Research in Public Schools
Research in the Utah public school districts require planning, careful preparation, and ample time for review and to obtain permission to conduct studies.
- Researchers should familiarize themselves with each school district’s demographics, policies, and procedures before they submit an application. There are certain times of the year that the districts do not allow research in the classrooms.
- Applications are first submitted to BYU IRB for review.
- Depending on the demographics of the district, translations of the consent, permission, assent documents and research instruments should be attached to the application packet.
- Incomplete applications or insufficient details may delay the research for another 2-4 weeks.
- BYU IRB will approve the study contingent upon the approval of the school district.
- Researchers can contact the appropriate representative of each school district if they have additional questions. The school district contact person is never the superintendent and we ask that you do not contact them. However, the link provided below will direct you to the appropriate person.
- After BYU IRB approval, researchers will visit the McKay School of Education website to request permission to conduct the research in the Partnership School Districts.
- The website will guide researchers through the school district application process: http://education.byu.edu/request_to_conduct_research
- Each school district will review and make a determination about the research based on the study topic, benefit to their schools, scheduling, etc.
- BYU IRB approval does not guarantee that the school districts will approve the research.
- Researchers must submit written documentation on letterhead from each school district to BYU IRB before initiating any research procedures.
- Research conducted in charter schools will require the approval of the school principal.
- Research conducted outside the Partnership School Districts will follow policies and procedures set forth by each institution.