The Administration for Children and Families’ FACES study periodically collects nationally representative information about Head Start programs, their staff, and the children and families they serve to inform program planning and technical assistance and enable research. The study team added a special study in the fall of 2021 to understand how children, families, and staff are faring during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fall 2021 data collection activities for FACES and AIAN FACES were approved on July 30, 2021. As had been described in prior approvals for FACES, the next regularly scheduled data collection for FACES is in the spring of 2022. A full request package specific to the spring 2022 data collection is currently in process, with the 60-day comment period currently underway (86 FR 48151).
We request two types of changes: those related to spring recruitment activities, and those related to parent and teacher consent materials, which will be used for both the fall 2021 and the spring 2022 collections. The proposed revisions fit within the general purpose of the FACES data collection and the intended uses of FACES data overall.
We have updated the burden table to include recruitment activities for Spring 2022 and also to reflect the current timeframe for approval (through July 2022). The prior request was written and submitted as a three year request, but through discussions with the Office of Management and Budget, approval was given for one year. The burden table was not updated to reflect that change at the time of final approval.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.