Atlanta Public Schools (APS) encourages meaningful empirical research and offers the services of the Office of Research and Evaluation to facilitate the efforts of researchers in conducting approved studies. Guidelines have been formulated to regulate research activities, to protect the rights of students and staff, and to avoid interference with the ongoing instructional programs in the schools.

The following conditions apply to research requests:

• Research applications must contain all required documents upon submission for review. Researchers must submit a completed Atlanta Public Schools Research Request Application. The committee will not review incomplete applications. 
• Research proposals will be reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the year by the Research Review Committee, except April 1st through May 31st  of each year (i.e., Blackout period for reviewing applications and conducting research in APS schools). The Research Review Committee will review each proposal and respond by letter to the researcher within eight (8) weeks of the submission date.
• The committee may approve or deny research proposals. Within the eight week review period, the committee may follow-up with the applicant for clarity and/or may request modifications to the proposal. 

APS school-based employees who plan to conduct research solely at their assigned school location do not need to submit a full Research Request Application. They should complete the Local School Research form. Employees will be required to gain approval from their school principal prior to starting research and forms should be emailed to research_screening@atlanta.k12.ga.us. 

COVID-19 Modifications:

In response to the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic poses to our school communities, the APS Research Screening Committee has modified its criteria and considerations when reviewing research proposals for the 2021-2022 school year.

• Priority will be given to studies that have direct benefit to the district and are aligned with the 2020-2025 Strategic Plan.
• Data collection plans should minimize burden to schools, staff, and students.
• All primary data collection must be conducted using online/virtual activities and requires active consent.  There will be no in-person research activities for the duration of the 2020-2021 calendar year.
• Consent forms must indicate any intent to record the audio or video content of data collection and include information about who will have access to the recordings, where the recordings will be stored, and when the recordings will be destroyed.

More detailed information regarding the processes and procedures for conducting research can be reviewed in the Research Resources section.

Monique O'Bryant, Ph.D.