Documentation for the 2011-12 Schools and Staffing Survey. NCES 2016-817
Author: Cox, Shawna
Date: 2017-03-00
Type: Numerical/Quantitative Data
Subjects: National Surveys,Elementary Secondary Education,Questionnaires,Public Schools,Private Schools,School Districts,Principals,School Libraries,Change,Test Content,Sampling,Charter Schools,Data Collection,Response Rates (Questionnaires),Data Processing,Teachers,Statistical Analysis

The overall objective of the Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) is to collect the information necessary for a comprehensive picture of elementary and secondary education in the United States. The abundance of data collected permits detailed analyses of the characteristics of schools, principals, teachers, school libraries, and public school district policies. The linkage of the SASS questionnaires enables researchers to examine the relationships among these elements of education. The 2011-12 SASS consisted of five types of questionnaires: (1) a school district questionnaire; (2) principal questionnaires; (3) school questionnaires; (4) teacher questionnaires; and (5) a school library media center questionnaire. The principal, school, and teacher questionnaires were modified slightly between the public school versions (Principal Questionnaire, School Questionnaire, Public School Questionnaire (With District Items), and Teacher Questionnaire) and private school versions (Private School Principal Questionnaire, Private School Questionnaire, and Private School Teacher Questionnaire) to refer to either the public or private sector correctly. The Private School Questionnaire also incorporated the Private School Universe Survey (PSS) items that were collected at the same time as SASS in 2011-12. The School Library Media Center Questionnaire was administered to public (including public charter) schools in 2011-12. This report contains chapters on the following topics: (1) changes in SASS design, content, and methodology from 2007-08; (2) preparation for the 2011-12 SASS; (3) frame creation and sample selection; (4) data collection; (5) response rates and bias analysis; (6) data processing; (7) weighting and variance estimation; and (8) data quality. The following are appended: (1) Key Terms for SASS; (2) Questionnaire Availability Online, Downloadable PDF Files; (3) Poverty Analysis for SASS 2011--12 Public School Sample; (4) Bureau of Indian Education-Funded Schools and Career and Technology Centers Sampling Change; (5) 2011-12 SASS Redesign--Precision Analysis; (6) Summary of the 2009 Field Test Findings and Recommendations for the 2011--12 SASS Methodology; (7) Cognitive Testing of Schools and Staffing Survey Items Summary of Findings and Recommendations, September 2010; (8) Cognitive Testing of Schools and Staffing Survey Items Summary of Findings and Recommendations, May 2011; (9) School and Teacher Sample Allocation Procedure; (10) Report on Results of Special Contact Districts; (11) 2011-12 SASS Unit Nonresponse Bias Analysis; (12) Quality Assurance for Data Capture and Mailout Operations; (13) Crosswalk of Public School Questionnaire (With District Items) Items onto the Public School Questionnaire and School District Questionnaire; (14) Changes Made to Variables During the Computer Edit, by Data File; (15) List of Matching Variables for the 2011-12 SASS; (16) Imputation Changes to Variables, by Data File; (17) Weighting Adjustment Cells; and (18) Crosswalk Among Items in the 1987-88, 1990-91, 1993-94, 1999-2000, 2003-04, 2007-08 and 2011-12 SASS and Crosswalk of Variables Across the 2011-12 SASS Questionnaires.