2011-2012 Schools and Staffing Survey Restricted-Use Data Files

SASS used a stratified probability sample design to ensure that the samples of schools, principals, teachers, districts, and school library media centers contained sufficient numbers for reliable estimates. Public and private schools were oversampled into groups based on certain characteristics. After schools were stratified and sampled, teachers within the schools were also stratified and sampled based on their characteristics.

The 2011–12 SASS used a combination of mail-based methodology and Internet reporting for questionnaires, with telephone and in person field follow-up. An advance letter was mailed to sampled schools during the summer of 2010 to verify school addresses. Subsequently, a package containing all surveys and explanatory information was mailed to sampled schools. The Census telephone center called sampled schools to verify school information, establish a survey coordinator, and follow up on the Teacher Listing Form (TLF), which served as the teacher list frame. Sampled teachers were mailed questionnaires on a flow basis. Field follow–up was conducted for schools that had not returned the TLF. Schools were called from Census telephone centers to remind the survey coordinator to have staff complete and return all forms. Individual survey respondents (e.g. principal, librarian, and teachers) were called from the telephone centers to attempt to complete the questionnaire with them over the phone. Field follow–up was conducted for schools and teachers that had not returned their questionnaires.