Evaluation of State Expanded 

Learning Time (ELT)

Section B

April 3, 2013
Contract Number:

ED-IES-12-C-0086

Mathematica Reference Number:

40166-300

Submitted to:

Institute of Education Sciences

IES/NCEE

U.S. Department of Education

555 New Jersey Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20208

Project Officer: Erica Johnson

Submitted by:

Mathematica Policy Research

600 Alexander Park

Suite 100

Princeton, NJ 08540

Telephone: (609) 799-3535

Facsimile: (609) 799-0005

Project Director: Phil Gleason

Evaluation of State Expanded 

Learning Time (ELT)

Section B

April 3, 2013
1

CONTENTS

PART B: SUPPORTING STATEMENT FOR PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT 

SUBMISSION ....................................................................................................2

COLLECTION OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS ..............3

1. Respondent Universe and Sampling Methods.....................................3

2. Procedures for the Collection of Information .....................................3

3. Methods to Maximize Response Rates and Deal with 

Nonresponse.....................................................................................3

4. Pilot Testing......................................................................................4

5. Individuals Consulted on Statistical Aspects of the Design.................4

APPENDIX A: STATE ELT PLANS REPORT INTERVIEW PROTOCOL

APPENDIX B: STATE ELT PLANS REPORT INTERVIEW ADVANCED LETTER

APPENDIX C: MATHEMATICA CONFIDENTIALITY PLEDGE
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PART B: SUPPORTING STATEMENT FOR PAPERWORK 

REDUCTION ACT SUBMISSION

This OMB package requests clearance to conduct semi-structured interviews with 21st Century 

Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) state coordinators. The state coordinator interviews will 

be used to produce a State Expanded Learning Time (ELT) Plans Report, which will summarize the 

ELT plans developed by the states that have received the optional Elementary and Secondary 

Education Act (ESEA) Flexibility to use 21st CCLC funds to support ELT. The report will focus on 

how states plan to use these funds to support ELT, the level of their support, and how they will 

monitor subgrantees’ ELT implementation. Included in this request is the State ELT Plans Report 

interview protocol (Appendix A), State ELT Plans Report interview advanced letter (Appendix B),

and Mathematica’s internal confidentiality pledge (Appendix C).

The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) within the Department of Education (ED) has 

contracted with Mathematica Policy Research and its partners Abt Associates, Synergy Enterprises 

(SEI), and Evidence-Based Education Research & Evaluation (EBERE), to conduct the interviews 

and write the report.
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COLLECTION OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS

1. Respondent Universe and Sampling Methods

We will conduct semi-structured interviews with the 21st CCLC coordinators of the 22 states 

that have applied for and received the optional 21st CCLC ESEA Flexibility to obtain information 

for the State ELT Plans Report. If additional states receive Flexibility approval, or if the fiscal year 

(FY) 2013 budget includes ELT as an allowable use of 21st CCLC funds, we may conduct interviews 

with these additional states. 

2. Procedures for the Collection of Information

To address the study research questions and to obtain consistent information on each ESEA 

Flexibility state’s ELT plans, we will conduct semi-structured interviews with the 21st CCLC 

coordinators of the 22 states that have applied for and received the optional 21st CCLC ESEA 

Flexibilityto obtain information for the State ELT Plans Report. These approximately hour-long 

phone interviews will occur in summer 2013 and will be conducted by individuals who will be

specifically trained to conduct them. Prior to the interview, we will ask for copies of relevant 

documents, such as the state Request for Proposals (RFP) for the 21st CCLC grant competition (if 

released) and any documentation the state has shared with prospective grantees.

3. Methods to Maximize Response Rates and Deal with Nonresponse

We will maximize response rates by capitalizing on our existing relationships with the state 

coordinators and minimizing the burden of the interviews. Members of our team have interacted 

extensively with these coordinators on prior research projects and we will capitalize on these existing 

relationships to help ensure a high response rate. Prior to conducting interviews, we will review state 

RFPs for 21st CCLC subgrants, if available, and any other publicly available sources. We will use a 

protocol (Appendix A) to ensure that we collect the required information efficiently and we will 

avoid asking for information we are able to obtain from other public sources, such as state websites. 

Before scheduling the interview, we will send an advanced letter (Appendix B) to the state 
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coordinators to introduce the study and its purpose, inform them of our desire to schedule an

interview, describe the topics to be covered in the interview, and indicate that we would follow up 

soon to try to schedule an interview and collect any relevent documentation. Within a week after 

sending the advanced letter, we will call the state administrators to answer their questions and 

arrange a time for the interview. We will conduct these interviews during summer 2013 (after 

receiving OMB approval) at a time convenient for the state coordinator.

4. Pilot Testing

We will conduct pilot testing during April 2013 with fewer than nine respondents in order to 

assess the content and wording of questions and respondent burden time.

5. Individuals Consulted on Statistical Aspects of the Design

There are no consultants on the statistical aspects of the design for the State ELT Coordinator 

interviews. 
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