Atlanta Public Schools (APS) encourages meaningful empirical research and offers the services of the Department of Research and Evaluation for School Improvement 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 all research requests:

Researchers planning to conduct studies beyond one year must submit annual requests for continuation.  Approval for one school year (August- May) does not guarantee approval for subsequent school years of a study.

Research proposals will be reviewed by the Research Screening Committee throughout the year except from February through May (Black Out period) of each year. 

The Research Screening Committee will review each proposal and respond by letter to the researcher within approximately an eight (8) week period of the submission date. The committee may approve, deny, or request modifications to research proposals. 

All research screening application packets must contain all required documents upon submission for review.  Researchers must submit a completed APS Research Request Application, a detailed research proposal with approved IRB and Research Proposal Check Off Form with the proposal packet. The committee will not review incomplete application packets.  

            More detailed information regarding the Guidelines for Conducting Research Activities in the Atlanta Public Schools is available on this link. Additionally, information about Research, Planning & Accountability can be found on the following link:

Thank you.