COVID-19 Plan
JCPS has suspended most research and evaluation activities for the 2020-21 school year. Please refer to the JCPS IRB COVID-19 Response Plan for Research and Data Sharing.
2020-21 Review Timeline
Please contact the JCPS IRB before submitting an application, as application acceptance and review dates are subject to change pending updates to district or State health guidelines.

- All application materials must be completed and received a minimum of two weeks before the review date.
- March and June reviews will consider requests for the 2021-22 school year only.
Your Objective
Do you want to do any of the following? You will need JCPS IRB approval first. Download the JCPS IRB Procedure Manual.
- Access existing non-public, identifiable JCPS data to evaluate program or technology effectiveness, or
- Access existing non-public, identifiable JCPS data to address a research question or a question for which the data were not collected originally, or
- Implement a new program or technology in JCPS that requires some level of monitoring and evaluation to determine fidelity or impact, or
- Collect your own data with JCPS students or staff through surveys, focus groups, or observations/walkthroughs for use beyond standard educational decisions made by JCPS staff.
Our Conditions
The JCPS IRB will review requests that meet all of the following conditions. If you meet all of these, please submit an online application through the Data Request Management System (DRMS) secure platform. Download the JCPS IRB Procedure Manual.
- Protection of Human Subjects—The study complies with all relevant components of 45 CFR 46 Protection of Human Subjects as well as any other related federal laws.
- JCPS Policies—The study does not violate any JCPS policy.
- Chief Sponsorship—The activities, programs, interventions, or technologies proposed directly support current districtwide initiatives and priorities as determined by JCPS chiefs.
Our Preferences
YES |
NO |
Supports expectations of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) |
Involves random assignment of schools and students |
Assists with meeting requirements in State law or developed by the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) |
Adds burden to school processes, especially for schools identified as Targeted or Comprehensive Support and Improvement (TSI and CSI) schools |
Enhances equitable opportunities for at-risk students |
Conflicts with current JCPS initiatives and expectations for schools |
Enhances the successful implementation of current JCPS initiatives |
Violates State law or contradicts KDE requirements |
|
Provides no real benefit to JCPS |
Steps in the IRB Cycle
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Read the JCPS IRB Procedure Manual. Download the full manual. |
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JCPS Informed Consent Checklist JCPS Informed Consent Template Submit an online JCPS IRB application through the DRMS platform. |
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Report errors, risks, or violations to regulations and policies. |
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