OFFICE OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH AND IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM REPORTS APRIL 1992 NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) collects, analyzes, and disseminates data on education in the United States; conducts studies on international comparisons of education statistics; and provides leadership in developing and promoting the use of standardized terminology and definitions for the collection of those statistics. In carrying out its functions, NCES works collaboratively with states, local education agencies, other federal agencies, international organizations, and education constituent groups. PROGRAM ACTIVITIES National Cooperative Education Statistics System (NCESS) - The purpose of NCESS is to "produce and maintain, with the cooperation of the states, comparable and uniform educational information and data that are useful for policymaking at the federal, state, and local level." To meet this goal, the Center established the National Forum on Education Statistics which is composed of federal and state representatives. The Forum convenes twice a year and met for the seventh time January 22-24, 1992, in Washington, D.C. Major projects of the NCESS include improvements to the collection of state fiscal data, collection of data on dropouts, and the development of standards for data collection and reporting. (Contact: Lee Hoffman, 219-1621) Postsecondary Longitudinal Study (PLS) - PLS, a study of education services and outcomes at the postsecondary level, will follow up on the beginning postsecondary students of 1989-90 in spring 1992 and has begun the 4th Followup of the High School and Beyond sophomore cohort. (Contact: Dennis Carroll, 219-1774) National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) - Data collection for the expanded NAEP has begun. The 1990 assessment included mathematics, reading, and science at the national level and, for the first time, state level data with a "Trial State Assessment" of mathematics in grade eight, released in June 1991. The 1992 assessment includes at the national level, mathematics, reading, and writing, and the "Trial State Assessment" is expanded to include reading in grade four and mathematics in grades four and eight. The National Assessment Governing Board is continuing work on the development of science, history, and geography objectives through a broadly-based consensus process. These objectives will be the basis for the test items for the 1994 assessment. (Contact: Eugene Owen, 219-1746) National Adult Literacy Survey (NALS) - The 1991 field test interviews were completed and analyzed. Household residents will be interviewed from February to July of 1992, and results reported the following year. The survey has been considerably expanded beyond its initial limits: eleven states are sponsoring state sample supplements; Alaska and Hawaii are now included in the population; adults over 65 are now included in the sample; and a prison supplement is planned. (Contact: Andrew Kolstad, 219-1773) International Statistics - The Center's international statistics program includes increased activities with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The Center and OECD are working together to develop a set of international education indicators to permit better understanding of similarities and differences among national education programs. NCES is participating in the Second International Assessment of Educational Progress of students at ages 9 and 13 in 20 countries in mathematics, science, and geography. Additionally, NCES has been designated as the U.S. Center for the IEA Reading Literacy Study to compare reading literacy of students at the fourth and ninth grade levels in 37 countries. NCES has initiated work with the IEA and other members of the international comparative education research community on a Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), to be conducted in 1994 and repeated in 1998. This study will support efforts to monitor the National Education Goals. (Contact: Eugene Owen, 219-1746) Common Core of Data (CCD) - Work is proceeding to make data more consistent from state to state through the National Cooperative Education Statistics System (NCESS) and the Data Improvement Project with the Council of Chief State School Officers. In school year 1989-90, an expanded finance data collection program was implemented and a new measure of dropouts was field tested in 26 states, the District of Columbia, and two outlying areas. The dropout statistic will be added to the 1992-93 Common Core of Data collection. Work continues on the development and maintenance of a universe listing of private schools, and implementation of a biennial census of all private schools, to fill out basic systems and make private school data comparable to the public school data collected through the CCD. Early estimates of enrollments and numbers of teachers are released every December. (Contact: John Sietsma, 219-1335) Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) - SASS provides data on public and private schools, teachers, principals, on teacher supply and demand, school conditions, and characteristics of the teacher and principal workforce. Data from the 1988 study were released during the spring and summer of 1991. The second administration of the survey has just been completed and will be available in the summer of 1992. (Contact: Sharon Bobbitt, 219-1461) National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88) - Base year data from NELS:88 have been released in a report titled PROFILE OF THE AMERICAN EIGHTH GRADER. First followup data collection was completed in spring 1991 and data are scheduled for release in winter 1992. (Contact: Jeff Owings, 219-1777) National Postsecondary Study Aid Study (NPSAS) - The data collection from school records, students, and parents has been completed. An EDTab, NPSAS: PRELIMINARY ESTIMATES ON STUDENT FINANCIAL AID RECIPIENTS, 1989-90, and an encrypted data system for tabular analyses were recently released using records on aided students. (Contact: Drew Malizio, 219-1448) National Survey of Postsecondary Faculty (NSOPF) - Data from the faculty survey component will not be released as a public use file because of confidentiality requirements. The Center will produce tabulations on the faculty survey data for researchers upon request, as resources permit. An encrypted, updated version of the faculty survey file with most variables from the faculty survey is available on floppy disk for use in tabular analysis. The second cycle of NSOPF is being planned for the 1992-93 academic year. (Contact: Linda Zimbler, 219-1834) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) - Beginning with the 1991 mailout, the Bureau of the Census became the IPEDS data collection agent. A comprehensive review of IPEDS has been completed. Any changes to IPEDS forms, institutional universe, or procedures resulting from this review will be incorporated into the system for the 1993-95 surveys. (Contact: Susan Broyles, 219-1359) Higher Education Institutional Facilities Handbook - A project to update this handbook is underway. The updated handbook was available for review and comment by the postsecondary education community in the spring of 1991. Publication is expected in early 1992. (Contact: William Freund, 219-1373) Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) - The update of CIP in printed form is now available as is a diskette version. The new codes will be implemented with the 1992 IPEDS mailout. (Contact: William Freund, 219-1373) Participation in Adult Education (PAE) - The PAE collects data on the types of courses taken, participation rates, and characteristics of adults who participated in any part-time educational activity either through a postsecondary institution, an elementary or secondary school or school district, a community organization, or an employer. This survey was conducted in the spring of 1991 as part of the National Household Education Survey. A brief report has been published and additional reports are planned. It will continue a data series that was begun in 1965. (Contact: Jeff Owings, 219-1777) National Household Education Survey (NHES) - Data for the first full cycle of NHES, was collected during the winter of 1991 on two topics: early childhood experiences of children 3-to 8- years-old, and participation in adult education. Data will be available in winter of 1992. (Contact: Jeff Owings, 219-1777) Recent College Graduates Study (RCG) - Currently in its sixth cycle, RCG examines the employment and economic outcomes of individuals who received a baccalaureate or master's degree in the 1989-90 academic year. Outcomes were assessed one year after graduation in the spring and summer of 1991. Data files will be available in the spring 1992. (Contact: Peter Stowe, 219-1363) Postsecondary Education Quick Information Survey (PEQIS) - PEQIS will start operating in the spring of 1992. It will survey postsecondary institutions and state higher education agencies "as needed" and "as requested" to inform immediate and particularly salient issues in postsecondary education. (Contact: Bernard Greene, 219-1366) Public Library Data - The public library statistics program uses the technology of personal computers to collect and process the survey data. This technology has made it possible for the program to collect data without the use of paper forms, and to publish shortly after survey closeout. A computerized public library universe file has also been established and will be available in the fall. During the next year, an additional survey will be planned for the State Library Agencies. (Contact: Carrol Kindel, 219-1371) Academic Library Data - Academic Library data is collected on a 2-year cycle as part of IPEDS. We have established a network of library professionals who will work closely with the IPEDS coordinator in each state to ensure prompt and accurate data collection. Data are expected to be available in winter 1992. (Contact: Carrol Kindel, 219-1371) School Library Media Centers - Questions have been added to the Schools and Staffing Survey and two new questionnaires have been developed on school library media specialists and the school library media center. The first field test of the new data items was mailed in March 1991. Data from the questions added to the Schools and Staffing Survey are expected to be available in the spring of 1992. (Contact: Sharon Bobbitt, 219-1461) PUBLICATIONS The following publications have been released since January 1992: Basic Student Charges at Postsecondary Institutions: Academic Year 1990-91 (Contact: Elaine Kroe, 219-1373) Early Estimates on National Higher Education Statistics: Fall 1991 (Contact: Frank Johnson, 219-1618) Early Estimates on Public and Private Elementary and Secondary Education Statistics: School Year 1991-92 (Contact: Frank Johnson, 219-1618) E.D. TABS Characteristics of Doctorate Recipients: 1979, 1984, and 1989 (Contact: Teresita L. Chan Kopka, 219-1771) E.D. TABS Fall Staff in Postsecondary Institutions, 1989 (Contact: Rosa Fernandez, 219-1358) Language Characteristics and Academic Achievement: A Look At Asian and Hispanic Eighth Graders in NELS:88 (Contact: Peggy Quinn, 219-1743) Pocket Projections: Projections of Education Statistics to 2002 (Contact: William Hussar, 219-1682) Pocket Digest: Digest of Education Statistics 1991 (Contact: Charlene Hoffman, 219-1688) Projections of Education Statistics to 2002 (Contact: Debra E. Gerald, 219-1581) SEDCAR (Standards for Education Data Collection and Reporting) (Contact: Lee Hoffman, 219-1621) Statistical Analysis Report "National Dropout Statistics Field Test Evaluation" (Contact: Lee Hoffman, 219-1621) Statistical Analysis Report "Participation in Secondary Vocational Education, 1982-87" (Contact: Jim Houser, 219-1419) Statistics in Brief "Eighth to Tenth Grade Dropouts" (Contact: Marilyn McMillen, 219-1754) Statistics in Brief "Experiences in Child Care and Early Childhood Programs of First and Second Graders" (Contact: Jerry West, 219-1574) Statistics in Brief "Home Activities of 3- to 8-year-olds" (Contact: Jerry West, 219-1574) Survey Report "Federal Support for Education: Fiscal Years 1980 to 1991" (Contact: Charlene Hoffman, 219-1688) Technical Report "Diversity of Private Schools" (Contact: Marilyn McMillen, 219-1754) Trends in Academic Progress: Achievement of U.S. Students in Science, 1969-70 to 1990; Mathematics, 1973 to 1990; and Writing, 1984 to 1990 (Contact: Barbara Marenus, 219-1828)