System (PEQIS). The 

QRIS currently conducts surveys under OMB generic clearance 1850-0733, which expires in May 2015. This 

clearance request represents a request for a continuation of the current clearance conditions through May 2018.

FRSS primarily conducts surveys of the elementary/secondary sector (districts, schools) and public libraries.

PEQIS conducts surveys of the postsecondary education sector. FRSS and PEQIS surveys are cleared under the 

QRIS generic clearance. The QRIS generic clearance goes through the regular clearance process at OMB with a 

60-day notice and a 30-day notice as part of the 120-day review period. The QRIS package describes the general 

scope of the surveys, their quick turnaround time, their length, size of sample, sample design, and some typical 

topics. Each individual FRSS or PEQIS survey goes into the clearance process with an abbreviated clearance 

package, justifying the particular content of the survey, describing the sample design, the timeline for the survey 

activities, and the questionnaire. The review period for each individual survey is 45 days, including a 30-day 

Federal Register notice period. OMB will provide comments as soon after the end of the 30-day notice period as 

possible. This generic clearance request is for surveys of state education agencies, school districts, schools, 

postsecondary institutions, and libraries.

The Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), established in 1975, and the Postsecondary Education Quick 

Information System (PEQIS), established in 1991, are operated by the National Center for Education Statistics 

(NCES), Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, to meet the data needs of Department of 

Education officials and other government officials with education data needs (e.g., the Department of Agriculture 

or the National Endowment for the Arts). FRSS and PEQIS, referred to in their combined form as the Quick 

Response Information System (QRIS), provide information that is needed quickly and that cannot be collected 

through traditional NCES surveys, either because the topic of interest is not covered by current surveys or because 

of time constraints. NCES receives requests for data to help formulate policy; to make legislative, budgetary, and 

planning decisions for existing programs; and to develop new programs. Findings from QRIS surveys may be 

included in Congressional reports, testimony to Congressional subcommittees, and Department of Education 

reports. The findings may also be used by state and local education officials. QRIS surveys are authorized under 

the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ERSA 2002, 20 U.S.C. § 9543), which authorizes NCES to collect 

and report statistical data related to education in the United States.

FRSS is designed to conduct brief surveys of state education agencies (SEAs), public school districts, public and 

private elementary and secondary schools, and school and public libraries. A nationally representative probability 

sample of the appropriate respondent group is selected for each FRSS survey. The typical sample size for an FRSS 

survey of districts or schools is 1,200 respondents. Depending on the survey topic, samples are either nationally 

representative general purpose probability-proportionate-to-size (PPS) samples selected from the appropriate 

NCES sampling frame (e.g., the Common Core of Data district or school frames), or nationally representative 

special purpose samples tailored to the specific needs of a survey (e.g., districts with Title I funding or schools 

with specific grade spans). FRSS sampling approaches are discussed in more detail in Part B.

PEQIS is designed to conduct brief surveys of postsecondary education institutions or state higher education 

agencies. Most PEQIS surveys of postsecondary education institutions use the PEQIS panel, which is a nationally 

representative sample of approximately 1,650 2-year, 4-year, and graduate level postsecondary institutions in the 

United States (see Part B for additional information about the PEQIS panel). The panel consists of all types of Title

IV degree-granting postsecondary institutions at the 2-year, 4-year, and graduate levels, including universities, 

baccalaureate colleges, community colleges, technical schools, graduate and professional schools, and nursing and 

health science schools. PEQIS can also include a supplementary sample of less-than-2-year or non-degree-granting 

postsecondary institutions when required for a particular survey. These institutions were not included in the basic 

PEQIS panel because of the great volatility of these types of institutions and low frequency of survey topics for 

which these institutions are appropriate. These institutions, many of which are proprietary, open and close at a 

much faster rate than the types of postsecondary institutions included in the PEQIS panel. Thus, NCES decided 
2

that when a survey was requested through PEQIS that included less-than-2-year or non-degree-granting 

institutions, the most recent IPEDS Institutional Characteristics file would be used to draw an up-to-date 

supplementary sample of these institutions to be used for that survey. This procedure was used for the PEQIS 

surveys on financial aid, campus crime, and occupational programs, where obtaining information from less-than-2-

year institutions was crucial. The PEQIS universe and panel are discussed in more detail in Part B. Depending on 

the topic of the survey, questionnaires can either be sent to all institutions in the PEQIS panel or to a subsample of 

the institutions, for example, 2-year institutions. Surveys can also be sent to state higher education agencies.

QRIS surveys are designed to encourage fast response and minimize respondent burden. They are limited to three 

pages of items that take approximately 30 to 45 minutes to complete. QRIS uses a mixed-mode data collection 

approach, with respondents given the option of completing the survey by mail or via the Web. Telephone followup 

is conducted for survey nonresponse and data clarification. Data are imputed for item nonresponse and weighted to 

produce national estimates of the sampled education sector. A report summarizing the data is released on the 

NCES website. In addition, a disclosure risk analysis designed to protect respondent confidentiality is conducted, 

and a public use data file is made available through the NCES website.

A.2. Purposes and Uses of the Data

QRIS is designed to conduct 3 to 10 surveys each year in response to requests from Department of Education and 

other government officials who have education data needs that cannot be met through other NCES surveys. For 

example, the FRSS survey on dual credit and exam-based courses in public high schools provided data on a timely 

basis to the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education regarding the availability of courses through which 

high school students can earn high school and postsecondary credit simultaneously. Other recent FRSS surveys 

provided information about distance education courses for public elementary and secondary school students;

alternative schools and programs for public school students at risk of educational failure; dropout prevention 

services and programs in public school districts; arts education in public schools; and the condition of public 

school facilities. A recent PEQIS survey provided information about dual enrollment programs for high school 

students at postsecondary institutions. Other PEQIS surveys provided information about distance education at 

postsecondary institutions; students with disabilities at postsecondary institutions; and services and support 

programs for military service members and veterans at postsecondary institutions. Individual surveys typically are 

nonrecurring, although a few, such as the arts education and distance education surveys, have been repeated at 

various intervals. Over 100 FRSS and 18 PEQIS surveys have been conducted thus far on a variety of topics. A 

listing of the surveys conducted under FRSS and PEQIS is provided in Exhibit 1 a and b.

A.3. Improved Information Technology

QRIS uses a mixed-mode data collection approach, with respondents given the option of completing the survey by 

mail or via the Web. Telephone followup is conducted for survey nonresponse and data clarification. When paper 

versions of the questionnaire are used, they are transmitted to and from respondents by secure fax server whenever 

possible. In addition, the email address for the contractor (Westat) responsible for answering respondent questions 

is included on the front of the questionnaire. These procedures are all designed to minimize burden on respondents.

Exhibit 1a. Summary of FRSS surveys and data requesters 

No FRSS Survey Title Sector Surveyed Data Requester

1. Statewide Developments in Performance-Based 

Education, 1976 SEAs National Institute of Education (NIE)/DHEW

2.

Job Placement Services Provided by Public 

School Districts to High School Students, 

Graduates, and Dropouts, 1976

Public school districts Office of Assistant Secretary for Education 

(OASE)/DHEW -- coordinated with U.S.E.S.

3. Part-time Student Financial Aid Counselors in 

Institutions of Higher Education, 1977 Colleges Office of Planning, Budget and Evaluation, OE/DHEW

4. Teacher and Administrator Shortages in Public 

School Systems, Fall 1977 Public school districts National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)/DHEW
3

No FRSS Survey Title Sector Surveyed Data Requester

5. Training Needs of Public School Administrators, 

Summer 1978 Public school districts

Assistant Secretary for Education/ DHEW—

coordinated with American Association of 

School Administrators

6. Arts Education: Policies and Programs, Winter 

1978-1979 SEAs Arts Coordinator, OE/DHEW

7. School Districts Participating in Multiple Federal 

Programs, Winter 1978-79 Public school districts Office of Assistant Secretary for Education (OASE)/DHEW

8. ESEA Title I Evaluation: School District Needs 

for Technical Assistance, 1979 Public school districts Office of Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE)/DHEW

9. ESEA Title I Schoolwide Projects: Eligibility and 

Participation, 1979 SEAs Office of Legislation, OE/DHEW

10. Availability of Evening-Weekend Baccalaureate 

Degree-Credit Courses, 1980 Four-year colleges

National Council on Women's Educational 

Programs/DHEW

11. State Vocational Education Programs in the Arts 

and Related Careers, 1980 SEAs Office of Occupational and Adult Education(OAE)/ED

12. Interactive Use of Computers for Instruction, 

1980 Public school districts Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI)/ED

13. School District Perceptions of Federal 

Competitive Education Programs, 1981 Public school districts School Finance Project/ED

14. Instructional Use of Computers in Public Schools, 

1982 Public schools Assistant Secretary for Educational Research and Improvement/ED

15. School District Academic Requirements and 

Achievement, 1982 Public school districts National Commission on Excellence in Education/ED

16. Undergraduate Teacher Education, 1982-83 Four-year colleges National Commission on Excellence in 

Education/ED

17.

Federal Discretionary Program Priorities for the 

Office of Vocational and Adult Education 

(OVAE), 1983-84

SEAs Office of Vocational and Adult Education 

(OVAE)/ED

18. Teacher Preparation in the Use of Computers in 

Education, 1984 Four-year colleges Assistant Secretary for Educational Research and Improvement/ED

19. Remedial/Developmental Studies in Institutions 

of Higher Education, 1984 Colleges Under-Secretary of Education/ED

20. Patron Use of Computers in Public Libraries, 

1984-85

Public library 

systems

Center for Libraries and Education 

Information, Office of Educational Research 

and Improvement (OERI)/ED

21. School Discipline Policies and Practices, 1985 Public schools

National Council on Educational Research 

(NCER) through the National Institute of 

Education (NIE)/ED

22. Use of Volunteers in Adult Literacy, 1985 Adult literacy 

programs

Adult Literacy Initiative

23. High School Academic Requirements/ 

Initiatives, 1985

Public school 

districts

National Commission on Excellence in 

Education (NCEE)/ED

24. ECIA Chapter 1 Oversight Experience, 1986 Public school 

districts

Office of Research, Office of Educational 

Research and Improvements (OERI)/ED

25. ECIA Chapter 1 Participation of Nonpublic 

School Students, 1986

Public school 

districts

Office of Research, Office of Educational 

Research and Improvements (OERI)/ED

26. Teacher Perspectives of School Discipline, 

1986-87

Teachers in public 

schools Office of the General Counsel/ED

27. Arts and Humanities Policies of School 

Districts, 1987

Public school 

districts

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and 

National Endowment for the Humanities 

(NEH) 

28. Library Services to Young Adults in Public 

Libraries, 1987 Public libraries

Office of Library Programs, Office of 

Educational Research and Improvement 

(OERI)/ED

29a. State Survey on Substance Abuse Education, 

1987 SEAs Office of Planning, Budget and Evaluation (OPBE)/ED
4

No FRSS Survey Title Sector Surveyed Data Requester

29b

.

District Survey on Substance Abuse Education, 

1987

Public school 

districts

Office of Planning, Budget and Evaluation 

(OPBE)/ED

30. State Vocational Education Policies, 1987 SEAs Office of Planning, Budget and Evaluation 

(OPBE)/ED

31. Public School Early Estimates, 1987 Survey canceled by NCES

32. Principals' Perceptions of Academic Reform, 

1987

Principals in public 

high schools

Office of Educational Research and 

Improvement (OERI)/ED

33. Education Partnerships, 1988 Public schools Private Sector Initiative (PSI)/ED

34. Use of Research and Development Resources, 

1989

Public school 

districts

Office of Educational Research and 

Improvement (OERI)/ED

35. Private School Early Estimates, 1988 Private schools National Center for Education Statistics 

(NCES)/ED

36. Services to Children in Public Libraries, 1989 Public libraries

Office of Library Programs, Office of 

Educational Research and Improvement 

(OERI)/ED

37. Survey of State Library Agencies, 1989 Survey canceled by Office of Library 

Programs/ED

38. Remedial Developmental Studies in Colleges, 

1990 Colleges National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)/ED

39. Office for Civil Rights Feasibility Study, 1991 Public school 

districts Office for Civil Rights (OCR)/ED

40. District Survey on Safe, Drug-free, Disciplined 

Schools, 1991

Public school 

districts

National Center for Education Statistics 

(NCES) and Office of Planning, Budget, and 

Evaluation (OPBE)/ED

41. School Survey on Safe, Drug-free, Disciplined 

Schools, 1991 Public schools

National Center for Education Statistics 

(NCES) and Office of Planning, Budget, and 

Evaluation (OPBE)/ED

42. Teacher Survey on Safe, Drug-free, Disciplined 

Schools, 1991 

Teachers in public 

schools

National Center for Education Statistics 

(NCES) and Office of Planning, Budget, and 

Evaluation (OPBE)/ED

43. Postsecondary Institutional Reporting 

Capability, 1991

Postsecondary 

institutions

National Center for Education Statistics 

(NCES)/ED

44. Survey on Teacher Performance Evaluations, 

1993

Teachers in public 

elementary schools

Office of Research, Office of Educational 

Research and Improvement (OERI)/ED

45. National Assessment of Vocational Education 

Survey of Teachers, 1992

Teachers in public 

secondary schools

Office of Research, Office of Educational 

Research and Improvement (OERI)/ED

46. Kindergarten Teacher Survey on School 

Readiness, 1993

Kindergarten 

teachers in public 

schools

National Center for Education Statistics 

(NCES)/ED and National Education Goals 

Panel

47a. Public Library Services to Children, 1994 Public libraries

Office of Library Programs, Office of 

Educational Research and Improvement 

(OERI)/ED

47b

.

Public Library Services to Young Adults, 1994 Public libraries

Office of Library Programs, Office of 

Educational Research and Improvement 

(OERI)/ED

48. High School Curricular Options, 1993-94 Public high schools National Center for Education Statistics 

(NCES)/ED

49. Survey of Attitudes and Expectations toward 

Secondary Education in the U.S., 1994 Household RDD National Center for Education Statistics(NCES)/ED

50a. Arts Education for Elementary Schools, 1994 Public elementary 

schools National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)

50b

.

Arts Education for Secondary Schools, 1994 Public secondary 

schools National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)

51. Advanced Telecommunications in Public 

Elementary and Secondary Schools, 1994

Public elementary 

and secondary 

schools

Office of the Secretary/ED
5

No FRSS Survey Title Sector Surveyed Data Requester

52. Nutrition Education in U.S. Public Schools, 

1995

Public elementary 

and secondary 

schools

Office of Analysis and Evaluation, Food and 

Consumer Service, U.S. Department of 

Agriculture and the National Center for 

Education Statistics (NCES)/ED

53. School Survey on Racial and Ethnic 

Classifications, 1995

Public elementary 

and secondary school 

principals

National Center for Education Statistics 

(NCES) and the Office for Civil Rights 

(OCR)/ED

54. School Education Reform, 1996

Public elementary 

and secondary school 

principals

Office of Educational Research and 

Improvement (OERI), and the Planning and 

Evaluation Service (PES)/ED

55. Teacher Education Reform, 1996

Public elementary 

and secondary school 

teachers

Office of Educational Research and 

Improvement (OERI), and the Planning and 

Evaluation Service (PES)/ED

56. Advanced Telecommunications in U.S. Private 

Schools, K-12, 1995 Private schools, K-12 Office of Nonpublic Education/ED

57. Advanced Telecommunications in U.S. Public 

Schools, K-12, 1995 Public schools, K-12 Office of the Secretary /ED

58. Parental Involvement in Public Schools, 1996 Public schools National Center for Education Statistics 

(NCES)/ED

59. State Survey on Racial and Ethnic 

Classifications in Public Schools, 1997

Telephone survey of 

SEAs

National Center for Education Statistics 

(NCES) and the Office for Civil Rights 

(OCR)/ED

60. Teacher Nutrition Education, 1997 Teachers in public 

elementary schools U.S. Department of Agriculture

61. Advanced telecommunications in U.S. public 

schools, K-12, 1996

Public elementary 

and secondary 

schools

Office of the Secretary/ED

62. Summer Migrant Education Programs, 1998

Providers of summer 

migrant education 

programs

Office of Migrant Education (OME)/ED

63. Principal/School Disciplinarian Survey on 

School Violence, 1997

Public elementary 

and secondary 

schools

National Center for Education Statistics 

(NCES) and the Planning and Evaluation 

Service (PES)/ED

64. Internet Access in U.S. Public Schools, Fall 

1997

Public elementary 

and secondary 

schools

Office of the Secretary/ED

65. Teacher Survey on Professional Development 

and Training, 1998

Teachers in public 

elementary and 

secondary schools

Office of the Secretary/ED

66. Programs for Adults in Public Library Outlets, 

2000 Public libraries

Office of Educational Research and 

Improvement (OERI), the National Library 

of Education , and the National Center for 

Education Statistics (NCES)/ED

67a. Elementary Arts Education Survey, Fall 1999 Public elementary 

schools

Office of Educational Research and 

Improvement (OERI)/ED and the National 

Endowment for the Arts

67b

.

Secondary Arts Education Survey, Fall 1999 Public secondary 

schools

Office of Educational Research and 

Improvement (OERI)/ED and the National 

Endowment for the Arts

68. Advanced Telecommunications in U.S. Private 

Schools: 1998-1999

Private elementary 

and secondary 

schools

Office of Nonpublic Education/ED

69. Internet Access in U.S. Public Schools, Fall 

1998

Public elementary 

and secondary 

schools

Office of the Secretary/ED
6

No FRSS Survey Title Sector Surveyed Data Requester

70.

Public School Teachers Use of Advanced 

Telecommunications and Other Technologies in 

the Classroom, 1999

Teachers in public 

elementary and 

secondary schools

Office of the Secretary/ED

71. Service-Learning and Community Service, 

1999

Public elementary 

and secondary 

schools

Office of the Secretary/ED

72. Vocational Programs in Secondary Schools, 

1999

Public secondary 

schools

Office of Vocational and Adult Education 

(OVAE)/ED

73. Condition of Public School Facilities, 1999

Public elementary 

and secondary 

schools

Office of the Under Secretary/ED

74. Teacher Professional Development and 

Training in U.S. Public Schools, 1999-2000

Teachers in public 

elementary and 

secondary schools

Office of the Secretary/ED

75. Internet Access in U.S. Public Schools, Fall 

1999

Public elementary 

and secondary 

schools

Office of the Secretary/ED

76. District Survey of Alternative Schools and 

Programs, 2000

Public school 

districts 

Office of the Under Secretary and Office of 

Special Education and Rehabilitative 

Services (OSERS)/ED

77a. Elementary School Visual Arts Specialists, 

2000

Visual arts specialists 

in public elementary 

schools

Office of Educational Research and 

Improvement (OERI)/ED and the National 

Endowment for the Arts

77b

.

Elementary School Music Specialists, 2000

Music specialists in 

public elementary 

schools

Office of Educational Research and 

Improvement (OERI)/ED and the National 

Endowment for the Arts

77c. Arts Survey of Elementary School Classroom 

Teachers, 2000

Classroom teachers 

in public elementary 

schools

Office of Educational Research and 

Improvement (OERI)/ED and the National 

Endowment for the Arts

78. Classes that Serve Children Prior to 

Kindergarten, 2001

Public elementary 

and special education 

schools

Office of Educational Research and 

Improvement (OERI)/ED

79. Internet Access in U.S. Public Schools, Fall 

2000

Public elementary 

and secondary 

schools

Office of the Secretary/ED

80. Survey of High School Guidance Counseling, 

2001 Public high schools Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE)/ED

81. Effects of Energy Needs and Expenditures on 

U.S. Public Schools, 2001 

Public school 

districts

National Center for Education Statistics 

(NCES)/ED

82. Internet Access in U.S. Public Schools, Fall 

2001

Public elementary 

and secondary 

schools

Office of the Secretary/ED

83. Internet Access in U.S. Public Schools, Fall 

2002

Public elementary 

and secondary 

schools

Office of the Secretary/ED

84.

Distance Education Courses for Public 

Elementary and Secondary School Students: 

2002-03

Public school 

districts Office of the Secretary/ED

85. Dual Credit and Exam-based Courses, 2003 Public high schools Office of Vocational and Adult Education 

(OVAE)/ED 

86. Internet Access in U.S. Public Schools, Fall 

2003

Public elementary 

and secondary 

schools

Office of the Secretary/ED

87. Foods and Physical Activity in Public 

Elementary Schools: 2005

Public elementary 

schools

National Center for Education Statistics 

(NCES)/ED
7

No FRSS Survey Title Sector Surveyed Data Requester

88. Public School Principals’ Perceptions of Their 

School Facilities: Fall 2005

Public elementary 

and secondary 

schools

National Center for Education Statistics 

(NCES)/ED

89.

Distance Education Courses for Public 

Elementary and Secondary School Students: 

2004-05

Public school 

districts Office of the Secretary/ED

90. Internet Access in U.S. Public Schools, Fall 

2005

Public elementary 

and secondary 

schools

Office of the Secretary/ED

91. After-school Programs in Public Elementary 

Schools, 2008

Public elementary 

schools

Office of Elementary and Secondary 

Education (OESE)/ED

92. Educational Technology in U.S. Public 

Schools, Fall 2008

Public elementary 

and secondary 

schools

Office of the Secretary/ED

93. Educational Technology in Public School 

Districts, Fall 2008

Public school 

districts Office of the Secretary/ED

94. Unfunded Retiree Health Insurance, 2008 Public school 

districts Survey cancelled by NCES

95. Teachers’ Use of Educational Technology in 

U.S. Public Schools, 2009

Teachers in public 

elementary and 

secondary schools 

Office of the Secretary/ED

96. District Survey of Alternative Schools and 

Programs, 2008

Public school 

districts Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools/ED

97. State Survey on Career and Technical 

Education State CTE Directors Survey cancelled by NCES

98.

Distance Education Courses for Public 

Elementary and Secondary School Students: 

2009-10

Public school 

districts Office of the Secretary/ED

99. Dropout Prevention Services and Programs, 

2010-11

Public school 

districts

National Center for Education Statistics 

(NCES)/ED

100

.

Elementary School Arts Education Survey: Fall 

2009

Public elementary 

schools Office of Innovation and Improvement/ED

101

.

Secondary School Arts Education Survey: Fall 

2009

Public secondary 

schools Office of Innovation and Improvement/ED

102

.

Surveys of Elementary School Music 

Specialists and Visual Arts Specialists, and Arts 

Survey of Elementary School Classroom 

Teachers, 2010

Teachers in public 

elementary schools Office of Innovation and Improvement/ED

103

.

Surveys of Secondary School Music Specialists 

and Visual Arts Specialists, 2010

Teachers in public 

secondary schools Office of Innovation and Improvement/ED

104

.

Dual Credit and Exam-based Courses, 2010-11 Public high schools Office of Elementary and Secondary 

Education (OESE)/ED

105

.

Condition of Public School Facilities: 2012-13

Public elementary 

and secondary 

schools

National Center for Education Statistics 

(NCES)/ED

106

.

School Safety and Discipline: 2013-14

Public elementary 

and secondary 

schools

Office of Safe and Healthy Students/ED and 

National Center for Education Statistics 

(NCES)/ED

Exhibit 1b. Summary of PEQIS surveys and data requesters (continued)

No PEQIS Survey Title Sector Surveyed Data Requester

1. Higher Education Finances and Services, 

1993 Higher education institutions

Office of Policy and Planning (OPP) and the 

National Center for Education Statistics 

(NCES)/ED

2. Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students in 

Postsecondary Education, 1993 Postsecondary institutions Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS)/ED
8

No PEQIS Survey Title Sector Surveyed Data Requester

3.

Precollegiate Programs for Disadvantaged 

Students at Higher Education Institutions, 

1994

Higher education institutions Office of the Under Secretary/ED

4. Financial Aid at Postsecondary Education 

Institutions, 1994-95 Postsecondary institutions Office of the Under Secretary/ED

5.

Survey on Distance Education Courses 

Offered by Higher Education Institutions, 

1995

Higher education institutions Office of Educational Research and 

Development (OERI)/ED

6. Survey on Remedial Education in Higher 

Education Institutions, 1995 Higher education institutions Office of the Under Secretary/ED

7.

Campus Crime and Security at 

Postsecondary Education Institutions, 

1996

Postsecondary institutions Office of Educational Research and 

Development (OERI)/ED

8.

Students with Disabilities at 

Postsecondary Education Institutions, 

1998

Postsecondary institutions Office of Special Education and 

Rehabilitative Services (OSERS)/ED

9. Distance Education at Postsecondary 

Education Institutions, 1998 Postsecondary institutions National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)/ED

10

.

Noncredit Offerings at Higher Education 

Institutions, 1999 Higher education institutions Survey cancelled by NCES

11

.

Occupational Programs in Postsecondary 

Education Institutions, 1999

2-year and less-than-2-year 

postsecondary institutions

Office of Vocational and Adult Education 

(OVAE)/ED

12

.

Remedial Education in Higher Education 

Institutions: Fall 2000 Higher education institutions National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)/ED

13

.

Distance Education at Higher Education 

Institutions: 2000-2001

Title IV degree-granting 

institutions

National Center for Education Statistics 

(NCES)/ED

14

.

Dual Enrollment Programs and Courses 

for High School Students, 2004

Title IV degree-granting 

institutions

Office of Vocational and Adult Education 

(OVAE)/ED

15

.

Educational Technology in Teacher 

Education Programs for Initial Licensure, 

2006

4-year Title IV degreegranting institutions Office of the Secretary/ED 

16

.

Distance Education at Postsecondary 

Institutions, 2007

Title IV degree-granting 

institutions Office of the Secretary/ED

17

.

Students with Disabilities at

Postsecondary Education Institutions, 

2009

Title IV degree-granting 

institutions

Office of Special Education and 

Rehabilitative Services (OSERS)/ED

18

.

Dual Enrollment Programs and Courses 

for High School Students, 2011

Title IV degree-granting 

institutions

Office of Elementary and Secondary 

Education (OESE)/ED

19

.

Services and Support Programs for 

Military Service Members and Veterans, 

2012-13

Title IV degree-granting 

institutions

National Center for Education Statistics 

(NCES)/ED

A.4. Efforts to Identify Duplication

One of the criteria for QRIS is to collect only data that are not available elsewhere. Prior to the implementation of 

a given survey, every effort is made to determine if the requested information is available from another source.

Depending on the survey, this might include contacting other federal agencies or other offices within the 

Department of Education, seeking input from national associations (e.g., the Council for American Private 

Education, the American Library Association, the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions 

Officers, the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators), or obtaining background information 

on a topic through searches of databases and clearinghouses such as the What Works Clearinghouse, ERIC, and 

Higher Education Abstracts. In addition, other programs within NCES are asked for input about surveys during the 

survey development process. This internal NCES review provides an early opportunity to identify duplication, as 

well as providing QRIS with the topic-area and methodological expertise of other NCES staff.
9

A.5. Methods Used to Minimize Burden on Small Entities

Burden is minimized for all respondents by keeping the questionnaires short, restricting questions to generally 

available information, giving respondents the option of completing a Web version of the questionnaire, conducting 

followup for nonresponse and data clarification by telephone, and transmitting paper versions of the questionnaire 

by fax whenever possible. In addition, smaller institutions were sampled at a lower rate than larger institutions in 

the PEQIS panel, and are generally sampled at a lower rate for FRSS surveys.

A.6. Consequences of Not Collecting the Information

QRIS surveys are conducted in response to requests from Department of Education and other government officials 

who have education data needs that cannot be met through other NCES surveys, either because the topic is not 

covered by current surveys or because of time constraints. NCES receives requests for data to help formulate 

policy; to make legislative, budgetary, and planning decisions for existing programs; and to develop new programs.

Findings from QRIS surveys may be included in Congressional reports, testimony to Congressional 

subcommittees, and Department of Education reports. The findings may also be used by state and local education 

officials. ED officials will not have the information they need if the QRIS surveys are not conducted.

A.7. Adherence to the Guidelines in 5 CFR 1320.5

Data collection will be conducted in a manner consistent with the guidelines in 5 CFR 1320.5. The only exception 

is that responses are requested in fewer than 30 days, following the well-developed procedures for NCES quick 

response surveys such as PEQIS and FRSS, which are intended to collect data quickly.

A.8. Consultations Outside NCES

Prior to the implementation of a given survey, input is sought from outside sources. Depending on the survey, this 

might include contacting other Federal agencies or other offices within the Department of Education, or seeking 

input from national associations (e.g., the Council for American Private Education, the American Association of 

Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, 

the National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium).

In addition, one or more rounds of feasibility calls are usually conducted in the early phases of survey 

development. The purpose of feasibility calls is to explore topics for survey items, identify and correct any 

potential issues with the content and format of the survey before conducting a pretest, and assure that the survey 

captures the intended meaning of the questions and minimizes the burden imposed on respondents. Feasibility calls 

involve asking members of the target population to review a draft survey and participate in a telephone discussion.

Approval is requested from OMB under the NCES system clearance for Cognitive, Pilot, and Field Test Studies 

(OMB #1850-0803) prior to conducting the feasibility calls.

After the feasibility calls and review of the survey by the NCES Quality Review Board, a pretest is conducted to 

further test the survey instrument prior to seeking OMB approval to conduct the full data collection. The pretest 

involves asking respondents to complete the survey and participate in a telephone debriefing. Prior to conducting 

the pretest, approval is requested from OMB under the NCES system clearance for Cognitive, Pilot, and Field Test 

Studies (OMB #1850-0803).

A.9. Payments to Respondents

No payments or gifts to respondents will be made on QRIS surveys covered under this generic clearance.
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A.10. Assurance of Confidentiality

Data to be collected will not be released with institutional or personal identifiers attached. Data will be presented 

in aggregate statistical form only. In addition, each data file undergoes extensive disclosure risk analysis and is 

reviewed by the NCES/IES Disclosure Review Board before use in generating report analyses and before release as

a public use data file.

Each respondent will be assured that all information identifying them or their school will be kept confidential in 

compliance with the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. § 9573). As requested by 

OMB, both the cover letter accompanying the questionnaire and the header on the questionnaire state that the 

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

identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002, 20 

U.S.C. § 9573).

In addition, all Westat staff members working on the study are required to sign the NCES Affidavit of 

Nondisclosure, as well as Westat's confidentiality pledge.

A.11. Sensitive Questions

The types of questions asked on QRIS surveys are not likely to be considered sensitive. Questions focus on 

institution-level information rather than on personal information about individuals. Published data from the surveys

consist of composite information that does not identify individual respondents.

A.12. Estimates of Response Burden

Questionnaire completion time for each survey is estimated to average 45 minutes. Information about estimated 

respondent burden hours and cost for QRIS surveys is summarized in Exhibit 2. If ten QRIS surveys are conducted 

each year, with one state survey, three school surveys, three district surveys, one library survey, and two 

postsecondary surveys sent to every institution in the PEQIS panel, the total annual respondent burden would be 

10,568 hours. The cost to respondents is estimated to be $30 per hour for a total cost to respondents of $317,040

for the ten surveys (10,568 hours x $30).

Prior to contacting schools for FRSS school surveys, a courtesy information packet is mailed to the superintendent 

of each district with sampled schools. Notification of districts is estimated to take approximately 5 minutes per 

district. Any special requirements that districts have for approval of surveys will be met before schools in those 

districts are contacted. Each special clearance districts has unique requirements for obtaining approval. For school 

surveys, there are approximately 100 special clearance districts; for district surveys, there are approximately 10 

special clearance districts. The materials sent to special districts will be tailored to meet the specific requirements 

of each district, based on information from the OMB package. The respondent burden for special clearance 

districts is estimated to be approximately 2 hours per special district. The estimated burden time for sampled 

entities (schools, districts, postsecondary institutions, etc.) to review the introductory letter requesting their 

participation (initial contact) is 5 minutes per entity. The response rates for QRIS surveys of districts, schools, and 

postsecondary institutions typically have been 90 percent or greater. Response burden for each survey is estimated 

to average 45 minutes. Based on past experience, it is estimated that about 25 percent of the sample will have 

returned the completed survey before nonresponse follow-up begins; about 75 percent of the sample will receive a 

nonresponse follow-up call that will take about 5 minutes.
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Exhibit 3. Estimated burden for data collection and nonresponse follow-up: FRSS and PEQIS

Type of collection Sample 

size

Estimated 

response 

rate 

(percent)

Estimated 

number of 

respondents 

per survey

Estimated 

number of 

surveys

Estimated 

number of 

responses per 

survey

Burden 

hours per 

respondent 

per survey

Total 

respondent 

burden hours

Respondent 

cost (@$30 

per hour)

State Survey

Initial state contact 51 100% 51 1 51 0.083 5 $150 

Questionnaire 51 100% 51 1 51 0.75 39 $1,170 

Nonresponse 

follow-up call 51 75% 38 1 38 0.083 4 $120 

State survey total -- -- 140 1 140 -- 48 $1,440 

FRSS School 

Survey

District notification 1,070 100% 1,070 3 3,210 0.083 267 $8,010 

Special clearance 

district review 100 100% 100 3 300 2 600 $18,000 

Initial school 

contact 1,200 100% 1,200 3 3,600 0.083 299 $8,970 

Questionnaire 1,200 90% 1,080 3 3,240 0.75 2,430.00 $72,900 

Nonresponse 

follow-up call 1,200 75% 900 3 2700 0.083 224 $6,720 

School survey 

total -- -- 4,350 3 13,050 -- 3,820.00 $114,600 

FRSS District 

Survey

Special clearance 

district review 10 100% 10 3 30 2 60 1800

Initial district 

contact 1,200 100% 1,200 3 3,600 0.083 299 $8,970 

Questionnaire 1,200 90% 1,080 3 3,240 0.75 2,430.00 $72,900 

Nonresponse 

follow-up call 1,200 75% 900 3 2700 0.083 224 $6,720 

District survey 

total -- -- 3,190 3 9,570 -- 3,013.00 $90,390 

FRSS Library 

Survey

Initial library 

contact 1,200 100% 1,200 1 1,200 0.083 100 $3,000 

Questionnaire 1,200 90% 1,080 1 1,080 0.75 810 $24,300 

Nonresponse 

follow-up call 1,200 75% 900 1 900 0.083 75 $2,250 

Library survey 

total -- -- 3,180 1 3,180 -- 985 $29,550 

PEQIS Panel 

Survey

Initial institution 

contact 1,647 100% 1,647 2 3,294 0.083 274 $8,220 

Questionnaire 1,647 90% 1,482 2 2,964 0.75 2,223.00 $66,690 

Nonresponse 

follow-up call 1,647 75% 1,235 2 2,470 0.083 205 $6,150 

PEQIS survey 

total -- -- 4,364 2 8,728 -- 2,702.00 $81,060 

Total annual 

burden -- -- 15,224 10 34,668 -- 10,568 $317,040 

Total 3-year 

burden 2015-2018 -- -- 45,672 30 104,004 -- 31,704.00 $951,120 
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A.13. Estimates of Cost Burden for Collection of Information

Respondents will not need to purchase or maintain equipment or services to respond to QRIS surveys.

A.14. Estimates of Cost to the Federal Government

Different FRSS and PEQIS surveys carry different costs. Costs to the Federal Government for salaries and 

expenses and contractual costs, including the costs for survey preparation, data collection, data analysis, and report 

preparation and dissemination, will be provided for each survey when it is submitted to OMB for approval.

A.15. Changes in Burden

No changes in burden are being requested.

A.16. Publication Plans/Time Schedule

After each survey is approved by OMB, the QRIS contractor will mail the questionnaire to the respondents.

Including in the mailing will be information about the option to complete a Web version of the survey. About 3 

weeks after mailout, the contractor will begin telephone followup for nonresponse and data consistency. Data 

collection is scheduled for completion about 20 weeks after mailing. See Exhibit 4 for the anticipated time 

schedule for QRIS institutional surveys.

Tabulations will be produced for each data item. Crosstabulations of data items will be made with selected 

classification variables such as instructional level and school size for FRSS surveys, and level and control of the 

institution for PEQIS surveys. The findings will be made available to the data requesters about 8 weeks after the 

end of data collection. Reports of the findings will be released on the NCES website.

For all FRSS and PEQIS surveys, NCES will publish First Look reports. The First Look reports include one brief 

page of summary findings accompanied by no more than 15 tables of estimates. Each table of 

estimates disaggregates the data by selected characteristics (e.g., school enrollment size; region; postsecondary 

institution type). In addition, NCES frequently publishes a statistical analysis report that expands upon analyses 

from the First Look report.

Exhibit 4. Anticipated Time Schedule for QRIS Institutional Surveys

Cumulative workdays

From submission to RIMS/OMB From OMB approval

Package to OMB..................................................... 0 -

Package approved by OMB.................................... 45 0

Mailout.................................................................... 55 10

Followup started ..................................................... 70 25

Followup completed ............................................... 155 110

Basic tabulations..................................................... 195 150

Survey report - draft................................................ 235 190

A.17. Approval to Not Display Expiration Date

All QRIS surveys will display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection.

A.18. Exceptions to the Certification Statement

No exceptions to the certification statement are being sought.