Consent Forms

APPENDIX B: CONSENT FORMS

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Evaluation of Evidence-Based Practices in Online Learning

School Staff Informed Consent Form

Purpose

This evaluation is being sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, Policy and Program Studies Service (PPSS). The evaluation is being carried out by SRI International. The evaluation report developed through this study will highlight effective, research-based practices that educational practitioners and policymakers can use to guide implementation of online offerings.

Interview Procedures

To achieve the purposes described above, the contractors are asking school staff involved in choosing, delivering online content, or supporting students who are involved in online learning, to participate in a series of interviews. Each interview should last between 30 to 60 minutes and will be audiotaped.

Your participation in the evaluation will contribute to a better understanding of educational policies and practices. The interviews are not intended to evaluate given individuals or their capabilities or performance.

Your Rights as a Participant

For questions regarding your rights as a human subject participating in this research, you may contact SRI’s Human Subjects Committee, at (650) 859-2686.

Privacy

Responses to this data collection will be used only for research purposes. The reports prepared for this study will summarize findings across the sample and will not associate responses with a specific district or individual. We will not provide information that identifies you or your district to anyone outside the study team, except as required by law. Only selected evaluation staff will have access to your actual interview responses, and those data, including the audiotape, will be stored in a locked file cabinet. The audiotape will be destroyed at the conclusion of the study. Participating schools will be acknowledged in the final report for their cooperation, but they will not be identified in the text of any report unless model practices are highlighted. If information from your school is used to illustrate model practices, specific permission will be obtained and school staff will have an opportunity to review the text developed to describe the practice.

Informed Consent

By signing this form you are indicating that you have read and understood the information provided to you about your participation in this interview.

______________________________________ ______________________________________

Printed Name Title/Position

______________________________________ ______________________________________

Signature Date

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Evaluation of Evidence-Based Practices in Online Learning

Developer Informed Consent Form

Purpose

This evaluation is being sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, Policy and Program Studies Service (PPSS). The evaluation is being carried out by SRI International. The purposes of the evaluation is to document characteristics associated with prevalent types of online learning and provide evidence-based practices that strengthen implementations of online learning to improve the educational outcomes of students (an overarching goal of NCLB)

Interview Procedures

To achieve the purposes described above, the contractors are asking developers of online content to participate in a series of interviews. Each interview should last about 60 to 90 minutes and will be audiotaped.

Your participation in the evaluation will contribute to a better understanding of educational policies and practices. The interviews are not intended to evaluate given individuals or their capabilities or performance.

Your Rights as a Participant

For questions regarding your rights as a human subject participating in this research, you may contact SRI’s Human Subjects Committee, at (650) 859-2686.

Privacy

Responses to this data collection will be used only for research purposes. The reports prepared for this study will summarize findings across the sample and will not associate responses with a specific district or individual. We will not provide information that identifies you or your district to anyone outside the study team, except as required by law. Only selected evaluation staff will have access to your actual interview responses, and those data, including the audiotape, will be stored in a locked file cabinet. The audiotape will be destroyed at the conclusion of the study. Participating schools will be acknowledged in the final report for their cooperation, but they will not be identified in the text of any report unless model practices are highlighted. If information from your school is used to illustrate model practices, specific permission will be obtained and school staff will have an opportunity to review the text developed to describe the practice.

Informed Consent

By signing this form you are indicating that you have read and understood the information provided to you about your participation in this interview.

_______________________________________ ______________________________________

Printed Name Title/Position

_______________________________________ ______________________________________

Signature Date

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Evaluation of Evidence-Based Practices in Online Learning

Teacher Participant Informed Assent Form

Purpose

This evaluation is being sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, Policy and Program Studies Service (PPSS). The evaluation is being carried out by SRI International. The purposes of the evaluation is to document characteristics associated with prevalent types of online learning and provide evidence-based practices that strengthen implementations of online learning to improve the educational outcomes of students (an overarching goal of NCLB).

Interview Procedures

To achieve the purposes described above, the contractors are asking participants in online programs to participate in one focus group. Each session should last about 60 minutes and will be audiotaped.

The interviews are intended to provide information about data-driven decision-making practices and the context for their implementation. Your participation in the evaluation will contribute to a better understanding of educational policies and practices. The interviews are not intended to evaluate given individuals or their capabilities or performance.

Your Rights as a Participant

For questions regarding your rights as a human subject participating in this research, you may contact SRI’s Human Subjects Committee, at (650) 859-2686.

Privacy

Responses to this data collection will be used only for research purposes. The reports prepared for this study will summarize findings across the sample and will not associate responses with a specific district or individual. We will not provide information that identifies you or your district to anyone outside the study team, except as required by law. Only selected evaluation staff will have access to your actual interview responses, and those data, including the audiotape, will be stored in a locked file cabinet. The audiotape will be destroyed at the conclusion of the study. Participating schools will be acknowledged in the final report for their cooperation, but they will not be identified in the text of any report unless model practices are highlighted. If information from your school is used to illustrate model practices, specific permission will be obtained and school staff will have an opportunity to review the text developed to describe the practice.

Informed Consent

By signing this form you are indicating that you have read and understood the information provided to you about your participation in this interview.

_______________________________________ ______________________________________

Participant Name Title/Position

_______________________________________ ______________________________________

Participant Signature Date

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Evaluation of Evidence-Based Practices in Online Learning

Student Informed Assent Form

Purpose

This evaluation is being sponsored by the U. S. Department of Education. The evaluation is being carried out by SRI International, a research organization.

We are asking you to participate in a group interview, or focus group, with other students from your school. We will ask you questions about your experiences with the online class/program. The focus group will last no more than 60 minutes and will be audiotaped. The questions it asks are intended to provide information about your experiences in school and not to evaluate your capabilities or performance.

Risks and Discomfort

There are no anticipated or known risks in participating in this study. You may ask to cease participating in the interview at any time without penalty of any type.

Your participation in the small group interview is voluntary. You will not be penalized in any way for not participating in the interview.

Benefits

Your participation in the focus group will contribute to an understanding of the role of online courses in schools.

Confidentiality

Responses to this data collection will be used only for research purposes. The reports prepared for this study will summarize findings across the sample and will not associate responses with a specific district or individual. We will not provide information that identifies you or your district to anyone outside the study team, except as required by law. We will take notes during the interview and the interview will be audiotaped, but there will be no record of comments attributable to individual members of the group. Only selected evaluation staff will have access to the interview responses, and those data, including the audiotape of the interview, will be stored in locked file cabinets and destroyed at the conclusion of the study.

Informed Assent

By signing this form you are indicating that you have read and understood the information provided to you about your participation in this small group interview.

I am willing to be interviewed in a small group of students by SRI staff members about my school. I understand that this is voluntary and is part of an evaluation sponsored by the U. S. Department of Education and conducted by SRI International.

________________________________________ _______________________________________

Name Date

I consent to have my child participate in a small group interview with SRI staff members about online programs. I understand that this is voluntary and is part of an evaluation sponsored by the U. S. Department of Education and conducted by SRI International.

________________________________________ _______________________________________

Parent Name Parent Signature

_______________________________________

Date