Office of PK12 Schools and Educational Programs Research Committee (OPK12-research committee)

Florida Atlantic Laboratory Schools is a developmental research school district that includes various programs and schools. As part of the laboratory school mission, the Office of PK12 Schools and Educational Programs Research Committee is a collaborative group that supports research conducted by Florida Atlantic University and other universities, public schools, the private sector, and school-wide action research projects.

The Office of Pre-K-12 Schools and Educational Programs Research Committee oversees research in and with our schools and educational programs by approving and facilitating collaboration with our schools while ensuring projects are conducted safely, successfully, and to the benefit of our students’ education, faculty, university, and the broader community. Through these research initiatives, our mission is to improve education for our own diverse student population as well as those at educational institutions across the country. This unique mission is what makes us an exemplary model for PK-12 programs across the nation.

Committee Description

We are an Office of PK12 Schools and Educational Programs committee comprised of school/organization administrators, faculty, and FAU College of Education faculty. We facilitate research collaborations with the PK12 Schools and Educational Programs, including A.D. Henderson University School, Florida Atlantic University High School, Pine Jog Environmental Education Center, and the Center for Educational Strategy and Innovation.

What We Do

  • Establish collaborations with FAU (and other) researchers to study our programs, schools, and students
  • Review collaboration requests to assess fit based on our mission and ensure that university and school research protocols are in place where appropriate
  • Ensure that the research and findings are disseminated both to our school and to the broader discipline

Information for Parents

Florida Atlantic Laboratory Schools, which include A.D. Henderson University School and FAU High School, are developmental research school sites. As a part of our schools’ missions, we endeavor to conduct and support educational and developmental research within our school systems. Be assured that all research initiatives are pre-screened and require approval from the OPK12 Committee and the FAU Review Board before the research begins. As always, the decision to allow your child to participate in these research projects or not is up to you, and will not affect your child’s grades or standing within the school. To discuss your or your child’s rights as a research subject, you may contact the Florida Atlantic University Office of Research Integrity. Any concerns about the integrity of the research program may be addressed by contacting the Office of PK12 Schools and Educational Programs Research Committee. We appreciate your dedication to the mission of our schools and the opportunity to serve you and your child’s educational needs in new and innovative ways.

Information for Researchers

Types of Collaborations

Florida Atlantic Laboratory Schools conducts and supports educational and developmental research and helps to facilitate grant outreach and broader impacts projects by Florida Atlantic University, other universities, and community partners.

How to Initiate a Collaboration

If you are interested in initiating a collaboration, follow the steps below as a guide through the approval process.

  1. Initiate a Collaboration Request
    1. Complete the Request to Collaborate  form to provide the OPK12 Committee with information about your proposed project.
  2. Committee Review Process
    1. The OPK12 Committee meets monthly to review, discuss, and provide feedback on projects that align with our school’s mission, considering the scope, timeline, population, and impact of the study.
  3. Agree to Collaborate
    1. Once the project is approved, you will be emailed a Collaboration Agreement   form that outlines the terms of our collaboration.
  4. Submit Documentation
    1. Share IRB Approvals, Grant Proposal Acceptances, etc., with OPK12 as the project develops, using the Project Update  form.
  5. Coordinate with OPK12
    1. Our office is here to assist with your project in various ways, including helping with project logistics and participant recruitment. Please email us at opk12research@fau.edu .
  6. Share Project Updates
    1. Share updates or changes to your project, including IRB amendments, presentations, publications, and findings, using the Project Update form.
  7. Continue Collaborating with New Projects
    1. Continue collaborating with FAU Lab Schools on future projects! We are available to help brainstorm ideas for outreach, connect you with teachers, community partners, student researchers, and more!

Approval Process:

The OPK12 Committee reviews all collaboration requests to assess fit based on our mission and ensure that university and school research protocols are in place where appropriate. In order to foster a positive research experience for all teachers, students, parents, and researchers, we take some of the following factors into consideration when deciding whether to approve the collaboration request:

  • Study focus overlap with other current or recent studies
  • Study timeline overlap with other studies
  • Study population overlap with other concurrent or recent studies
  • Study impact on our school community

If you have any questions or comments about the approval process or your specific study, feel free to contact us.