School-Based Research

Researchers must address specific considerations when conducting studies in school settings. In order for the IRB to assess and determine the regulatory requirements that apply for a particular study, a detailed description about the research to be conducted and who the participants will be, should be included in the IRB application. Permissions and approvals from the school should also be included, as well as information about the consent process, including the plan to obtain parental permission and assent from children, as applicable.

Please also refer to Children in Research for additional information and requirements.

This webpage includes information on the following:

Types of School-Based Research
Parental Permission (Consent)
School Collaborations and Agreements
School-Based Program Improvement Projects
Other Federal Requirements that May Apply
Resources

Types of School-Based Research

Research conducted in a school setting can include various topics, research activities, and participant populations. Examples of research that may be conducted within schools include:

Education/Instruction focused research such as analyzing the effectiveness of a new curriculum
Behavioral research with students (both interventional and observational) to understand how to support students’ social, emotional, and behavioral well-being; and
Research involving teachers/educators to compare learning environments or assess conditions that impact educators.

Some school-based research may qualify for Exempt review by the IRB when certain conditions are met.

Parental Permission (Consent)

Parental permission is typically required for children to participate in research. Obtaining parental permission in school-based research may present certain challenges. Researchers sometimes want to use an "opt-out" process in school-based research (also referred to as “passive consent”) where the parental permission form indicates that the parent(s) should respond only if they do NOT want their child to participate in the research activity. Schools commonly use this process for students to opt-out of sex education classes or other school-related activities.

However, for conducting research, an opt-out process, or passive consent, does not satisfy the regulatory requirement to obtain parental permission for participation in research. Depending on a study’s purpose and associated risks, federal regulations state that the IRB can determine one of the following:

Signed parental permission is required;
Parental permission with a waiver of documentation (signature) is acceptable; or
A full waiver of consent is permitted.

See additional information on Consent Waivers/Alterations.

When determining the appropriate consent process for a study the IRB will consider the age of the child (e.g., it may not be appropriate to waive documentation or waive consent for younger children, but may be acceptable for high school students), as well as whether the research procedures are similar to those typically conducted in a school setting. If so, the type of permission that would be required for such activities if they were not part of a research study.

The following methods of obtaining parent permission may be acceptable:

Parent Permission Requirement	Acceptable Method(s)
If signed parent permission is required	The parent permission form can be mailed home, emailed to the parent(s) or sent home with the child. A signed form must be received by the researcher before any study activities can begin. If a signed permission form is not received, the child must be excluded from the study.
If a waiver of documentation of consent is approved	The parent must still make an active (prospective) decision for their child to participate in the research. A parent permission form can be sent home with a link to a site where the parent(s) can select “Yes” or “No” to indicate if their child can participate.

Recruitment Considerations

Recruitment in schools warrants additional safeguards to prevent actual or perceived undue influence on students and families. Recruitment materials and processes should clearly state that participation is voluntary and will not affect grades or relationships within the school. Procedures should specify who will conduct recruitment and when recruitment will occur. See Payment Considerations for guidance on compensating children in research. Researchers should describe procedures to minimize pressure on children to participate.

Alternate Procedures

In the event parents do not allow children to participate, investigators should make accommodations for children not participating keeping in mind that these children should not be made to feel excluded from activities.

School Collaborations and Agreements

Researchers who wish to engage in school-based research projects should work with the school administration to establish the appropriate collaborative relationships and agreements as needed. A Letter of Agreement from the collaborating institution should be provided with the IRB application. See the template Letter of Agreement for information on what to include.

Researchers are responsible for conducting study procedures. In school-based research, researchers should not have classroom teachers conduct study procedures unless the classroom teacher has been listed as co-investigator in the IRB application. Depending on their role and activities conducted by school staff, schools may also require IRB approval. See also When Do External Organizations Need IRB Approval?.

Depending on the study, a formal agreement (such as a Data Use Agreement) may also be needed.

School-Based Program Improvement Projects

Schools often engage in program or educational improvement projects that are not considered research. School-based projects (often initiated by the school administration) that include a specific focus on program improvement may be considered Quality Assessment/Quality Improvement (QA/QI) instead of research. See also Do I Need IRB Review?.

Other Federal Requirements that May Apply

School-based research projects may also be subject to additional federal requirements. The following regulations apply to educational agencies and institutions that receive funding from any program administered by the U.S. Department of Education, including public elementary and secondary schools:

Federal Regulation	Details
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)	Federal law that oversees the release of educational records; Permits educational agencies and institutions to disclose personal identifiable information from education records without consent under specific conditions for research studies.
The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA)	Federal law that provides protection for student privacy; Provides parents the right to view content of surveys that include any protected information (e.g., mental health, illegal activities, religious or political affiliations); Signed parental permission may be required.

Resources

HRPP Policy Manual Chapter 12.5.1 - Waiver or Alteration of the Consent Process
Stanford Consent and Assent Form Templates
34 CFR Part 99 - Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
34 CFR Part 98 - The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA)

Page updated July, 2026