Unique to the ECLS-B is the collaboration of many federal agencies. The ECLS-B represents the efforts of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and several health, education and human services agencies. These federal agencies collaborate with NCES on the design and implementation of the study. Because the ECLS-B is a unique opportunity to gather information on early childhood health and development, many agencies have committed funds to the project. Their participation avoids duplication and maximizes the value of data across federal agencies.
These agencies contribute to instrument content, sampling operations, and special population coverage. NCHS played a critical role in the design and selection of the ECLS-B sample. NCHS and NIH contribute significantly to the health content of the study. NICHD, along with other NIH Institutes, and other DHHS agency partners (MCH/HRSA and CDC) support the oversampling of twins, low and very low birth weight children and Chinese children. NICHD also supports the self-administered questionnaire for resident fathers while ASPE helps sponsor the collection of data from nonresident fathers and minority children. USDA supports questionnaire items regarding families' food sufficiency and nutrition (e.g., participation in federal food programs, infant feeding practices) and the measurement of children's height and weight. OSEP and NCSER contribute items on children with disabilities. ACYF sponsors the observations in child care and early education settings, and the videotaping of parent-child interactions.
