AUG. 18, 2021 – The U.S. Census Bureau recently began collecting data for the new Institute of Education Sciences (IES) School Pulse Panel (SPP) Survey as part of the efforts to measure the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on public school students and staff.

The SPP is a new study sponsored by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in the Department of Education’s IES to collect detailed data on how the pandemic has affected students, teachers and other staff in U.S. public primary, middle, high and combined-grade schools.

The initial summer survey asks sampled school principals about topics such as:

• In-person, distance- and hybrid learning during the last or upcoming school year.
• Extending the school day/year and before- and after-school/weekend programs or canceling/shortening school holidays to address pandemic-related learning needs during the 2020-2021 school year.
• Onsite COVID-19 vaccinations or a mobile vaccination unit for eligible students during the 2020-2021 school year.
• Classes or camps in summer 2021 to address pandemic-related learning needs.
• Diagnostic assessments of students by teachers and using results to address pandemic-related learning needs during 2021-2022 school year.

Starting in September, the survey will begin asking questions about the following topics:

• Instructional mode offered (such as, in-person or virtual schooling).
• Enrollment counts of student subgroups using various instructional modes.
• Learning loss mitigation strategies.
• Safe and healthy school mitigation strategies.
• Special education services.
• Technology use.
• Staffing.

SPP data will be collected and released on a regular basis beginning this fall, with regular monthly updates on the NCES page.

Please call the Census Bureau at 1- 844-868-3661 if you have questions about the survey. Email comments and suggestions to addp.school.pulse.panel@census.gov.  

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