The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, is sponsoring a 3-day advanced studies seminar on the use of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998–99 (ECLS-K) database. The ECLS-K allows researchers to examine the relationships among a wide range of child, family, teacher, classroom, and school variables and children’s development and performance in elementary and middle school.

The training this year will focus on the ECLS-K restricted data (e.g., special education teacher data, census and geocode information, principal and teacher salary and benefits data, item-level social rating scale data, and head start verification data). Applicants must demonstrate that their specific research interests are related to information that can be found only in the restricted data files.

PURPOSE AND EXPECTED OUTCOME

The goal of the seminar is to provide researchers with an opportunity to learn about one of the most comprehensive data resources in the nation and to facilitate the use of ECLS-K data in substantive research. The seminar will include both lecture and hands-on instruction. Specifically, the seminar will include the following topics and activities:

• an overview of the ECLS-K design, instruments, and database, with a focus on those data that are available only in the restricted-use files;
• discussion of methodological and technical issues relevant to ECLS-K data use; including the structure of the restricted-use files and how to use them in conjunction with the public-use file;
• instruction on and practice using the ECLS-K kindergarten through eighth-grade data, including restricted-use data; and
• hands-on experience in conducting analyses of ECLS-K data.

Please note that this seminar does not provide formal instruction on advanced statistical methods and analyses.

The seminar enables participants to refine their research plans for using ECLS-K data. At the conclusion of the seminar, participants present a preliminary analysis plan that uses ECLS-K data, including a clear statement of the research questions, a rationale for the analysis, analytic approach (specifications of population, variables, statistical techniques, etc.), and preliminary results. Complimentary copies of any papers and publications using ECLS-K data should be sent to NCES.

QUALIFICATIONS

Participants attending this seminar should have a solid understanding of statistical methods and be proficient in the use of SPSS, SAS, or Stata statistical software packages. Participants are expected to know how to perform SPSS, SAS, or Stata procedures, including recoding data and running descriptive analyses (e.g., frequency distributions, cross-tabulations, means). Applications will be evaluated on the following criteria:

• significance of the proposed research;
• alignment of the proposed research plan with ECLS-K data;
• potential benefits from participation in the seminar;
• prior research experience and training; and
• knowledge and skills in statistical analyses and the use of statistical computer packages. (Please see attached application form for specific questions pertaining to your level of experience.)

Researchers with grants to use ECLS-K data and graduate students using the data in their dissertation research will be given special consideration.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

There is no fee to attend this seminar. NCES will provide training materials, as well as computers for the hands-on practice. For out-of-town participants, NCES will also pay for transportation, hotel accommodations, and a fixed per diem for meals and incidental expenses during the training seminar.