ACF Proposes Revisions to Personal Responsibility Education Program Performance Measures to Enhance Clarity and Reduce Burden
The Department of Health and Human Services, through its Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE), and Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB), has initiated a public comment period for proposed revisions to the data collection process for the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP). This action, detailed in a Federal Register notice on April 17, 2026, seeks to refine how PREP-funded programs report performance data, addressing concerns about clarity and administrative burden while ensuring continued robust oversight and reporting.
Understanding the Personal Responsibility Education Program
PREP is a critical federal initiative designed to support states, tribes, tribal communities, and community organizations in implementing evidence-based programs. Its core mission is to reduce teen pregnancy and the incidence of sexually transmitted infections among adolescents. Beyond these primary objectives, PREP programs are mandated to provide comprehensive education covering both abstinence and contraceptive use. They also incorporate a range of 'adulthood preparation' subjects, such as healthy relationships, adolescent development, financial literacy, effective parent-child communication, essential education and employment skills, and broader healthy life skills. This holistic approach aims to equip young people with the knowledge and tools necessary for responsible decision-making and successful transitions into adulthood.
Evolution of Data Collection and Performance Measurement
Since its inception, PREP has relied on systematic data collection to monitor program effectiveness and inform policy. The PREP Performance Measures project (OMB #: 0970-0497) serves as the mechanism for gathering, analyzing, and reporting on the success of these programs. Data is collected from various sources, including PREP grant recipients, program providers, and the youth participants themselves. This comprehensive data set encompasses information on program structure, costs, and implementation support; attendance, reach, and 'dosage' (the amount of program exposure); characteristics of participating youth; and pre-program indicators of youth sexual risk behaviors and behaviors related to adulthood preparation. Importantly, it also captures youth behavioral intentions at program exit. This data is vital for ACF program offices and grant recipients to track progress, provide technical assistance, and fulfill mandated reporting requirements to Congress and the Office of Management and Budget.
Rationale for Proposed Revisions
ACF's decision to revise the existing performance measures stems from several key observations and feedback channels. Grant recipients have consistently voiced concerns about the complexity and clarity of certain information collection items, particularly questions within participant surveys that youth find difficult to understand or respond to accurately. Concurrently, contractor staff responsible for data management have identified measures that frequently lead to help desk inquiries or are prone to data quality issues, suggesting inherent ambiguities in their design. Furthermore, FYSB staff have conducted internal reviews, pinpointing measures that are either no longer essential or whose required information could be more efficiently obtained through alternative sources. These collective insights underscored the need for a comprehensive review and recalibration of the data collection instruments.
Nature of Proposed Changes and Expected Impact
The proposed revisions are multifaceted, aiming to enhance both the user experience and the data's integrity. Specific modifications include re-wording questions to use simpler, more accessible language, reducing the number of sub-items or response categories, and eliminating survey patterns that require respondents to skip multiple questions based on a single prior answer. In some instances, entire measures deemed redundant or problematic are being removed. Notably, the participant surveys for middle school youth will continue to exclude more sensitive items present in versions for high school and older youth, and a shorter entry survey remains for participants in PREIS and Tribal PREP programs to minimize their burden. These proposed revisions were rigorously cognitively tested with program participants to ensure clarity and validate the revised burden estimates. The most tangible outcome of these changes is a projected 40 percent reduction in annual burden hours for reporting activities, with participant entry and exit surveys now estimated to take just 5 minutes each, down from 8 and 7 minutes, respectively. This substantial reduction in administrative load is expected to free up resources for grant recipients to focus more on program delivery.
Opportunity for Public Engagement
ACF is actively soliciting public comments on these proposed revisions, urging stakeholders to provide input on several critical aspects. The agency seeks feedback on whether the collection of information is truly necessary and possesses practical utility, the accuracy of its estimated burden, the overall quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected, and innovative ways to further minimize respondent burden, including through the adoption of automated collection techniques or other information technologies. Comments must be submitted by June 16, 2026, providing an opportunity for affected parties and the broader public to shape the future of PREP data collection.
Moving Forward
This proposed revision represents ACF's commitment to continuous improvement in program oversight and accountability. By actively seeking to streamline data collection processes and reduce the administrative burden on its grant recipients, the agency aims to foster a more efficient and effective PREP. The emphasis on clarity and utility in data collection not only supports robust congressional reporting but also enhances the capacity of program providers to focus on their primary mission: delivering vital education and support to young people across the nation. The public comment period is a crucial step in ensuring that these revisions meet the needs of all stakeholders.
