Conducting Research in the North Clackamas School District

1. The research must be educational in nature.  
2. Controls employed must have ethical considerations behind them. This may be addressed in the researcher's IRB. 
3. Research must be pre-approved.  Projects that do not have approval of the District will be immediately suspended.
4. You may not directly contact Principals or teachers to begin projects until approval has been received.  The District will assist with connecting research personnel with the appropriate District staff. 
5. You must provide the District with a copy of the final research result(s).

While the District encourages research related to teaching and learning, we do have a prioritized research agenda.

Equity is one of the Core Values of the North Clackamas School District. As such, we are particularly interested in proposals that view educational research through an equity lens.  Proposals that are most likely to be approved can illustrate that their research is of use to the North Clackamas School District. Knowledge of NCSD initiatives, policies, and our Strategic Plan demonstrate compatibility with the District.  

Proposals may receive one of the following responses:

1. Approved

2. Conditionally Approved (must provide additional information)

3. Denied.  There is no appeals process

The North Clackamas School District reviews proposals using the criteria outlined below to guide their recommendations for approval or denial. 

Purpose & Alignment

1. Request aligns with District Strategic Plan and Equity initiatives (or "District Research Agenda")

2. Results of requests have practical use

3. Settings and methods are compatible with NCSD and its research policy GCQB 

Design & Methods

1. Quality research design and methods 

2. Requested data is appropriate for the stated research question

3. Request does not interfere with instructional time

4. Collection methods are appropriate for age, development level, and language proficiency of subjects

5. NCSD employees only: Research is not conducted within researcher's own students or supervised employees. (Or, rationale is convincing and appropriate)

Confidentiality & Anonymity

1. Rationale is convincing and appropriate for any individually identifiable data

2. Data confidentiality measures are adequate and appropriate

External Approval

1. Approval from researcher's IRB

2. Approval from other entities or agencies as applicable

You will need to submit with your proposal the following documentation

1. A statement of the research questions, issues, and hypotheses. 

2. Literature review 

3. A curriculum vitae (CV) with current contact information.

4. A longer statement of the specific research design and methodology, including:

   • Names and role descriptions for the individuals who will participate in interviewing, questioning, or testing of students and staff

   • Scope and significance of the project (how many, and what type of students and NCSD staff involved and what that involvement entails)

   • Proposed start/end dates

   • Time demands on NCSD students and staff (e.g. once a week, daily, etc.)

   • Instruments of measurement

   • Procedures for data collection, confidentiality, and disposal of data after analysis

   • Specific data needed from NCSD as well as submission timeline

5. IRB Approval form.  If the project requires IRB approval, either for college or university course, program, or degree or if the nature of the project requires IRB approval, the IRP approval form must be submitted with your proposal.

6. Funding documentation. If the project is being funded by an approved grant, please state the name of the grant and the grant approval number, if applicable.

7. Copies of the instruments that will be used (such as surveys or assessment forms).

8. Copies of any letters that are to be sent to students, staff, parents, or community members. The North Clackamas School District prefers that passive permission letters be used for non-controversial, non-sensitive research only. A passive agreement format asks for the parent signature to be returned to the researcher only if permission is denied. If no letter is returned, the parent is assumed to have consented.

9. Signed Agreement to Conduct Research in the North Clackamas School District

Click Here to download the Agreement to Conduct Research in NCSD Form