E 6162.8aResearch and Survey Approval Procedures

BP 6162.8 Research states that and educational research that takes place within the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District requires prior approval of the Superintendent. Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) protects the confidentiality of student information. All other surveys must have the prior written approval of the Superintendent.

RESEARCH AND SURVEY APPROVAL PROCEDURES:

Surveys and research that take place within the KPBSD require prior approval. All research must have prior written approval from the Superintendent.

Staff and student time is valuable. While the KPBSD encourages educational research and the collection of information for educational decision-making, the need for research and the collection of information is always balanced against the KPBSD mission. Surveys and research that do not support the mission of the School District and take time from instruction may not be approved.

A written proposal must be submitted to the Superintendent for review prior to any approval. No survey or study can be approved without the submission of complete and final copies of surveys and data collection instruments.

Supervisors and principals should not allow surveys or research to take place at the facility they supervise unless the individual or organization that wishes to conduct the survey or research can demonstrate prior written KPBSD approval. When prior parent approval is required for student participation, no student may be allowed to participate in a survey or research project without documentation of the parent permission.

PROCEDURES FOR PROPOSAL SUBMISSION AND REVIEW:

I. A written proposal must be submitted to the Superintendent for review prior to the approval of any survey or research project. Guidelines for this proposal are included in the following pages.

II. The proposal will be reviewed by the Superintendent. Instruments and procedures must be consistent with all federal and state statutes and regulations that relate to student information release, data collection, and use of human subjects. Appropriate District departments, schools, and programs affected by the survey or study may be asked to review the proposal for merit, costs in staff and student time, and value to the KPBSD. The proposer will be contacted if there are questions or modifications needed. The Superintendent will provide a written approval or denial of the survey or research request. Approval may be contingent upon the agreement of the proposer to certain limitations or modifications or to provide specified information to the KPBSD.

III. If the survey or research study is approved, the proposer may proceed with the study. A copy of the approval letter will be provided to administrators whose school or department is affected by the survey or research project. If the proposed survey or research study is denied, the proposer may contact the Superintendent to determine what might be done to make the proposal acceptable.

IV. Written permission from parents or guardians will have to be demonstrated prior to any release of information, survey, or research activity that requires parent permission prior to student participation or the release of student information.

V. Superintendent will work with principals to determine the activities proposed are not disruptive or have an adverse effect on the educational process at the school. A proposal may be denied if this is the case.

VII. When the survey or research study is completed, a copy of the final research report or summary of the survey results must be provided to the Superintendent. The KPBSD reserves the right to use the information in the research report or summary for planning, solicitation of grants, and staff development.

Proposals should be sent via fax or mailed to the Superintendent.

The following survey or research requests will not be approved:

1. Survey or research requests, submitted by outside researchers or organizations that require parental consent. Parent consent is required if the survey asks students anything about the following:

1. Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or the student’s parents
2. Mental or psychological problems of the student or the student’s family
3. Sex behavior or attitudes
4. Illegal, antisocial, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior
5. Critical appraisals of other individuals with whom respondents have close family relationships
6. Legally recognized privileged or analogous relationships, such as those of lawyers, physicians, and ministers
7. Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or the student’s parent
8. Income

Even if outside researchers or organizations are collecting the parent consent, the District is responsible for ensuring that the parent consent regulation is followed. KPBSD does not have the staff to monitor this process for survey and research requests.

2. Survey or research requests that ask for student records, or personal identifiable information in these records.

Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) provides that the District may not release student records or personal identifiable information in these records without written consent from the parents. The District cannot approve requests from outside researchers or organizations that seek student personal identifiable information because the District would have to receive written permission from the parent to release the information and does not have the staff to do this.

Student personal identifiable information may include:

• The student’s name

• The name of the student’s parent or other family members

• The address of the student or student’s family

• A personal identifier, such as the student’s social security number or student number

• A list of personal characteristics that would make the student’s identity easily traceable