Research in APS

Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) has a Research Review Board (RRB) that reviews both external and internal research proposed in the district.

Research in APS

Page last updated:  July 25, 2024

The APS RRB meets once a month to review proposed studies. Applications submitted by 11:59 pm on the 1st day of each month will be scheduled for review in the following month's meeting.  For example: if submitted by 11:59 pm on August 1st, review will be scheduled for September.

If the information provided on an application lacks the detail and clarity necessary for the RRB to make a determination, it will be denied.

APS considers comprehensive program evaluation to be a specific type of research; therefore, these studies are NOT exempt from RRB review.

 The APS RRB does not:

• Approve research studies that require the random assignment of students to classrooms.
• Approve curriculum studies in a content area during the first three years of new curriculum implementation (currently: K-12 mathematics thru 2024-2025).
• Approve studies designed primarily for the purposes of developing and/or marketing an educational product or tool.
• Allow recruitment for research unrelated to education (e.g., medical studies) at APS sites
• Approve research that asks about sexual activity, drug use or illegal activities. The only exceptions are the state-wide Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey (YRRS), and the National Youth Risk Behavior Survey
• Approve research being conducted for undergraduate classes or projects
• Ever require or encourage APS personnel or students to participate in outside research/evaluation, even if the study is approved
• Provide letters of support

The APS RRB does:

• Require external review by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) for Human Subjects Research. An IRB protocol (application) and determination letter must be submitted with the APS application
• Ensure that all research done in the district is well-designed, and has the potential to advance our understanding of teaching and learning
• Expect all researchers to demonstrate: high ethical standards, no conflict of interest, and a low probability of negative impact on APS participants
• Support employees enrolled in degree programs that require completion of a research component whenever possible
• Review all doctoral dissertation studies*

Conditions for Exemption from RRB Review

An Application for Exemption can be completed, when all three of the following conditions are met:

1. The primary researcher is an APS employee who, within the bounds of their job responsibilities, has direct access to all data and/or participants needed for the study (e.g., a teacher conducting action research for a graduate program);
2. The employee's immediate supervisor, principal, and/or appropriate department head, has reviewed the study details and given their explicit permission to conduct the study (letter of approval required); and
3. Study findings will not be submitted for publication* and will only be presented to a university class and/or at the school where the research took place, unless additional permissions are obtained.

Application Forms

The online application cannot be saved; therefore, it must be completed in a single session. Given this limitation, and for ease of editing, we strongly recommend completing the Off-Line Application Worksheet before beginning the application. The worksheet will also help ensure you are providing complete, detailed responses in the appropriate section of the application.

• Off-Line Application Worksheet (DOCX)
• Full Application to Conduct Research in APS
• Application for Amendment to an Approved Study
• Application for Exemption

* Note: Because doctoral dissertations are published by default, they must be reviewed by the RRB.

This page was last updated on: April 6, 2018.