The basic task of the starting cohort responsibility is the cross-stage conception and planning of the design and survey program of a starting cohort. In addition to preliminary considerations and coordination with the NEPS management, this includes, in particular, coordination with the NEPS network regarding the planning of the succession, the lead responsibility for the content of the assignment of services to external survey institutes and, last but not least, the conception of the master plan, which defines the survey content for all survey instruments of a starting cohort over a longer period of time.

Prof. Dr. Ilka Wolter is responsible for the starting cohort 8 (5th grade) and, in addition to the overarching concept, focuses on the school area. She is supported by Lena Nusser and Laura Schick. Prof. Dr. Corinna Kleinert assumes partial responsibility for after-school and extracurricular education and is supported by Dr. Sebsatian Lang. Up to grade 9, the concept still provides for joint responsibility for the starting cohort by Prof. Dr. Ilka Wolter and Prof. Dr. Nele McElvanvy. Of course, the expertise of the teams in stage 4, stage 5, stage 6 and stage 7 is also indispensable here.