Littleton Public Schools Policy

Policy Code    GCS Policy Name Professional Research and Publishing Adoption April 7, 1992 Revised

The Board recognizes the value of educational research conducted by staff members. However, all research studies carried out within the school system using District or school data of any kind or staff or students as subjects must be approved in advance by the Superintendent or his/her designee. Only those studies which have value to the District shall be approved.

When human subjects are involved in research, there shall be adequate protection of their rights and welfare. The individual shall be subjected to no serious risk. Parents of students who are subjects of research or adults if they are the subjects shall be provided an explanation of procedures and their purposes, a description of any possible risks and any benefits to be reasonably expected, an offer to respond to inquiries on procedures, and instruction on the right to refuse to participate or to discontinue participation at any time without prejudice.

Federally-Funded Research or Experimentation Programs or Projects

No student shall be required as part of any federally-funded research or experimentation program or project to submit without prior written consent to psychiatric or psychological examination, testing, or treatment in which the primary purpose is to reveal information concerning:

       Political affiliations.

       Mental and psychological problems potentially embarrassing to the student or his/her family.

       Sex behavior and attitudes.

       Illegal, antisocial, self-incriminating, demeaning behavior.

       Critical appraisals of other individuals with whom respondents have close family relationships.

       Legally-recognized privileged and analogous relationships such as those of lawyers, physicians, and ministers.

       Income other than that required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under such program.

Participation in such research or experimentation programs shall require the prior written consent of the parent or emancipated minor.

The terms “psychiatric or psychological examination or test” in this context shall mean a method of obtaining information, including a group activity that is not directly related to academic instruction and that is designed to elicit information about attitudes, habits, traits, opinions, beliefs, or feelings. The term “psychiatric or psychological treatment” means an activity involving the planned, systematic use of methods or techniques that are not directly related to academic instruction and that is designed to affect behavioral, emotional, or attitudinal characteristics of an individual or group.

“Research or experimentation program or project” means a program or project designed to explore or develop new or unproven teaching methods or techniques.

All instructional and supplementary materials used in connection with any research or experimentation program or project shall be available for review by the parents of students involved in the project.

Legal Reference:  20 U.S.C. §1232h

                           34 C.F.R. Part 98

Cross Reference: JLDAC, Screening/Testing of Students (& Treatment of Mental Disorders)

                           LC, Relations With Education Research Agencies