Chesapeake Public Schools (CPS) recognizes the value of quality educational research and strives to support as many requests as possible. The Department of Planning, Policy & Research accepts applications from researchers to conduct educational research within the district. The school district will ensure that research or data collection does not interfere with instruction or require excessive district resources (e.g., staff time) in order to be completed.

The following principles are fundamental to the review process for, requests to conduct research in partnership with or within CPS, requests to collect data from individuals or groups within or associated with CPS, and requests for CPS data:

• Research topic or general reason for the request

• Purpose of the research study, collected data, or requested data

• Documentation of approval to conduct research from college/university, and IRB (if applicable)

• Research methodology and data collection (i.e., instrument used for data collection)

• Expected timeline for the research or time period for requested data

• Participants (including the amount of time required of them)

• Relevance and value to CPS and its strategic plan

Individuals, organizations, or entities interested in conducting research must be aware that they are responsible for identifying participants or facilitating contact with potential participants for any approved research or data collection. Participant involvement in any research is strictly voluntary. Once approval to conduct research or collect data from identified persons or groups has been received by the requester, it is the requester’s responsibility to contact the CPS staff cited in the request.

Please note that data collection will be limited during weeks or months around state testing and the summer. Requests for data that are not publicly available may require an investment of time and effort by school district personnel and could be subject to an hourly fee being charged for the compilation or extraction of the requested data according to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Requests of this nature may be directed to the school district’s FOIA Officer. More information about FOIA requests can be found here on our website.  

Individuals, organizations, or entities wanting to conduct research or collect data in the school district—whether affiliated with a college/university or not—are required to submit the research request form. Please ensure each statement within the Requester’s Agreement section of the form is read and checked prior to submitting the form for review.

Please note that research involving students that requires time away from instruction will only be approved under exceptional circumstances, subject to a high level of scrutiny and consideration of the time of year and other situational factors.

Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval is not always required for capstone projects unless the research involves activities that meet the federal definition of human subjects research. If your capstone project includes activities such as interviews, surveys, or other forms of data collection involving human participants, it is essential to consult with your academic advisor or your institution’s research office to determine whether IRB review is necessary.

Individuals, organizations, or other entities may request a copy of or access to existing data related to the school district. Certain requests for data may require submission of the research request form. The purpose or intended use of the data will help determine the appropriate procedures for making a request. The following information provides guidance for requesting CPS data. 

The Commonwealth of Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is the state law granting access to public records not exempt from disclosure and entry into meetings of public bodies for Citizens of the Commonwealth and representatives of the media. The research request form does NOT apply to a FOIA request. For additional information about FOIA and how to request records under the Act, please visit this page on our website.

The review of request(s) and other supporting documents will be completed in approximately 14 days. A written notification indicating the approval or denial of each request will be provided to the requester. If there is an unexpected delay in the review process, school district personnel will contact you with additional information and an expected time frame for completion.

Remember, do not contact potential participants or begin collecting data until you have received written approval from the Department of Planning, Policy & Research.

If you have additional questions, contact the Department of Planning, Policy & Research at 757-547-5562 or email Dr. Tee Bunch-Boney.

At Chesapeake Public Schools, we conduct research to evaluate programs, enhance educational practices, and ensure data-driven decision-making that benefits our entire school community. Research is conducted to focus on areas such as student achievement, instructional strategies, school climate, and program effectiveness. By analyzing data and exploring innovative approaches, we aim to continuously improve learning outcomes, support educators, and create an environment where every student can thrive.