School Board of the City of Virginia Beach
Regulation 4-69.1
PERSONNEL
Research Involving Employees
Requests to conduct research in the school division including the distribution of surveys, must be processed through the Research Review Committee. Action research studies and other data-collection activities conducted by Virginia Beach City Public Schools employees for internal purposes only do not require review by the Research Review Committee but must meet the criteria as outlined in Section C of this regulation. In addition, data collection activities that are mandated by the state or federal government do not require review by the Research Review Committee.
A. Research Review Committee:
The Superintendent designates the Assistant Superintendent for the Department of Research, Evaluation, and Assessment to establish and oversee a committee of knowledgeable persons to act as the school division's Research Review Committee. The committee will review and make a recommendation on all requests to conduct research and distribute surveys involving employees within the school division. The Assistant Superintendent will make the final decision on all such requests after considering the committee's recommendation.
B. Application Review Process:
1. All requests to conduct research or distribute surveys involving employees, except those described in Section C of this regulation and data collection activities mandated by the state or federal government, must be submitted to the Department of Research, Evaluation, and Assessment on the Application to Conduct Research or Distribute Surveys form. Each request will be reviewed by the Research Review Committee against the following criteria:
a. The research/survey distribution complies with the administrative criteria as set forth in School Board Policy 4-69.
b. The research does not investigate the personal lives of employees except as applicable under federal and state law, school division policies and regulations, and as approved by the Assistant Superintendent for the Department of Research, Evaluation, and Assessment.
c. Participation in the research and/or data collection activities is voluntary.
d. Requests for preexisting data do not require extensive data programming.
e. The research/survey distribution is proposed and conducted in such a way as to preserve the anonymity of all participants when reporting the results. The identity or identifiable characteristics of employees, schools, or the school system will not be revealed unless so authorized in writing when the research/survey is approved.
f. The applicant states in the proposal the expected date of completion for the study/survey distribution and states that a final copy of the study/results will be forwarded to the Department of Research, Evaluation, and Assessment upon completion.
2. Each applicant will receive a written response approving or disapproving the request following a decision by the Assistant Superintendent for the Department of Research, Evaluation, and Assessment.
C. Action Research and Other Data-Collection Activities for Internal Purposes:
1. Action research studies and data-collection activities that are routinely conducted by VBCPS staff members in carrying out their responsibilities to maintain and improve instructional programs and administrative practices and are strictly for school/division-related purposes do not require formal review by the Research Review Committee provided that:
a. The action research and data-collection activities follow the guidelines developed by the Department of Research, Evaluation, and Assessment.
b. Activities involving a single school site or department are approved by the administrator in charge of the department or school.
c. Activities involving multiple school sites or activities conducted on behalf of a central office department are approved by the appropriate supervising cabinet-level administrator.
d. The research or data-collection activities conform to existing federal, state, and local school board policies/regulations. If doubt exists as to whether the activities conform to the appropriate policies and regulations, the administrator overseeing the activity may request a review by the Assistant Superintendent for the Department of Research, Evaluation, and Assessment.
2. The results of research or data-collection activities described in Section C of this regulation may not be used for external purposes after the fact without the written permission of the Superintendent or the Superintendent’s designee.
D. Monthly Report of Research:
A monthly report of research requests will be submitted to the Superintendent.
Legal Reference:
No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, 20 U.S.C § 6301, et. seq., as amended.
Code of Virginia § 32.1-162.16, et seq..as amended, Definitions.
Code of Virginia § 22.1-16.1, as amended, Board to establish regulation regarding human research, as amended.
Approved by Superintendent: June 22, 2009