The Office of Research and Evaluation supports site and district leadership teams in monitoring trends in student learning, using educational data to inform school and district annual planning, and designing program evaluations. In addition, the office conducts district-wide research and evaluation studies, manages district-wide survey administration, and processes requests to conduct academic and evaluation research.
Ad-hoc reporting for SBUSD employees is facilitated by Education Technology Services (ETS). Please submit a ticket to ETS through Zendesk for support in creating queries or custom reports, and select Aeries under Issue Type.
DISTRICT-WIDE SURVEY RESEARCH ADMINISTRATION
SBUnified contracts with professional research entities for the administration and analysis of many district-wide surveys, in addition to developing and administering our own surveys. Survey research administration may include, but is not limited to the California School Climate, Health, and Learning Surveys (Cal-SCHLS).
RESOURCES
California Department of Education (CDE):
Data and Statistics: Data and statistics collected from California schools and learning support resources to identify trends and educational needs and to measure performance
Testing and Accountability: Provides information on student academic achievement and program requirements
California Accountability Model and School Dashboard: California’s new accountability and continuous improvement system provides information about how local educational agencies and schools are meeting the needs of California’s diverse student population based on a concise set of measures
State Priorities Snapshot: Graphic display of data required for the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) relating to implementation of state priorities in the areas of Student Achievement, Student Engagement and School Climate
Santa Barbara Unified School District:
School Accountability Report Cards (SARCs)
Testing and Assessments
INTERNAL PROGRAM EVALUATION
The office of Research and Evaluation supports increasing site and district capacity to conduct internal program evaluations. This includes programs developed by staff, as well as professional programs that are adopted and piloted by sites. Please follow the steps below to plan your internal program evaluation.
STEPS TO APPROVAL
- Prior to the pilot, adoption, or implementation of a program, site administrator creates a program evaluation plan.
- Site principal submits the completed program evaluation plan to their assistant superintendent for review, and for peer review.
- Assistant superintendent requests review by Research and Evaluation, as needed.
- Assistant superintendent approves or disapproves the program evaluation plan.
- If a contract or MOU is required with a vendor or outside agency, a meeting will be requested with appropriate parties. Board approval may be required on a case-by-case basis.
ACADEMIC AND EVALUATION RESEARCH BY COMMUNITY PARTNER OR ACADEMIC RESEARCHER
If you are a community partner or academic researcher (including SBUnified employees enrolled in a graduate program), and wish to conduct a program evaluation or academic study, please work with school administration to complete an application to conduct research. This includes community partner requests for administrative data for grant reporting purposes.
SBUnified opens one research application window annually from March 01-31, 2023. Applications must be submitted during the application window for consideration.
(Please note our office will be closed for Spring Break March 27-31, 2023; please send questions regarding applications prior to spring break for a timely response.)
The application consists of an online application, signature forms, and supplemental documents (see instructions below). All components of the application must be submitted during the spring application window for consideration to conduct research the following academic year; multi-year proposals are welcome.
SBUnified staff aim to have decisions made before the end of each school year, with formal approval and preparations in place before the start of the next school year.
Research Application Deadline (03-31-23)
RENEWAL APPLICATIONS
The following submission guidelines apply for renewal applications only:
- The online application to conduct research during the 2022-2023 school year must be completed on or before March 31, 2023 for consideration.
- Do not contact school or district staff regarding potential modifications to your existing project at this time; please describe in the online application only.
- For online applications submitted on or before March 31, 2023, the supplemental documents may be submitted through April 30, 2023. See instructions and supplemental forms below.
SBUnified Research Application – Instructions and Supplemental Forms (Deadline: April 30, 2023)
NEW APPLICATIONS
Step 1: Contact the school administrator(s) to discuss your idea for academic or evaluation research in relation to how it supports school and district goals. This informal conversation should occur before you have developed a robust proposal in order to lay the groundwork for gaining potential access to a school site for research purposes. For projects that involve a district office department, please engage in conversation with the respective district administrator(s). It is critical that the administrator(s) fully support your work; no formal application will be considered without the respective administrator’s support.
Step 2: Complete the online application in collaboration with the school or district administrator(s) overseeing the site(s) at which you wish to conduct research, or whose administrative data you wish to access by March 31, 2023.
Step 3: Complete all required supporting documentation as directed in the application form, also listed in the form below “SBUnified Research Application Instructions and Supplemental Forms.” Email the supporting documentation to Steve Venz, Chief Operations Officer, svenz@sbunified.org and CC the primary SBUnified administrator(s) with whom you developed the application by April 30, 2023. Please list the project title in the email subject line to ensure it can be matched to the online application. Submissions outside of a window will not be considered.
REVIEW AND NOTIFICATION PROCESSES
A team of administrators will review the application, which will be considered in accordance with SBUnified AR6162.8 governing research. SBUnified staff aim to have decisions made before the end of each school year, with board approval and preparations in place before the start of each school year. You will receive notification from the Office of Research and Evaluation regarding the status of your study.
APPROVED PROJECTS – NEXT STEPS
Step 4: As required, the Office of Research and Evaluation will inform a researcher if a written agreement (e.g. MOU) is required prior to beginning research activity, and will work with the researcher’s institution to complete it. The Office of Research and Evaluation will notify the researcher once the agreement has been approved by the SBUnified Board of Education, and that research activity may begin.
Step 5: As required, the Office of Research and Evaluation will inform a researcher if fingerprinting, tuberculosis (TB) clearance, and proof of COVID-19 Vaccination are required prior to beginning research activity in accordance with SBUnified BP and AR 6162.8. The Office will provide directions on how to do so through the SBUnified Human Resources department. In accordance with BP and AR 6162.8, the associated costs shall not be borne by the district. Please note that SBUnified is able to accept copies of TB results and COVID-19 Vaccination, but is not able to accept proof of fingerprinting completed through other organizations; this is due to how the Department of Justice communicates with organizations regarding persons screened. Researchers and school sites will be informed once clearance has been verified, and research activities may begin.
FORMS
Online Application to Conduct Program Evaluation and Academic Research (Deadline: March 31, 2023)
SBUnified Research Application – Instructions and Supplemental Forms (Deadline: April 30, 2023)
Forms - Parent Consent for Release of Information
Board Policies/ Administrative Regulations/ Resolutions
Use the following as a guide through the above policy link:
BP 6162.8 Research
AR 6162.8 Research
Thank you for your interest in conducting a research or evaluation study within the Santa Barbara Unified School District (SBUnified). All requests to conduct research or evaluation must be made in accordance with Board Policy and Administrative Regulation 6162.8 governing research within SBUnified, and must be approved in writing by the Superintendent or designee. Please read the Board Policy (BP) and Administrative Regulation (AR) 6162.8 governing research prior to engaging in the application process.
