Guidelines for Submitting Research Requests

Anyone wishing to conduct research or collect data for the purpose of research must apply and obtain approval from the MCSD Superintendent.  This includes, but is not limited to:

• students of the Muscogee County School District

• students from other systems

• undergraduate and graduate students

• MCSD teachers  and administrators

• teachers and administrators from other systems

• college and university professors.

Anyone wishing to conduct independent research should apply for approval.  Once the request is received, it will be reviewed by the Department of Research, Accountability, and Assessment (RAA), and a recommendation will be made to the Superintendent to accept or reject the research project.  The Superintendent’s decision is final. Once a decision has been made by the Superintendent, the applicant will be notified. Any data collection that takes place in a school must also be approved by the principal.

When submitting your application to RAA, please attach the following:

• Letter requesting approval to collect data in the Muscogee County School District

• Copy of surveys and/or interview prompts
• Consent forms for parents and assent forms for students - all students must have a signed consent form signed by the parent before data collection can begin
• Statement in the consent form that participation is voluntary and there will be no consequences if they decide not to participate or if they withdraw during the course of the study

• Copy of the completed IRB form

• Letter from the major professor stating that he/she has read the proposal, and it is in final form and the advisor approves it
• Letter from the building administrator (principal) stating that he/she has read the proposal, surveys, and consent forms and approves and and will support the project if it is approved by the Superintendent
• Form from the website
• Complete proposal including the hypotheses/questions, literature review, methodology, time frame, and plan for analysis

All aspects of the research project must be completed when researcher and respondents are not on contract or instructional time. Materials may not be distributed by school system personnel including, but not limited to, pony mail personnel, principals, teachers, parapros, secretaries. When the final submission is made, please allow three weeks for all documents to be read and evaluated.

Projects using data that are in the public record are exempt from this process.  For example, test scores that are posted on the Internet may be used for the purpose of research without obtaining approval.  However, individual scores that are maintained by MCSD are not exempt from this process.

Research applicants should also be aware of the following:

• There are laws that protect the privacy of students and their grades.
• Sensitive topics such as use of drugs, sexual activity, or sexual preference are less likely to be approved.
• Respondents are to be advised that their participation is voluntary.
• Research infringing on instructional time will generally not be approved.
• Research in a school to which the researcher is not assigned is not likely to be approved.

Request to Conduct Independent Research

Requests should be sent to
Dr. Carol Bradshaw
Post Office Box 2427
Columbus, GA 31902
or cbradshaw@mcsdga.net