Conducting Research in CSD: The Research Review Committee
Thank you for your interest in conducting research with the City Schools of Decatur.
The Office of Teaching and Learning is pleased to offer research proposal services for employees and external stakeholders such as dissertation candidates, CSD staff, university faculty, research firms, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations through our Research Review Committee. Contact rrc@csdecatur.net with questions.
Any requests to obtain data to support research activities through gathering information by observation, interview, survey, tests, and/or other data collection devices in CSD are defined as "research" and are subject to our proposal process which governs and coordinates research conducted in CSD for the following reasons:
- To protect the rights and privacy of students, parents/guardians, and staff;
- To protect instructional time;
- To promote continuous improvement in student achievement;
- To benefit CSD and support our mission, goals, and strategic plan;
- To ensure that the research will inform educational practice.
All prospective researchers interested in conducting research in CSD must submit a formal applications and receive written approval before any research activities may begin. Research proposal approval will be based on consistent procedures established by district policies.
The following information and instructions apply to all requests to conduct research within the district, whether made by CSD employees or by external entities.
Contact Information
If you have further questions about the proposal process after reviewing the website, please contact Iris Im, Director of MTSS.
Email: RRC@csdecatur.net
Phone: 404-371-3601 x1103
Response Time
We are happy to work with you to help your application receive the consideration it deserves. However, CSD is a small school district and we do not have a single department dedicated to evaluating proposals. You may not receive an immediate response to your inquiry, but you should receive acknowledgment of a submission within 5-7 business days.
Additional Information
Access the Application to conduct research in City
Schools of Decatur 2025-26 PDF to help you prepare the information needed before you start the application.
Please see the Conducting Research in CSD Supplemental Info - 2025-26 Google document which includes:
- Requirements for the Letter of Institutional Endorsement - any individual requesting approval for research from a college/university must submit a Letter of Institutional Endorsement. This is a list of requirements for that letter.
- Letter of Informed Consent Checklist - this checklist helps you prepare a letter for each research participant and includes all required elements.
- CSD Strategic Plan Objectives - any research conducted in CSD must reflect the goals and objectives of the district’s strategic plan. This is a list of those objectives.
- Research Review Committee Rubric - the RRC Chair initially evaluates each proposal. This is a copy of the rubric used by the committee once the initial conditions have been met.