1

APPENDIX A: RECRUITMENT MATERIALS

(previously approved, OMB# 1850-0075 v.15)

State PISA Letter..........................................................................................................................................................2

School District PISA Letter..........................................................................................................................................3

School PISA Letter.......................................................................................................................................................4

PISA 2015 Study Brochure – Front Cover...................................................................................................................5

PISA 2015 Study Brochure Inside Text .......................................................................................................................6

PISA 2015 Study Brochure – Back Cover....................................................................................................................7

PISA 2015 State FAQ...................................................................................................................................................8

PISA 2015 School FAQ..............................................................................................................................................10

PISA 2015 Teacher FAQ............................................................................................................................................12

PISA 2015 Student FAQ.............................................................................................................................................14

Teacher Invite Email...................................................................................................................................................16
2

[Date]

[Title] [Name First] [Name Last]

[Title/Department]

[State]

[Address 1]

[Address 2]

[City], [State] [Zip code]

Dear [Title] [Name Last]:

The United States is participating in an important international study in 2015: the Program for International Student 

Assessment (PISA). PISA is the largest international education study in the world. Administered every 3 years since 2000, the

United States has participated in each cycle of PISA. More than 70 countries representing approximately 90 percent of the

world economy participate in PISA. Results are used by researchers and policymakers to chart national progress against 

international benchmarks and the educational progress of our economic peers and competitors. Some schools in your state 

have been randomly selected to participate in PISA in the fall of 2015 and I am writing to ask your agency to support the 

participation of these schools. 

PISA provides comparative information on the performance of U.S. 15-year-old students in science, reading, and 

mathematics with 15-year-old students in other countries. PISA 2015 will also include assessments of students’ collaborative 

problem-solving and financial literacy. 

PISA is described in more detail in the enclosed materials. PISA is sponsored in the United States by the National Center for 

Education Statistics (NCES) within the U.S. Department of Education and is conducted by Westat in Rockville, Maryland. 

The U.S. Office of Management and Budget has approved the data collection under OMB #1850-0755. For information on 

the confidentiality of the data collected, please see the enclosed FAQ. While participation in this study is voluntary, we ask 

your agency to support participation by schools in your state so that the United States has a representative sample of schools 

across the country.

Within the next few weeks, a representative of Westat will contact sampled school districts and schools to discuss 

participating in PISA. In the meantime, if you have questions about the study, please do not hesitate to call David Kastberg at 

1-888-638-2597 or send an email to PISAHELP@westat.com. You may also get more information by contacting Dana Kelly 

at NCES at 202-219-7101 or dana.kelly@ed.gov or by visiting the PISA website at http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pisa.

Thank you for your time and support. 

Sincerely,

Peggy Carr, Ph.D.

Associate Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics 

cc: [State assessment director]

Enclosures

NCES is authorized to conduct this study under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002), 20 U.S. Code, § 9543. By law, the data provided by your 

schools, staff, and students may only be used for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law 

(20 U.S. Code, § 9573).

State PISA Letter
3

[Date]

[Title] [Name First] [Name Last], [Title/Department]

[School District]

[Address 1]

[City], [State] [Zip code]

Dear [Title] [Name Last]:

The United States is participating in an important international study in 2015: the Program for International Student 

Assessment (PISA). PISA is the largest international education study in the world. Administered every 3 years since 2000, the

United States has participated in each cycle of PISA. More than 70 countries representing approximately 90 percent of the 

world economy participate in PISA. Results are used by researchers and policymakers to chart national progress against 

international benchmarks and the educational progress of our economic peers and competitors. Some schools in your district 

have been randomly selected to participate in PISA in the fall of 2015, and I am writing to ask your agency to support the 

participation of these schools. 

PISA provides comparative information on the performance of U.S. 15-year-old students in science, reading, and 

mathematics with 15-year-old students in other countries. PISA 2015 will also include assessments of students’ collaborative 

problem-solving and financial literacy. Participating schools will receive $200, and each school’s PISA school coordinator 

(school staff person designated to liaise with PISA staff) will receive $200 as compensation for the coordinator’s time and 

effort. Selected teachers will receive $20 for completing a brief questionnaire about themselves. Each student who 

participates will receive $25 and a volunteer service certificate of 4 hours from the U.S. Department of Education. 

PISA is sponsored in the United States by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) within the U.S. Department 

of Education and is conducted by Westat in Rockville, Maryland. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget has approved 

the data collection under OMB #1850-0755. For information on the confidentiality of the data collected, please see the 

enclosed FAQ. While participation in this study is voluntary, we ask your agency to support participation by schools in your 

district so that the United States has a representative sample of schools across the country.

Within the next few days, a representative of Westat will contact the following school or schools in your district that have 

been selected for PISA: [LIST SAMPLED SCHOOLS HERE...].

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call 1-888-638-2597 or send an email to PISAHELP@westat.com. You 

may also get more information by contacting Dana Kelly at NCES at 202-219-7101 or dana.kelly@ed.gov or by visiting the 

PISA website at http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pisa.

Thank you for your time and support. 

Peggy Carr, Ph.D.

Associate Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics 

cc: [State assessment director]

Enclosures

NCES is authorized to conduct this study under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002), 20 U.S. Code, § 9543. By law, the data provided by your 

schools, staff, and students may only be used for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law 

(20 U.S. Code, § 9573).

School District PISA Letter
4

[Date]

[Title] [Name First] [Name Last], [Title/Department]

[School District]

[Address 1]

[City], [State] [Zip code]

Dear [Title] [Name Last]:

The United States is participating in an important international study in 2015: the Program for International Student 

Assessment (PISA). Administered every 3 years since 2000, the United States has participated in each cycle of PISA. I am 

writing to let you know that your school is one of 240 across the United States that has been randomly selected to take part in 

PISA in the fall of 2015. I hope you will participate in this voluntary study because it is important that the United States has a 

nationally representative sample of schools.

PISA is world’s largest international education study with more than 70 countries participating, representing approximately 90 

percent of the world economy. PISA is sponsored in the United States by the National Center for Education Statistics 

(NCES) within the U.S. Department of Education and is conducted by Westat in Rockville, Maryland. The U.S. Office of 

Management and Budget has approved the data collection under OMB #1850-0755. 

NCES recognizes the burden of assessments on schools and works to reduce that burden as much as possible both in terms 

of time and resources. Under contract to NCES, Westat is responsible for all aspects of the assessment administration and 

will work with you to make PISA a success in your school. PISA takes a relatively small sample of 42 15-year old students and 

up to 25 teachers in each school, so entire classes and grades are not disrupted. For information on the confidentiality of the 

data collected and for more general information, please see the enclosed informational materials. Two folders of materials 

have been enclosed in case you want to share with faculty.

As a token of appreciation for participating in PISA, your school will receive $200. Students who take PISA will receive $25 

and a volunteer service certificate of 4 hours from the U.S. Department of Education. Your school’s PISA school 

coordinator (a staff person you designate to liaise with PISA staff) will receive $200 for his or her time and effort 

coordinating PISA in the school, and selected teachers will receive $20 for completing a brief questionnaire about themselves.

NCES will also sponsor a delegate from your school to attend a 2-day PISA conference in Washington, D.C. during the 

summer of 2015. 

Within the next few days, a representative of Westat will contact you to discuss your participation. If you have any questions, 

please do not hesitate to call 1-888-638-2597 or send an email to PISAHELP@westat.com. You may also get more 

information by contacting Dana Kelly at NCES at 202-219-7101 or dana.kelly@ed.gov or by visiting the PISA website at 

http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pisa.

Your participation in PISA 2015 is vital to the overall success of the study in the United States. Thank you for your time and 

for supporting this important international study.

Peggy Carr, Ph.D.

Associate Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics 

cc: [State assessment director]

Enclosures

NCES is authorized to conduct this study under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002), 20 U.S. Code, § 9543. By law, the data provided by your 

schools, staff, and students may only be used for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law 

(20 U.S. Code, § 9573)

School PISA Letter
5

PISA 2015 Study Brochure – Front Cover
6

What is PISA?

The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) is an international assessment of 15-year-old students, 

conducted every 3 years, that measures how well students apply their knowledge and skills in science, reading, and 

mathematics to problems in real-life contexts. In 2015, students from more than 70 countries and education 

systems, including the United States, will participate.

PISA is coordinated by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and managed in the 

United States by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) within the U.S. Department of Education.

Why is PISA important and what are the benefits of participating?

PISA provides a unique opportunity for the United States to understand its educational standing in comparison to 

other nations. Through participating in PISA, schools, teachers, and students contribute to the improvement of 

education.

PISA can help us identify U.S. students’ strengths and weaknesses in these subjects and learn about successful 

policies and practices that in other countries.

In addition to receiving a U.S. national report with PISA 2015 results, schools may also receive a school-level 

report. The school report presents comparisons of your school’s average scores with the average scores of 

participating education systems including the United States. The report also provides comparisons of your school 

with other similar U.S. schools based on specific school-level characteristics.

PISA offers a modest token of appreciation to schools, the school coordinator, students, and teachers who 

participate. NCES also sponsors one delegate from each school to attend a summer conference in Washington, D.C. 

to learn about PISA.

What will schools, students, and teachers be asked to do in PISA 2015?

PISA 2015 has four primary components: (1) a core student assessment of science, mathematics, reading, and 

collaborative problem solving and a student questionnaire, (2) a financial literacy assessment administered to a subsample of students who take the core assessment, (3) an online school questionnaire, and (4) an online teacher 

questionnaire. 

Up to 42 students in each school will be selected to participate in the core PISA assessment, which takes about 3 

hours, including instructions, breaks, and a questionnaire. A sub-sample of up to 8 students in each school will be 

asked to return for an additional 1-hour assessment in financial literacy that will be held on the same day as the core 

assessment. 

The principal of each school will also be asked to complete a 30-minute online questionnaire about school and 

student body characteristics and policies. Up to 25 teachers in each school will be asked to complete a 30-minute 

online teacher questionnaire about their background, education, and teaching experiences.

What type of assessment is PISA?

PISA is developed through an international consensus-building process involving input from U.S. and international 

experts in science, reading, mathematics, financial literacy, collaborative problem solving, and educational 

measurement. The PISA assessment materials are thoroughly reviewed by within-country experts to make sure the 

materials are appropriate for each country’s students. Finally, the resulting assessment materials are endorsed by all 

participating countries. 

What kinds of questions does PISA include?

PISA includes a mix of question types: some items require students to select appropriate responses, while others 

require that students solve problems and provide written answers. Examples of PISA assessment questions are 

available at http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pisa/educators.asp. 

OMB 1850-0755

PISA 2015 Study Brochure Inside Text
7

PISA 2015 Study Brochure – Back Cover
8

Program for International Student Assessment

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Information for States

What is PISA?

The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) is an international assessment of 15-year-old 

students, conducted every three years, that measures how well students apply their knowledge and skills 

in science, reading, and mathematics to solve problems in real-life contexts. In 2015, students from more 

than 70 countries and education systems, including the United States, will participate. 

PISA is coordinated by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and 

managed in the United States by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) within the U.S. 

Department of Education.

The entire assessment process will be undertaken by trained staff from Westat, a research organization 

under contract to NCES. NCES is conducting this study under authorization in the Education Sciences 

Reform Act of 2002 (20 U.S.C., § 9543) and with the approval of the U.S. Office of Management and 

Budget under OMB # 1850-0755.

How many districts and schools will be selected in my state?

Typically, most states have fewer than 10 sampled schools. However, the number of schools and districts 

sampled in each state varies according to the student population of that state, and not all states have 

sampled schools. PISA is designed to provide national-level estimates of student achievement rather than 

state-by-state level estimates. In 2015, approximately 240 schools that enroll 15-year-old students will be 

selected to participate from across the nation.

What are schools that participate in PISA asked to do?

PISA recognizes the burden of assessments on schools and works to reduce that burden as much as 

possible both in terms of time and resources. Under contract to NCES, Westat is responsible for all 

aspects of the assessment administration and will bring in laptops and a three-person team of trained 

professional assessors to administer the assessment. The school will only need to provide a testing 

location.

Each school is asked to designate a school coordinator to work with Westat and to submit a list of all 15-

year-old students and teachers eligible to teach 10th grade (the modal grade of 15 year olds). Up to 42 

students from each school will be sampled to participate. In addition, up to 25 teachers will be sampled to 

complete a teacher questionnaire and the school principal or designee will be asked to complete a school 

questionnaire. The teacher questionnaire takes approximately 30 minutes to complete, as does the school 

questionnaire. Both questionnaires will be administered online making it easier for principals and teachers 

to complete the survey.

Will the results be reported for my state or for individual schools in my state?

PISA does not report specific state-level results unless states elect to independently participate in PISA. 

The PISA data will be used to measure students’ knowledge and skills at the national level only. By law, 

data provided by schools, staff, and students 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 (ESRA 2002), 20 U.S. Code, Section 9573]. Reports of the findings will 

not identify participating states, districts, students, or individual staff. Individual responses will be 

combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports. For a recent 

example of how PISA data are reported, please visit http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2014/2014024rev.pdf. 

How many students in each school are sampled and how much class time will they miss?

All 15-year-old students in each sampled school will have an equal chance of selection, but only 42 will 

be selected to participate. Student eligibility for selection is based solely on a student’s age at the time of 

the assessment (i.e., 15 years old). Only in very small schools will the school sample include all 15 year 

PISA 2015 State FAQ
9

olds. While PISA does allow accommodations for students with special educational needs, some students 

with disabilities or limited English proficiency may be excused from the assessment. 

The PISA assessment session is approximately 3 hours for students, including time for instructions, the 

assessment, and a brief questionnaire that students complete about themselves. Up to eight students will 

be asked to return in the afternoon to take the additional 1-hour financial literacy assessment.

When will the assessment take place?

PISA will be conducted October 6-November 16, 2015. The PISA staff will work with districts and 

schools to schedule an assessment date that does not interfere with other required school or student 

responsibilities.

Which schools in my state are in the PISA sample? 

The confidentiality of the PISA sample is of the upmost importance. To receive your state’s list of 

sampled schools, please complete and return a notarized Affidavit of Non-Disclosure, enclosed in this 

package (you may email PISAHelp@westat.com to request additional copies). Once Westat receives the 

completed and notarized Affidavit, you will receive an encrypted file of the schools in your state that have 

been selected to participate in PISA.

Can we make suggestions for replacing schools in my state selected to participate in PISA?

No. Schools are selected to represent the overall population of 15-year-old students and the schools they

attend. The sampling protocol does not allow for states to assist in the selection of schools.

Where can I find more information?

If you have any questions, please contact the PISA U.S. home office at 1-888-638-2597 or email 

PISAHelp@westat.com.

For more information on PISA, including results from previous data collections, please visit

http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pisa.
10

Program for International Student Assessment

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Information for Schools

What is PISA?

The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) is an international assessment of 15-year-old 

students, conducted every three years, that measures how well students apply their knowledge and skills 

in science, reading, and mathematics to solve problems in real-life contexts. In 2015, students from more 

than 70 countries and education systems, including the United States, will participate. PISA is 

coordinated by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and managed in 

the United States by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) within the U.S. Department of 

Education.

The entire assessment process will be undertaken by trained staff from Westat, a research organization 

under contract to NCES. NCES is conducting this study under authorization of the Education Sciences 

Reform Act of 2002 (20 U.S.C., § 9543) and with the approval of the U.S. Office of Management and 

Budget under OMB # 1850-0755.

What does participating in PISA entail?

Each school is asked to designate a school coordinator to work with Westat and to submit a list of all 15-

year-old students and teachers eligible to teach 10th grade (the modal grade of 15 year olds). Up to 42 

students in each school will be sampled to participate in the core PISA assessment, which takes about 3 

hours of total time, including instructions, breaks, and a questionnaire. A sub-sample of up to 8 students 

in each school will be asked to return for an additional 1-hour assessment in financial literacy that will be 

held on the same day as the core assessment. Up to 25 teachers in each school will be asked to complete a 

30-minute online teacher questionnaire about their background, education, and teaching experiences. The 

principal of each school will also be asked to complete a 30-minute online questionnaire about school and 

student body characteristics and policies. 

Why should my school participate? 

The participation of selected schools in the United States is vital to ensuring an accurate representation of 

the overall 15-year-old student population across the country. Although participation is voluntary, we rely

on school and student participation to ensure the results are complete and accurate. We cannot do that 

without the support of schools like yours. By participating in PISA, your school will have the opportunity 

to impact the bigger picture of education in the United States and across the world.

In addition to receiving a U.S. national report with PISA 2015 results, schools may also receive a schoollevel report. The school report presents comparisons of your school’s average scores with the average 

scores of participating education systems including the United States. The report also provides 

comparisons of your school with other similar U.S. schools based on specific school-level characteristics.

PISA offers a modest token of appreciation for schools, the school coordinator, students, and teachers 

who participate.

What school resources are required on assessment day?

All that is required from a school resource perspective is a space for up to 42 students that can be used for 

the entire day and that has accessible power outlets. PISA 2015 is completely computer-based, and 

Westat field staff will bring laptops and all necessary equipment to the school on assessment day. The 

assessment does not require network or internet access. No IT staff or resources will be needed from your 

school. 

PISA 2015 School FAQ 
11

Will all of our 15-year-old students be asked to participate? 

Probably not. In each school, all 15-year-old students will have an equal chance of selection, but only 42 

will be selected to participate. Student selection is not based on any student characteristic other than being 

15 years old. Only in very small schools with less than 42 15-year-old students enrolled will the sample 

include all available students. While PISA does allow accommodations for students with special 

educational needs, some students with disabilities or limited English proficiency may be excused from the 

assessment.

How long does the assessment take?

The PISA assessment session is approximately 3 hours for students, including time for instructions, the 

assessment, and a student questionnaire. Up to eight students will be asked to return in the afternoon to 

take an additional 1-hour financial literacy assessment. In total, the assessment location will be used for 

about 5 hours for the main assessment, and about 2 hours for the financial literacy assessment, including 

setup and breakdown by Westat staff. All assessment activities will take place in one day.

Do teachers need to help administer the assessment?

No, no teachers or other staff from your school are required to administer PISA. Westat staff will come to 

your school on the day of the assessment and will bring all materials required including laptops for 

administering PISA. Westat staff will handle the entire administration from start to finish. 

How are teacher and school questionnaires administered?

The teacher and school questionnaires are both administered online from a secure website. Up to

25 teachers (10 science and 15 non-science) will be sampled to complete an online 30-minute 

questionnaire that asks about their education and teaching experience, among other topics. The school 

questionnaire, which looks at school characteristics, such as enrollment and school practices, is also 

administered online and takes about 30 minutes to complete. Principals and teachers will receive login 

and password information via email or from their school’s PISA school coordinator. 

What will happen with the collected data?

By law, data provided by schools, staff, and students 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 (ESRA 2002), 20 U.S. Code, Section 9573]. Reports of the findings will 

not identify participating districts, students, or individual staff. Individual responses will be combined 

with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports. For a recent example of how 

PISA data are reported, please visit http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2014/2014024rev.pdf.

Where can I find more information?

If you have any questions, please contact the PISA U.S. home office at 1-888-638-2597 or email 

PISAHelp@westat.com.

For more information on PISA, including results from previous data collections, please visit

http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pisa
12

Program for International Student Assessment

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Information for Teachers

What is PISA?

The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) is an international assessment of 15-year-old 

students, conducted every three years, that measures how well students apply their knowledge and skills 

in science, reading, and mathematics to solve problems in real-life contexts. In 2015, students from more 

than 70 countries and education systems, including the United States, will participate. PISA is 

coordinated by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and managed in 

the United States by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) within the U.S. Department of 

Education.

PISA provides a unique opportunity for the United States to understand its educational standing in 

comparison to other nations. Through participating in PISA, schools, teachers, and students contribute to 

the improvement of education.

PISA can help us identify U.S. students’ strengths and weaknesses in these subjects and help us learn 

about successful policies and practices in other countries.

What role do teachers have in PISA? 

Beginning with PISA 2015, teachers are asked to complete an online questionnaire. This gives you an 

opportunity to provide information that is critical to understanding student performance as well as to 

voice your perspectives on teaching and learning at your school. The teacher questionnaire asks about 

your background and teaching experience, the student body, and your views on school policies and 

evaluation. 

How was I selected to take the PISA teacher questionnaire?

The PISA school coordinator in your school (the person designated by your school principal to 

communicate with PISA staff) provided a list of all teachers eligible to teach 10th grade students in your 

school. You are one of about 25 teachers from your school who were selected to participate. Your 

participation in PISA is vital to reaching a high response rate. 

How long will it take to complete the PISA teacher questionnaire?

The teacher questionnaire will take approximately 30 minutes to complete online, and you do not have to 

complete it all in a single session. The online software automatically saves your responses to each 

question as you navigate through the questionnaire so that if you wish to complete the questionnaire later, 

you may pick up right where you left off. 

How can I access the PISA teacher questionnaire?

To access the teacher questionnaire (https://www.mypisausa.com/teacherquestionnaire), you will need to 

have an internet connection, a suitable internet browser (see list below), and your login credentials. You 

will be emailed a unique hyperlink that you can click on to access the questionnaire directly. The PISA 

staff are ready to work with you to make access and completion of the teacher questionnaire as easy and 

efficient as possible. 

PISA 2015 Teacher FAQ
13

The following browsers are supported by PISA and can be downloaded for free if you do not already have 

them installed on the computer:

 Firefox: Version 19 and above 

 Internet Explorer: Version 8 and above

 Google Chrome: Version 25 and above

 Safari (Mac version): versions 6 and above

What is done with the information you collect from me?

Your responses to the PISA teacher questionnaire will be combined with those from other participating 

teachers across the United States to produce summary statistics and reports. By law, data provided by 

schools, staff, and students 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 (ESRA 2002), 20 U.S. Code, Section 9573]. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget has 

approved this data collection under OMB # 1850-0755. Reports of the findings will not identify 

participating districts, students, or individual staff. For a recent example of how PISA data are reported, 

please visit http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2014/2014024rev.pdf. 

Where can I go for help or technical support?

If you have any questions or experience any difficulties, please contact the PISA U.S. home office at 

1-888-638-2597 or email PISAHelp@westat.com.

For more information on PISA, including results from previous data collections, please visit

http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pisa
14

Program for International Student Assessment

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Information for Students

What is PISA?

The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) is an international assessment of 15-year-old 

students, conducted every three years, that measures how well students apply their knowledge and skills 

in solving problems in science, reading, mathematics, financial literacy, and collaborative problem 

solving. PISA presents problems that students are likely to encounter in the real world. In 2015, students 

like yourself from more than 70 countries and education systems, including the United States, will 

participate in PISA.

Why should I participate in PISA? 

You are one of about 42 students in your school who have been selected to participate in PISA. Because 

you are one of a select few in your school your participation is very important. If you participate in PISA 

you will....

 receive a certificate for 4-hours of volunteer service from the U.S. Department of Education, and 

 represent students like you across the country. 

Only 5,000 students will have the unique opportunity to participate in PISA 2015 in the United 

States. How often do you get to represent your country?

Participating in PISA is a national service. You can have an impact on the bigger picture of 

education in the United States and around the world.

What subjects are assessed in PISA?

Each student participating in PISA will be assessed in two or three of the following subjects: science, 

mathematics, reading, financial literacy, or collaborative problem solving. No student takes every PISA 

test question, and most students will be assessed in only two of the subjects. PISA is administered on a 

computer. 

How long does PISA take?

The PISA assessment takes approximately 3 hours to complete. This includes time for instructions, the 

assessment, and a brief survey of questions about yourself. Some students will also be selected to 

participate in an additional 1-hour assessment in financial literacy that is held after the main PISA 

assessment. 

How did my school get selected to take PISA? 

The schools that participate in PISA in the United States are randomly selected from a list of all schools 

in the country that enroll 15-year-old students. This is done to ensure that U.S. participants accurately 

represent the entire population of 15-year-old students in the United States and not just particular types of 

schools or groups of students. 

How did I get selected to take PISA?

From a list of all 15-year-old students provided by your school, 42 students are randomly selected to 

participate. Every 15-year-old student enrolled in a PISA-selected school has an equal chance of being 

selected. Students in other countries are selected in the same way to make sure each country is fairly 

represented and no country is advantaged or disadvantaged because of the types of schools or groups of 

students selected. 

PISA 2015 Student FAQ
15

What types of questions will I see on PISA? 

Based on situations you might encounter in real life, PISA questions assess the knowledge and skills 

students have learned, both in and out of school. Some PISA questions require that you select from a set 

of provided answers; other PISA questions require that you write out your response. 

PISA is administered on computer. Many of the items are interactive, where you manipulate different 

pieces of information. To try PISA items on your own, please visit: 

http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pisa/items_cba.asp

What is done with the information you collect from me?

Your individual performance on PISA will not be reported. PISA is not designed to produce individual 

test scores and your individual performance is not shared with your school in any way. Student responses 

are combined with other student responses and are only used for statistical purposes. By law, data 

provided by schools, staff, and students 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 (ESRA 2002), 20 U.S. Code, Section 9573]. 

Where can I find more information?

Visit the PISA Website at http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pisa. 

For additional questions about PISA, contact the PISA U.S. home office at 1-888-638-2597 or email 

PISAHelp@westat.com

OMB 1850-0755
16

Month, Day, 2014

Dear [Teacher name]:

You are receiving this email because your school has agreed to participate in the Program for 

International Student Assessment (PISA) and you’ve been selected to complete the PISA teacher 

questionnaire. This email contains important information about the study and teacher questionnaire 

that is part of the PISA data collection. If you need to confirm the authenticity of this email, please feel 

free to contact Dr. Patrick Gonzales of the U.S. Department of Education for more information. He can 

be reached at patrick.gonzales@ed.gov or 415-920-9229. Alternatively, please contact the PISA school 

coordinator in your school, <SC NAME>, who can provide you with more information.

The information you provide will be combined with responses from school principals and students to 

provide a more complete understanding of student achievement and contexts for learning. The 

questionnaire takes about 30 minutes to complete. You will receive $20 for completing the 

questionnaire, if your school’s policy allows it. 

Use the provided link and unique account information below to complete your questionnaire. Please do 

not share your username or password with anyone.

Click here to access your questionnaire:

<<Respondent-specific link to website>>

Username: **********

Password: **********

PISA is sponsored in the United States by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) within the 

U.S. Department of Education and is conducted by Westat, a research organization in Rockville, 

Maryland, under contract to NCES. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget has approved the data 

collection under OMB #1850-0755. For more detailed information, please see the attached FAQ.

Please do not hesitate to call the PISA help desk at 1-888-638-2597 or send an email to 

PISAHELP@westat.com. You may also get more information about this study by visiting the PISA website 

at http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pisa. 

Thank you for your time and for supporting this important international study.

Sincerely,

Peggy Carr, Ph.D.

Associate Commissioner

National Center for Education Statistics 

U.S. Department of Education

NCES is authorized to conduct this study under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002), 20 U.S. Code, § 9543. By law, the data provided by your 

schools, staff, and students may only be used for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law 

(20 U.S. Code, § 9573)

Teacher Invite Email
1

APPENDIX B: PARENTAL CONSENT MATERIALS

(previously approved, OMB# 1850-0075 v.15)

Draft Sample Notification Letter, PISA .................................................................................................... 2

Draft Sample Implicit Consent Letter, PISA ............................................................................................ 3

Draft PISA Implicit Consent Form............................................................................................................ 4

Draft Sample Explicit Consent Letter, PISA............................................................................................. 5

Draft PISA Explicit Consent Form............................................................................................................ 6

Draft PISA Facts for Parents ..................................................................................................................... 7
2

Draft Sample Notification Letter, PISA 

SCHOOL LETTERHEAD

Dear Parent or Guardian,

This letter is to inform you about an important international study of student learning being conducted 

in our school this spring. This study is called the Program for International Student Assessment, or 

PISA. PISA provides important information for internationally benchmarking performance in science, 

reading, and mathematics of 15-year-old students in the United States versus 15-year-olds in other 

countries around the world.

Our school has accepted an invitation from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) within 

the U.S. Department of Education to participate in PISA. A select number of our 15-year-old students, 

along with your teenager, will take part in this study. The enclosed summary sheet provides background 

information about PISA, explains what is involved for each student selected to participate in the study, 

and gives a contact phone number and email address where you can obtain answers to any questions 

you might have.

To have an accurate picture of what U.S. 15-year-old students can do, it is important that each student 

selected take part in the study. Students will complete test items administered on a computer and

complete a brief questionnaire about themselves. I urge you to support this effort by encouraging your 

teenager to take part; however, participation in this study is entirely voluntary. Previous experience 

suggests that students enjoy taking part, and all participating students will receive $25 plus a certificate 

from the U.S. Department of Education for 4 hours of volunteer service. 

NCES is authorized to conduct this study under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 

2002), 20 U.S. Code, § 9543. By law, the data provided by schools, staff, and students may only be used 

for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose

except as required by law (20 U.S.C., § 9573). The U.S. Office of Management and Budget has 

approved this data collection under OMB # 1850-0755. Students and schools are never identified in 

any reports. All reported statistics refer to the United States as a whole.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about this important study. 

Sincerely,

Enclosures: 

Facts for Parents about PISA
3

Draft Sample Implicit Consent Letter, PISA 

SCHOOL LETTERHEAD

Dear Parent or Guardian,

This letter is to inform you about an important international study of student learning being conducted 

in our school this spring. This study is called the Program for International Student Assessment, or 

PISA. PISA provides important information for internationally benchmarking performance in science, 

reading, and mathematics of 15-year-old students in the United States versus 15-year-olds in other 

countries around the world.

Our school has accepted an invitation from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) within 

the U.S. Department of Education to participate in the PISA. A select number of our 15-year-old 

students, along with your teenager, will take part in this study. The enclosed summary sheet provides 

background information about PISA, explains what is involved for each student selected to participate 

in the study, and gives a contact phone number and email address where you can obtain answers to any 

related questions you might have.

To have an accurate picture of what U.S. 15-year-old students can do, it is important that each student 

selected take part in the study. Students will complete test items administered on a computer and

complete a brief questionnaire about themselves. I urge you to support this effort by encouraging your 

teenager to take part; however, participation in this study is entirely voluntary. Previous experience 

suggests that students enjoy taking part, and all participating students will receive $25 plus a certificate 

from the U.S. Department of Education for 4 hours of volunteer service. 

NCES is authorized to conduct this study under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 

2002), 20 U.S. Code, § 9543. By law, the data provided by schools, staff, and students may only be used 

for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose 

except as required by law (20 U.S.C., § 9573) Office of Management and Budget has approved this data 

collection under OMB # 1850-0755. Students and schools are never identified in any reports. All 

reported statistics refer to the United States as a whole.

If you have any objection to your teenager joining in the PISA activities, please let us know by 

completing the attached consent form and returning it to the school. 

Thank you for taking the time to learn about this important study. 

Sincerely,

Enclosures: 

Facts for Parents About PISA 

Parent/Guardian Consent Form
4

Draft PISA Implicit Consent Form

Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) 

Parent/Guardian Consent Form

Your teenager has been asked to participate in an international study of student learning called the 

Program for International Student Assessment (PISA). Each student who participates will receive $25 

plus a certificate for 4 hours of volunteer service from the U.S. Department of Education. This 

assessment will be conducted by a team of researchers from Westat, a research organization under 

contract to the National Center for Education Statistics within the U. S. Department of Education. 

If you grant permission for your teenager to participate in PISA, you do not need to return this form.

If you do not consent to your teenager’s participation in the PISA field test, please return this form to 

your teenager’s school as soon as possible.

I do not grant permission for my teenager, _______________________________, to participate in the 

Program for International Student Assessment.

__________________________________________________________________

(Signature of parent or guardian)

Date of signature: _______/_______/____________

PLEASE PRINT:

Student name: _____________________________________________

School name: ______________________________________________

FOR OFFICE USE ONLY:

Student ID: ________________________________________________
5

Draft Sample Explicit Consent Letter, PISA 

SCHOOL LETTERHEAD

Dear Parent or Guardian,

This letter is to inform you about an important international study of student learning being conducted 

in our school this spring. This study is called the Program for International Student Assessment, or 

PISA. PISA provides important information for internationally benchmarking performance in science, 

reading, and mathematics of 15-year-old students in the United States against other countries around 

the world. 

Our school has accepted an invitation from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) within 

the U.S. Department of Education to participate in PISA. A select number of our 15-year-old students, 

along with your teenager, will take part in this study. The enclosed summary sheet provides background 

information about PISA, explains what is involved for each student selected to participate in the study, 

and gives a contact phone number and email address where you can obtain answers to any questions 

you might have.

To have an accurate picture of what U.S. 15-year-old students can do, it is important that each student 

selected take part in the study. Some students will try out questions administered on a computer while 

other students will try out questions using paper and pencil. Also, students will be asked to complete a 

brief questionnaire about themselves. I urge you to support this effort by encouraging your teenager to 

take part; however, participation in this study is entirely voluntary. Previous experience suggests that 

students enjoy taking part, and all participating students will receive $25 and a certificate from the U.S. 

Department of Education for 4 hours of volunteer service. 

NCES is authorized to conduct this study under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 

2002), 20 U.S. Code, § 9543. By law, the data provided by schools, staff, and students may only be used 

for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose 

except as required by law (20 U.S.C., § 9573). Office of Management and Budget has approved this data 

collection under OMB # 1850-0755. Students and schools are never identified in any reports. All 

reported statistics refer to the United States as a whole.

Before we can allow your teenager to participate in PISA we must have your written consent. Please let 

us know by completing the attached form and returning it to the school. 

Thank you for taking the time to learn about this important study and consider your teenager’s 

participation in it.

Sincerely,

Enclosures:

Facts for Parents About PISA

Parent/Guardian Consent Form
6

Draft PISA Explicit Consent Form

Program for International Student Assessment (PISA)

Parent/Guardian Consent Form

Your teenager has been asked to participate in a field test of an international study of student learning 

called the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA). Each student who participates will 

receive $25 plus a certificate for 4 hours of volunteer service from the U.S. Department of Education. 

This assessment will be conducted by a team of researchers from Westat, a research organization under 

contract to the National Center for Education Statistics within the U. S. Department of Education. 

Yes, I do grant permission for my teenager to participate in the PISA field test.

No, I do not grant permission for my teenager to participate in the PISA field test.

__________________________________________________________________

(Signature of parent or guardian)

Date of signature: _______/_______/____________

PLEASE PRINT:

Student name: _____________________________________________

School name: ______________________________________________

FOR OFFICE USE ONLY:

Student ID: ________________________________________________
7

Draft PISA Facts for Parents

Facts for Parents About PISA 

Between October and November of this year, your teenager’s school will be one of about 240

nationwide taking part in PISA 2015. The schools were randomly selected to represent the nation’s 

schools and, within each school, about 42 students were selected randomly to take part. Your teenager 

was among those students selected to take part in the study.

What is PISA?

The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) is the world’s largest international 

assessment that measures student learning in science, reading, and mathematics. More than 70 countries 

representing more than 90 percent of the world’s economy will participate in PISA. The assessment 

occurs every three years (2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, and 2015), and provides information about how 

U.S. students’ achievement in these subject areas compares to the achievement of students in other 

participating countries. The National Center for Education Statistics within the U.S. Department of 

Education sponsors U.S. participation in PISA. Westat, a research organization based in Rockville, 

Maryland, is under contract to NCES to conduct the study in U.S. schools.

What is involved?

PISA staff will visit the school and administer the assessment. The assessment will take approximately 3 

hours, which includes time needed for instructions the assessment and a brief questionnaire that 

students complete about themselves. Some students will be asked to return for an additional 1-hour 

assessment of financial literacy. 

What are the benefits?

The nation as a whole benefits from PISA by having a greater understanding of how the knowledge 

and skills of U.S. students compare with those of students from other countries. Schools that 

participate in PISA receive $200, and each student who participates will receive $25 and a certificate 

from the U.S. Department of Education for 4 hours of volunteer service. Students who are also asked 

to participate in the financial literacy assessment will receive an additional $15.

Where can I find out more about PISA?

Please do not hesitate to call the PISA help desk at 1-888-638-2597 or send an email to 

PISAHELP@westat.com with any questions you have. You may also get more information about this 

study by visiting the PISA website at http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pisa.