The Research Review Committee (RRC) plays a crucial role in ensuring that research conducted within the Columbus City Schools (CCS) aligns with district goals and priorities, while protecting the interests of students and staff. 

Its purpose includes:

• Evaluating research proposals to ensure they meet ethical standards and align with district goals, strategic priorities and meet legal requirements.
• Ensuring the protection of student data and privacy by reviewing how information is collected, stored, and used.
• Facilitating valuable research partnerships by connecting researchers with schools and district leaders, promoting projects that can benefit the district’s educational outcomes.
• Providing recommendations for approval or modifications to research projects, ensuring they contribute positively to the district’s educational environment.

The Research Review Committee has seven (7) core members:

• Five (5) from the Division of Research and Evaluation,
• One (1) from the Office of Data Reporting and Analytics,
• One (1) from the CCS Legal Team, One (1) from the Columbus Education Association (CEA),
• One (1) from the Office of Curriculum
• One (1) from the Office of Transformation and Leadership.

Each month, an additional two-to-four CCS staff members may be invited to join the committee to review specific proposals that align to their area(s) of expertise.  

1. Researcher submits a proposal/request to conduct research

• • Applicant will receive an email that the proposal has been submitted, confirming receipt

2. RRC meets monthly to review proposals.

• • If all information is correct:
    • A decision is made
      • Approved: No additional questions / revisions requested.
      • Conditionally Approved: Additional questions/ revisions need to be submitted prior to full approval
      • Denied: Research does not meet at least one of the requirements for research conducted in CCS
  • RRC Sends a signed decision letter to the researcher by email, with outcome and next steps

The CCS Research Review Committee is tasked with the opportunity to protect the interests of students and teachers. There are three common reasons why a research application would not be approved:

1. The potential study does not align with the needs of the district, or the study is currently being conducted by another entity.

2. The potential study is a burden on Columbus City Schools resources and the research may place an overly undue strain on resources that CCS is able to accommodate. This includes taking away from instructional time during school hours or CCS resources are limited and cannot support additional research.

3. Research cannot evaluate or appear to be evaluative of district staff. 

Applications are reviewed six times per school year and twice over the summer. If the application deadline is missed, the application will not be reviewed until the next review cycle. Please make sure to include all needed attachments with your application. Your application will not be reviewed by the committee until it is complete.

**The proposal submission and approval process can take longer than expected to complete and it is recommended by the RRC for researchers to plan accordingly. Please make sure to allow more than 30 days for your research to begin. Research requested to begin in under 30 days from the submission date will not be considered.