This seminar is open to advanced graduate students and faculty members from colleges and universities nationwide and to researchers, education practitioners, and policy analysts from federal, state, and local education and human services agencies and professional associations.

Data are being collected in five waves over a 9-year period and include information from parents, youth, school staff, and school records. The database includes over 10,000 variables related to youth and family characteristics, school characteristics, special education programs and services, academic and functional performance, adult services and supports, postsecondary education, adult adjustment and health, and adult employment.

• overview of the NLTS2 design, instruments, and database,
• discussion of the methodological and technical issues relevant to NLTS2 data use,
• instruction and practice with NLTS2 data, and
• hands-on experience in conducting analyses of NLTS2 data.

1. Applicants must be citizens or non-citizen nationals of the United States, or must have been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence (i.e., possess a currently valid Alien Registration Receipt Card I-551, or other legal verification of such status).
2. Applicants must demonstrate at least one year of data processing experience with SAS or SPSS to be considered. Participants attending this training seminar are expected to be proficient in the use of SPSS or SAS statistical software packages. Participants will be expected to know how to perform SPSS or SAS procedures, including manipulating data (e.g., joining data tables, subsetting data, recoding data, creating new variables) and running statistical analyses (e.g., frequency distributions, cross-tabulations, regression analyses).

• significance of the proposed research;
• alignment of the proposed research plan with NLTS2 data;
• prior research experience and training; and
• knowledge and skills in statistical analyses and the use of statistical computer packages.

1. An abbreviated resume or curriculum vitae not to exceed 10 pages. Citizenship status should be indicated on the resume or curriculum vitae. Resumes or curricula vitae that exceed 10 pages or do not indicate citizenship status may not be eligible for review.
2. A short (2 to 3 pages) statement of interest (8.5 x 11 inch page; single-spaced; 12 point font; with 1-inch top, bottom, and side margins). Information on what to include in the statement of interest is described below.
3. Graduate students must provide a letter of recommendation from their faculty advisor.

1. Clearly describe the substantive issues and research questions that they intend to study using NLTS2 data. Applicants should address the significance of these issues and questions.
2. Explain why NLTS2 is an appropriate data source for addressing the proposed research questions. Applicants should identify the NLTS2 assessments, questionnaires and/or survey content areas to be utilized for this research. Information regarding assessments, questionnaires and content areas is available at the study website (http://www.NLTS2.org); click on Study Design & Methodology/Data Collection & Instruments. This information will help applicants determine if their questions can be addressed through the NLTS2 data.
3. Briefly describe their research experience and training and how the training seminar would contribute to their overall program of research. Also, include the level of experience with the NLTS2 data set (e.g., current licensee, applied for license).
4. Document their experience and proficiency with the SPSS or SAS procedures described under the section on Qualifications. Applicants must also indicate which software (SPSS or SAS) they prefer to use.