Niagara Catholic District School Board EDUCATION-BASED RESEARCH
Issued: April 28, 1998 Revised:  October 12, 2001   October 16, 2001   July 8, 2008   April 26, 2011   June 12, 2012	Policy No. 800.5 (Previously Policy No. 301.2)

ADMINISTRATIVE GUIDELINES

1. Education Research is the investigation of education-based topics through the collection, analysis and dissemination of data.  This research data is obtained either directly or indirectly from students, staff, parents, school boards or any other education stakeholders through ethically acceptable practices that align with current scientific research methodologies.
2. Niagara Catholic District School Board staff, individuals and organizations wishing to conduct education-based research within the Niagara Catholic District School Board must be affiliated with a university, college, provincial/national/international education-based research organization, as recognized by the Director of Education or his/her designate.
3. Individuals and or organizations generally involved in education-based research may include:
   • Teacher-education candidates
   • Graduate students
   • Niagara Catholic District School Board staff conducting research as part of a program of study
   • University/college researchers
   • Government agencies (federal, provincial regional, municipal), and
   • Other recognized education-based research organizations.
4. A request to conduct education-based research in the Niagara Catholic District School Board must be sent to the Director of Education or his/her designate.  A completed Niagara Catholic Education-Based Research Proposal Review Template (Appendix 1) must be submitted and will include:
   • a summary of the education-based research proposal,
   • details of student or staff population sought,
   • examples of test instruments,
   • sponsoring university, college, and / or recognized organization’s Board of Ethics notice of approval to conduct the education-based research, and
   • samples of a parent /guardian letter and permission form.
5. A research application will be forwarded to the Research Ethics Review Committee of the Board. Recommendations by the Research Ethics Review Committee will be provided to the Superintendent of Education who will consult with other Board departments, and Senior Administrative Council to arrive at a final decision to proceed with the education-based research.
6. The role of the Research Ethics Review Committee is:
   • to review all requests for education-based research to be conducted within the Niagara Catholic District School Board as it relates to the Board’s Mission Statement, Vision 2020 Statements, Strategic Directions, and Enabling Strategies from the Vision 2020 Strategic Plan,
   • to refer the education-based research to other Board departments and Senior Administrative Council for consultation, and
   • to recommend to the Superintendent of Education either the approval or denial of the education-based research, or refer back to the researcher for further clarification.
7. The following Code of Research Ethics must be followed for all education-based research:
   • must abide by the teachings of the Catholic Church
   • will not pose any risk to the participants
   • must adhere to the guidelines of the Municipal Freedom of Information legislation (M.F.I.P.P.A.)
   • must apply informed active consent with all students, participants and/or parent(s)/guardian(s)
   • must guarantee anonymity of the individual students, schools and school personnel in reporting the results unless permission has been granted through informed active consent, and will not be released to a third party unless written permission has been granted by the Superintendent of Education, and
   • the Board must not be identified unless permission has been granted by the Director of Education.
8. If the education-based research is approved, Principals will be contacted about their participation.
9. Unless otherwise directed by Senior Administrative Council, the decision regarding the participation of a school in approved education-based research will include consultation with the Principal of the school and approval by the appropriate Superintendent of Education.
10. A subject’s decision to participate in education-based research rests with the participant and or parent(s)/guardian(s).
11. Upon completion of the education-based research, the researchers will provide a summary report to the participating schools and to the Superintendent of Education.
12. The Superintendent of Education shall prepare an annual report for the Committee of the Whole Meeting in June.

 

Policies Index

Statement of Policy