Data & Research Requests

General Information

Individuals and organizations interested in using data from Shelby County Schools to answer research questions must be granted approval prior to beginning a project. To begin the approval process, an applicant should submit a complete application packet which includes the following:

• Application Request for Data or Conducting Research
• Drafts of consent forms (if proposing to conduct a research project)
• Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, if applicable
• $25 application fee

Please note that completing the application process does not guarantee approval. Research questions that do not clearly benefit the District are likely to be rejected. Additionally, approval from the Research Department does not obligate any school, principal, teacher, or student to participate in a research project.

Factors considered when reviewing an application include: 1) protection of participants; 2) impact on instructional time; 3) administrative burden on schools or Central Office; and 4) quality of proposed research.

Be advised that research proposals to conduct surveys are not likely to be approved given the large volume of surveys already conducted within District and the cumulative impact this has on instructional time.

Applicants can expect email confirmation upon receipt of the application and notification of approval within 40 business days.

To begin, click on the links below.

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