Process Overview
Each year, the District School Board of Niagara (DSBN) receives requests from individuals, agencies and institutions to conduct research involving staff and students.
Here at the DSBN, we recognize the benefits and valuable insights research provides. At the same time, we carefully review all requests to ensure they support student success, align with DSBN Strategic Plan, protect privacy and confidentiality and minimize disruptions to learning and school activities.
Research Proposal Submission
To conduct research in DSBN, prior approval must be obtained through the Educational Research Committee.
Researchers must submit either of the two forms below to the Educational Research Committee via the Research Recording Secretary Melinda.Stewart@dsbn.org.
The Committee will meet up to four times a year to consider a maximum of four research requests per meeting on a first come, first served basis. Submission deadlines may be found in the Dates & Meetings tab.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE
Approval Process
Process Steps
- Applications must be submitted to Melinda.Stewart@dsbn.org who will acknowledge, by email, receipt of the application.
- Applications will be reviewed by the members of the Educational Research Committee using the criteria set out below:
- benefit education in the DSBN and/or the community at large
- research designed to be minimally disruptive for staff and students
- voluntary participation requiring active, informed written consent (see Appendix C)
- personal and confidential information must be collected in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, the Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004, the Ontario Human Rights Code. This means that the confidentiality of individual participants and class/school names and the name of the school board must be assured.
- researcher(s) must agree to sign a Research Agreement which includes a data sharing agreement
- researcher(s) must show a current criminal record check document to the school Administrators at schools where research is being conducted
- research design aligns with values in the DSBN Strategic Plan
- After reviewing the research proposals, the Educational Research Committee will make one of the following recommendations:
- Approval
- Approval with specific conditions which must be met prior to the beginning of research
- Deferral to the next meeting, or
- Denial
Only approved proposals will be brought to Senior Team for discussion.
- The decision will be communicated to the applicant via email by the Research Recording Secretary. The decision of the Educational Research Committee is final.
School Participation
Approved research is communicated to school administrators who manage participation and consent methods. School, staff and student participation is voluntary.
Modifications to Approved Research
Requests for extensions to timelines to conduct research in our schools are to be directed to the Research Recording Secretary for the Educational Research Committee.
In the event of any modifications or revisions to the original research project, or a requirement that significant specific conditions must be met, the researcher must complete the “Request for Approval of a Revision or Modification to an Ongoing Application to Conduct Research” form and submit it to the Research Recording Secretary.
Educational Research Committee
2025-2026 DSBN Educational Research Committee Timelines
| Research Proposal Submission Deadline | Educational Research Committee Meeting Dates | System Leadership Team Meeting Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, September 29, 2025 | Thursday, October 23, 2025 | Tuesday, November 4, 2025 |
| Monday, November 24, 2025 | Thursday, December 11, 2025 | Tuesday, January 13, 2026 |
| Monday, February 2, 2026 | Thursday, February 19, 2026 | Tuesday, March 3, 2026 |
| Monday, March 30, 2026 | Thursday, April 16, 2026 | Tuesday, April 28, 2026 |
DSBN Approved Research
The DSBN approved the recommendation that the following research proposals be allowed to proceed and that the research be conducted within the guidelines established by the DSBN and stated in the administrative procedure 4.3:
