Comments From the Department release during the first six months of FY 1987, 90 have been released, and five others scheduled for later release also have been published. This exceeds the total number of publications released in all of FY 1986. While it will take a great deal of effort and time, as well as more favorable congressional action on our request for additional resources, we believe that the course we have embarked upon will lead to data that are timely, reliable, and comparable across States and localities--and responsive to the criticisms found in the GAO report. See page 45. See comment 2. Elementary/Secondary Data Collection GAO acknowledges on p. 55 of the draft report that data on elementary and secondary education are gathered from several distinct surveys. However, we are concerned that the narrative in this section of the report appears to confuse Common Core Data (CCD) with CES' entire elementary and secondary data collection system. CCD actually is just one of several parts of the whole. The redesign effort looked at the full array of elementary/secondary data collected through CCD, NAEP, longitudinal studies, and the Public and Private School Surveys. Several statements in the report imply, incorrectly, that (1) CCD was the primary elementary/secondary data system and (2) that it was the appropriate mechanism for collecting a variety of data. CCD was and will continue to be the component of the elementary/secondary data system through which basic universe data are obtained for use Comments From the Department questions and topics are accomplished with the involvement and advice of researchers, practitioners, and policymakers external to OERI. However prescriptive its procurements may appear, OERI work scopes are frequently shaped with the advice and counsel of outside experts. Additionally, when OERI issues a request for proposals (RFP), work scopes usually contain an invitation for alternative approaches. Rather than constrain inquiry, OERI is steadfast in its attempts to foster creativity and invite alternate strategies and fresh ideas. OFFICE OF PLANNING, BUDGET, AND EVALUATION CHANGES SINCE 1985 The GAO draft report looks at OPBE activities from 1973-1985, with a focus on 1980-1985. During this period, although OPBE has been the central evaluation office of the Department (and previously the Office of Education in DHEW), program offices have conducted many evaluation studies. The resulting information has often gone to the Congress and is a significant component of the evaluation information available to it. Since 1985, important changes also have been made by Secretary Bennett in the Department's evaluation program. The Office of Planning, Budget, and Evaluation (OPBE) has a redefined role. It is still the central evaluation office, but also coordinates planning and implementation of evaluation studies throughout the Department. See comment 3. Comments From the Department As the procedures for planning and coordination of evaluation studies CORRECTIONS IN NUMBERS Many numbers and percentages given for contracted evaluations should be dollar amounts, the Annual Evaluation Report for the year after the year - 1985, are as follows: |