CONTACT INFO
Room 304
160 South Hollywood Street
Memphis, TN 38112
Phone: 901-416-5455
The research approval process is the mechanism by which individuals or organizations who wish to answer research questions using or collecting data from Shelby County Schools gain approval to move ahead with their project. No research should be conducted in the District prior to receiving official approval through this process.
Any research questions that require data from Shelby County Schools that are not publicly available require approval. This includes research designed to gather original data from Shelby County Schools and District data files that are not publicly available.
Yes. There is a non-refundable $25 application fee that is due when you submit your completed application. In addition, there may be additional fees if you are requesting data files or need data de-identified from the District. The fees for data files will be calculated based on the amount of time required to prepare the files for you. You will be informed of any additional costs before the data files are created for you.
Yes. In addition to the $25 application fee, there are fees to obtain data files and/or de-identify data. Charges are based on the amount of time required to prepare the files for you.
Yes. Shelby County Schools employees must follow the same research approval process for research projects as individuals outside the District.
Students should be aware that the expected timeframe for submitting an application and receiving approval is 40 business days after we receive a complete application. Students attending universities or colleges that have Institutional Review Board (IRB) processes are required to submit IRB approval before receiving final approval from Shelby County Schools. Applicants requesting to do original research projects in the District should note that no research projects will be allowed during the State testing window each spring.
SCS does not permit applicants who are current SCS school staff to ask their own faculty, other staff or students to participate in their research unless it is classroom-level action research. School-based applicants should plan to identify other SCS schools where they do not work to request participation in surveys, focus groups or interviews. This is to mitigate the possibility that research subjects feel pressured to participate when they don’t wish to and to ensure better objectivity in the resulting research.
Applicants will receive email confirmation upon receipt of an application. Following that, it can take up to 40 business days after we receive a complete application to get official approval from the District. However, you may be contacted before then by someone reviewing your proposal for clarifications and/or revisions to the application materials
We try to attend to each research approval application as quickly as possible, but there is no guarantee we can complete the process in less than 40 business days. However, to make the process as smooth as possible, be sure to submit a complete application (including the $25 application fee) and all supplemental information at the same time. Also, check your email for any follow up correspondence that you may receive.
The following types of research are almost never approved:
Listed below are the components that should be included in all consent forms. If you are affiliated with an institution with an Institutional Review Board (IRB) process, additional information may be required by the IRB. All consent forms should be written in non-technical, easy-to-understand language.
Assurances that not participating, opting out, or discontinuing participation will not negatively affect participants
Below are some examples of data the District can provide. If the data you are interested in are not on this list, you may email [email protected] to determine if the District can provide you with the information you need before you submit an application.
Student, parent, or teacher email addresses
A complete application consists of the following:
If you have additional questions, please contact the Department of Research and Performance Management at (901) 416-5455.