Our policies and procedures have changed. The Office of Assessment, Accountability & Evaluation will only be accepting and reviewing research applications submitted online through this Google form.

The following information must be uploaded using a Google account to complete the application.

  1. A completed “Application to Conduct Research” Form.
  2. A brief abstract, not exceeding 200 words.
  3. A detailed research proposal.
  4. Copies of all necessary consent/assent forms with completed checklists.
  5. A letter from principals/teachers granting permission to conduct research in their school/classroom.
  6. Evidence of recent (within five years) human subjects research training.
  7. College and university-affiliated researchers must obtain approval of their proposed research by the Institutional Review Board or similar committee.

2023-2024 Research Application & Review Deadlines

Review Cycle Application Deadline Research Review
Committee Meeting		 Approval Notification
January – February Monday, January 9, 2023 Wednesday, January 25, 2023 Monday, February 13, 2023
March – April Friday, March 10, 2023 Friday, March 31, 2023 Wednesday, April 12, 2023
May – June Friday, May 12, 2023 Friday, June 2, 2023 Wednesday, June 14, 2023
July – August Wednesday, July 12, 2023 Thursday, July 27, 2023 Friday, August 11, 2023
September – October Monday, September 11, 2023 Friday, September 29, 2023 Thursday, October 12, 2023
November – December Thursday, November 16, 2023 Monday, December 4, 2023 Friday, December 15, 2023
January – February Monday, January 8, 2024 Wednesday, January 24, 2024 Monday, February 12, 2024
March – April Friday, March 8, 2024 Friday, March 29, 2024 Wednesday, April 10, 2024
May – June Friday, May 10, 2024 Friday, May 31, 2024 Friday, June 14, 2024
July – August Wednesday, July 10, 2024 Friday, July 26, 2024 Friday, August 9, 2024
September – October Monday, September 9, 2024 Friday, September 27, 2024 Wednesday, October 16, 2024
November – December Thursday, November 14, 2024 Monday, December 2, 2024 Friday, December 13, 2024

2022-2023 Approved Research Requests

The following research projects have been approved by the Research Review Board and are currently active.

Please be advised that approval of research activities does not equate an endorsement of research by Polk County Public Schools. Our approval means that the study has met professional and ethical standards as determined by the District’s Research Review Board, and these researchers have permission to conduct activities in our school district. Regardless, principals must grant final approval on whether or not a particular researcher may conduct research at their school. Informed consent documents must be obtained from parents or legal guardians before a researcher has direct contact with students.

Research Project Researcher(s) Institution Effective Dates
Efficacy Trial of the Modular Approach for Autism Programs in Schools (MAAPS) Iovannone, Rose University of South Florida 02/12/21-06/30/24
CTE Advise: Advising Tools in Secondary Education Rosen, Rachel

Woo, Janey

 Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation 10/04/21-12/31/25
Impacting Marginalized Middle School Students’ Mathematics Achievement Lockard, Mijana Florida Southern 10/13/21-07/31/22
Effects of Subsuming Standards-based Objectives within the Socio-scientific Issues Framework on Student Accountability Measures and Development of Students’ Character and Values as Global Citizens Wikman, Karrie University of South Florida 12/17/21-07/31/23
A Quantitative Study Associating Military Accordance, Affective Commitment, and Academic Inclination in a Military Themed High School Porter, Andrew Florida Southern College 04/15/22-07/31/23
Confidence with Differentiated Instruction: A Phenomenological Study on Targeted Professional Development Allen, Brittany Florida Southern College 06/15/22-05/31/23
Achieving Commencement: A Basic Qualitative Study Newman-Lake, Elizabeth KRIS American College of Education 06/15/22-05/31/23
Gender Distribution in Music Education Professionals Ziegenfus, Jaclyn University of Florida 06/15/22-12/31/22
Legends of Learning and PCSD Student Science Achievement Strother, Scott WestEd 06/15/22-12/31/22
Destigmatizing the Instructional Coaching Process while Advancing School-wide Literacy Richard-Jones, Anjanette Trident University 10/12/22-06/30/23
The Relationship Between Phonics Instruction and English Language Leaners’ Reading Level Bassett, Christie Walden Univerity 10/12/22-06/30/23
Teacher Motivation and its Impact on Job Abandonment in the First Five Years of Teaching in a High School in the Southeast Region of the United States of America Colon, Miguel Nova Southeastern University 12/14/22-06/30/23
A Modified Program Evaluation of a Florida State End-of-Course Crooks, Renee Nova Southeastern University 12/14/22-05/30/23

To request the documents listed below, please call 863-534-0979 ext. 744 or email research@polk-fl.net.

Application Documents

  • Application to Conduct Research
  • Informed Consent Letter Checklist
  • Student Assent Letter Checklist

Information for Research Request Applicants

  • Should I Submit a Research Request?
  • The Research Application Review Process
  • Composition of the Research Review Committee
  • Checklist Used for Phase I Quality Control Review
  • Rubric Used for Phase II RRC Review

Resources for Approved Researchers

  • Monthly Research Progress Reports
  • Request for Extension of Research Activities
  • Suspension for Research Activities

Research Incident Reports

  • Report by Person Involved
  • Report by Witness
  • Report by School Administrator

General Resources

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