Research & Surveys

Conducting Research and Surveys at Tacoma Public Schools

Tacoma Public Schools (TPS) is comprised of 56 Comprehensive Schools serving approximately 30,000 students in Preschool - Grade 12. It is an innovative district focused on the development of the Whole Child. TPS recognizes the importance of relevant and valid research and is committed to facilitating appropriate research and survey activities. Research, however, is secondary to our goal of educating Every Student. Every Day.

The TPS Assessment & Research Department is responsible for managing and overseeing all research and survey activity conducted within the district, including.

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research at tps

Surveys at tps

Student Participation & Consent

Participation in research studies and surveys is voluntary. Parents and students who do not wish to participate have a right to refusal. Pressure shall not be applied to promote participation.

Tacoma Public Schools complies with all state and federal regulations regarding the release of confidential student data. Many of the legal guidelines for data release procedures are drawn from the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Information for Potential Participants

Information for Potential Participants

If a research project involves the direct participation of students or parents, participants must receive and sign an Informed Consent Form (from the researcher) that describes the study and contains:

An "I do not wish (my child) to participate" option
Acknowledgement that the school district is neither sponsoring nor conducting the research
Statement that there is no penalty for non-participation
Notice that participants may withdraw from the study at any time without penalty

Parents and/or students asked to participate in research studies shall be informed of the following:

Project's purpose
How student was selected
Procedures to be followed, including a precise description of the student/parent involvement
Anticipated benefits for the student, the district, and/or the field of knowledge
Recipients of research reports/results, and potential use(s)
Participant/parental rights to inspect materials before issuing consent, and to withdraw consent at any time
Who to contact with questions before, during, and after the project
Lack of adverse consequences for failure to participate

Assessment & Research