Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has submitted the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The notice for the proposed information collection is published to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies.

Written comments and suggestions from the public and affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of information are encouraged. Your comments should address any of the following: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy of the agencies estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses; and (e) Assess information collection costs.

To request additional information on the proposed project or to obtain a copy of the information collection plan and instruments, call (404) 639-7570 or send an email to omb@cdc.gov. Written comments and/or suggestions regarding the items contained in this notice should be directed to the Attention: CDC Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503 or by fax to (202) 395-5806. Written comments should be received within 30 days of this notice.

Proposed Project

Presidential Youth Fitness Program Evaluation—New—National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

In 2013, the Presidential Youth Fitness Program began its first round of funding to elementary, middle and high school PE teachers who applied to the program. A second round of funding began in 2014 and a third in 2015. Each participating school receives support to implement the PYFP for three years. The resources provided to PE teachers include: professional development training, awards for student recognition of fitness achievements, access to a professional learning community and access to FitnessGram® fitness assessment software. For the schools selected to receive PYFP support, the requirements include: (1) Information Technology (IT) manager and PE teacher participation in the FitnessGram® software training, (2) PE teacher participation in PYFP professional development training, (3) conducting FitnessGram® assessments according to the training, (4) recognizing student achievement in fitness and physical activity, (5) confirming continued participation in the program at the end of Years 1 and 2, and (6) participating in evaluation activities, including the submission of required data on an annual basis. The PYFP is designed to supplement the traditional PE course and support physical education (PE) teachers in laying the foundation for students to lead an active life.

CDC plans to conduct the first rigorous evaluation of the PYFP. The evaluation will assess the impact of the program on student, PE teacher and school level outcomes (outcome evaluation) as well as barriers and facilitators to program implementation (process evaluation). Evaluation activities will take place in 11 schools implementing the PYFP and 11 match comparison schools, contributing a total of 82 sixth grade PE classes. Information collection will be conducted in 6 PYFP and 6 match comparison schools in Spring 2017 and 5 PYFP and 5 match comparison schools in Fall 2017. The PYFP schools recruited to participate in the PYFP Evaluation will be identified from a list of schools receiving Round 2 or Round 3 PYFP funding and meeting the following inclusion criteria: (1) Middle school with a sixth grade, (2) sixth grade enrollment of 150 or higher, (3) 50% or more of students receiving free or reduced lunch, and (4) documented completion of PYFP professional development training. Comparison schools will be matched based on criteria 1-3 above as well as location to ensure similar PE policies and standards. The process and outcome evaluation will involve data collection activities with four respondent groups: (1) Students, (2) PE teachers, (3) parents, and (4) school administrators.

The specific aims of the outcome evaluation are to examine how the PYFP impacts student fitness and physical activity, particularly how the program impacts student: (1) Fitness knowledge and health knowledge, (2) attitudes toward physical activity, (3) motivation to be physically active, (4) physical activity levels and (5) fitness. Surveys to be conducted at all schools include the: (1) Paper-based PYFP Student Survey, (2) online PYFP PE Teacher Survey, and (3) online PYFP School Administrator Survey. There are minor differences in the survey instruments depending on whether the school is a PYFP participant or a non-PYFP school. The outcome evaluation will also determine the changes made as a result of the PYFP such as changes at the school level (e.g., improved PE and physical activity policies and practices, increased parent awareness of school PE and physical activity) and changes in PE teaching practices (e.g., integration of fitness education, increased use of fitness assessment tools and improved practices for fitness testing).

The outcome evaluation will include fitness assessments with approximately 2,460 students as part of the standard PE program (1,230 PYFP sixth grade students and 1,230 non-PYFP sixth grade students). Fitness assessments will be conducted at both the beginning and end of the semester using FitnessGram®'s pacer and body composition assessments. Finally, a subset of 6 PYFP and 6 match comparison schools will assess students' physical activity levels by collecting student accelerometry data. Accelerometry will be conducted in a subset of 25 PYFP and 25 non-PYFP classes to capture data from approximately 500 students (250 students from PYFP schools and 250 students from match comparison schools). Accelerometry data collection will involve wearing the device for a week at the beginning and a week at the end of semester and noting hours of wear time and class schedule.

Information collection for the process evaluation will be conducted only in the 11 PYFP schools. The aims of the process evaluation are to describe how PYFP resources were used by teachers and schools, the strategies used by teachers and schools to integrate fitness education and student recognition of fitness achievement into the schools, and barriers and facilitators relevant to PYFP implementation. All PYFP schools will complete cost and time use worksheets. In addition, focus groups with PE teachers, students, and parents will be conducted in a subset of 6 PYFP schools. Focus groups will take place on school grounds during or outside of the school day, depending on availability of a given respondent group.

The information collected for the PYFP evaluation will allow the CDC and partners to assess the impact of the PYFP compared with a traditional PE curriculum and gather information critical for program improvement.

OMB approval is requested for two years. Participation in the PYFP Evaluation is voluntary and there are no costs to respondents other than their time.