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Conducting Research in Irving ISD

  • Conducting research in Irving ISD is a collaborative process between the Research Review Committee (RRC) and the researcher.  Irving ISD supports high-quality research that addresses well-formed research questions on educational topics important to the district. While some topics will not fit the needs of the district, the RRC hopes that applicants who propose a topic of interest to the district will use the RRC feedback to refine their project into one that satisfies district policies, meets legal requirements, and will benefit the district. 

    All research activities conducted in Irving ISD will support the mission, vision, goals, or strategic priorities of the district.

    IconDescription automatically generatedResearch request applications must: 

    • demonstrate clear and direct educational value to the district and not just to the profession of education in general
    • be minimally disruptive to the educational process
    • manifest a sound research methodology
    • comply with current privacy laws

    All applicants are encouraged to carefully read the information about the review process to better understand the requirements, restrictions, and expectations for high-quality research studies supported by the district.

    The district has ethical and legal obligations that require oversight of research activities that make use of district resources such as data, facilities, employee time, or access to students. The researcher will not select the site(s) used in the study. In collaboration with campus and district leadership, the RRC will determine the setting for the study if approved.  

    To conduct research at Irving ISD, the research request application must be completed online by the lead principal investigator. All requests that fulfill the submission requirements will be reviewed by a committee that draws on the expertise of district researchers, program evaluators, and human resources. As needed, additional members will be added to provide expertise on the proposed topic.

    Scales of justice outlineThe potential direct benefits to Irving ISD must outweigh demands on district resources, particularly on staff and student time. Research requests should directly align with published district goals or contribute to established district objectives.

     

    The district will not help identify study participants from special populations or provide confidential information about students, families, or staff.

    We strongly encourage researchers to first explore school-level data already publicly available and published by the Texas Education Agency. Researchers wishing to use publicly available data do not need to submit a research application to the district.

    Research institutions/organizations requesting data stored in district records do not need to complete a research application.  The appropriate process is to request a data-sharing agreement (DSA) or to request the records as part of the Texas Public Information Act. The DSA begins in the Performance Outcomes and Data Department, must be reviewed by legal, and signed by the district. Schools or district staff cannot and will not provide data to external researchers without a signed DSA. Texas Public Information requests can be made through the Document Services Department.

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    The review process can take up to 6-8 weeks. If your proposal requires modifications, the time from the first submission to the final approval could take longer.  

    For more information on the application and review process, please visit our webpage. 

  • A research request must meet the following criteria to be considered for approval:

    • The Request for Research submission process is complete, and all necessary documents are attached. See the application documentation for more information.

    • The Request for Research must be submitted by the lead primary investigator.

    • The study must not violate the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA).

    • The study describes provisions for protecting the confidentiality of personal data concerning students, employees, and the school district.

    The study is not offensive to the values and standards of Irving ISD and the community and does not inquire (in an obtrusive manner) into religion, political opinion, race, ethnicity, nationality, sex, gender, body image or autonomy, home, or family life. Any research involving controversial, inappropriate, or contentious topics will not be considered. This can include, but is not limited to:

    • Violence in schools
    • Bullying
    • Childhood obesity or eating disorders
    • Case studies on product sponsorships
    • Sex education or other sex-related research topics
    • Drugs, tobacco, and alcohol
    • Reproductive healthcare
    • Child abuse or neglect
    • Human trafficking
    • Race or gender bias

    For more information on restricted topics and guidelines for research, visit the "Guidelines for Request" page. 

Timelines to Submit Research Requests

  • Applications for research can be submitted at any time but the application will only be reviewed by the district during the review windows described below. 

    Studies beginning in the summer:

    • Submission deadline: February 15
    • Decision deadline: April 15
    • Earliest date to begin study: June 15*

    Studies beginning in the fall:

    • Submission deadline: June 15
    • Decision deadline: August 15
    • Earliest date to begin study: September 15*

    Studies beginning in the spring:

    • Submission deadline: August 15
    • Decision deadline: November 15
    • Earliest date to begin study: January 15*

    *The earliest date a study can begin is provided to support the writing of your proposal. If approved, your decision letter will explicitly state the timeline for each individual study. No study related activities should occur outside of the window described in your approval letter. 

Research Review Process