NCES Sources

Appendix A.2 Schools and Staffing Survey

The Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) is a set of linked questionnaires that collects data on the nation’s public and private elementary and secondary teaching force, characteristics of schools and school principals, demand for teachers, and school/school district policies. SASS data are collected through a mail questionnaire with telephone follow-up. SASS was first conducted for the National Center for Education Statistics by the Census Bureau during the 1987–88 school year. SASS subsequently was conducted in 1990–91, 1993–94, 1999–2000 and 2003-04. The 1990–91, 1993–94, and 1999–2000 SASS also obtained data on Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) or tribally run schools. For the first time in 1999–2000 SASS included the entire universe of charter schools known to be in operation during 1998–99.

Both the 1993–94 and 1999–2000 SASS estimates are based upon a sample consisting of approximately 9,900 public schools, 3,600 private schools, and 5,500 public school districts associated with the public schools in the sample. From these schools, about 56,000 public school teachers and 10,700 private school teachers were selected for the 1993–94 and 1999–2000 SASS teacher surveys. The 1999–2000 SASS included 1,100 charter schools, and a sample of 4,400 charter school teachers.

The public school sample for the 1999–2000 SASS was based on the 1997–98 school year Common Core of Data (CCD), the compilation of all the nation’s public school districts and public schools. CCD is collected annually from state education agencies. The frame includes regular public schools, Department of Defense-operated military base schools in the United States, and other schools, such as special education, vocational, and alternative schools. SASS is designed to provide national estimates for public and private school characteristics and state estimates for school districts, public schools, principals, and teachers. The teacher survey is designed as well to allow comparisons between new and experienced teachers, and between bilingual/ESL teachers and other teachers.

The private school sample for 1999–2000 SASS was selected from the 1997–98 Private School Universe Survey (PSS), supplemented with list updates from states and some associations available in time for sample selection. Private school estimates are available at the national level and by private school affiliation.

In 1993–94, the weighted response rate for the Teacher Demand and Shortage Questionnaire was 93.9 percent. Weighted response rates for the Public School Principal Questionnaire and the Private School Questionnaire were 96.6 percent and 87.6 percent, respectively.

The public, private, and BIA teacher questionnaires were sent out in several batches, between mid-December 1993 and early February 1994. Weighted response rates for the Public School Questionnaire and the Private School Questionnaire were 92.3 percent and 83.2 percent, respectively. Five percent of public schools and 9 percent of private schools did not provide a list of teachers in their schools and were thus ineligible for sampling. Weighted response rates were 88.2 percent for public school teachers and 80.2 percent for private school teachers.

In 1999–2000, the weighted response rate for the School District Questionnaire was 88.6 percent. Weighted response rates for the Public School Principal Questionnaire, the Private School Principal Questionnaire, and the Charter School Principal Questionnaire were 90.0 percent, 84.8 percent, and 90.2 percent, respectively.

Weighted response rates for the Public School Questionnaire, the Private School Questionnaire, and the Charter School Questionnaire were 88.5 percent, 79.8 percent, and 86.1 percent, respectively. Seven percent of public schools, 14 percent of private schools, and 9 percent of charter schools did not provide a list of teachers in their schools and were thus ineligible for sampling. The weighted overall response rates were 76.7 percent for public school teachers, 67.3 percent for private school teachers, and 71.8 percent for charter school teachers.

Public-use data files are available on CD-ROM. Summary data from the 1999–2000 SASS can be found in Schools and Staffing Survey, 1999–2000: Overview of the Data for Public, Private, Public Charter, and Bureau of Indian Affairs Elementary and Secondary Schools (NCES 2002-313). Further information about the sample design may be obtained from the 1999–2000 Schools and Staffing Survey: Sample Design and Estimation (forthcoming). There also is a methodology report on SASS, A Quality Profile for SASS, Rounds 1–3: 1987 to 1995 (NCES 2000-308).

The most recent administration of SASS occurred during the 2003–04 school year.

Further information on SASS may be obtained from:

Kerry Gruber
Elementary/Secondary Sample Survey Studies Program (ESLSD)
National Center for Education Statistics
1990 K Street NW
Washington, DC 20006
Kerry.Gruber@ed.gov
http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/sass/

NCES Sources

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