“Education is about children and as long as our efforts are aligned toward children we are on the right path.”
Deborah L. Hendrix President, Board of Education
District Policy GCS
| District Policy Index Section G Index: Personnel |
 |
DISTRICT POLICY GCS Professional Research and Publishing Date of revision: January 24, 2013 |
Professional Research and Publishing
The Board recognizes the value of educational research conducted by staff members. However, all research studies carried out within the school system using District or school data of any kind or staff or students as subjects must be approved in advance by the Superintendent or designee. Only those studies which have value to the District shall be approved.
The Superintendent or designee shall keep a file on topics needing study that shall be shared with staff members at their request.
When human subjects are involved in research, there shall be adequate protection of their rights and welfare. The individual shall be subjected to no serious risk. Parents of students who are subjects of research or adults, if they are the subjects, shall be provided an explanation of procedures and their purposes, a description of any possible risks and any benefits to be reasonably expected, an offer to respond to inquiries on procedures, and instruction on the right to refuse to participate or to discontinue participation at any time without prejudice.
Survey, Analysis or Evaluation of Students
Except as otherwise permitted by law, no student shall be required without prior written consent to submit to a survey, analysis or evaluation that reveals information concerning:
- Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or the student's parent/guardian
- Mental and psychological problems of the student or the student's family
- Sex behavior or attitudes
- Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating or demeaning behavior
- Critical appraisals of other individuals with whom the student has close family relationships
- Legally-recognized privileged or analogous relationships such as those of lawyers, physicians and ministers
- Religious practices, affiliations or beliefs of the student or the student's parent/guardian
- Income (other than that required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under such program)
Participation in such research or experimentation programs shall require the prior written consent of the parent/guardian or emancipated minor.
All instructional and supplementary materials used in connection with any research or experimentation program or project shall be available for review by the parents/guardians of students involved in the project.
| LEGAL REFS.: | 20 U.S.C. §1232h |
| CROSS REFS.: | JLDAC (Screening/Testing of Students) LC (Relations with Education Research Agencies) |