School Professional Staff as Learning Community Questionnaire

to take the survey.  (The survey will close March 13.)

The Correlation Between Professional Learning Communities and Academic Achievement of Low Performing Middle School Students

Sharon Griffith, doctoral student from Grand Canyon University has invited your participation in a research study.

The purpose of the research is to explore the relationship between professional learning communities and student achievement of middle school students.

If you decide to participate, then as a study participant you will complete a research survey of the perception of your school as a professional learning community. The survey consists of 17 Likert Scale questions to measure your degree of perception on the subject matter. As a voluntary participant, you may answer all questions or skip questions that you are not comfortable answering.

Your participation in the online survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete, and will remain available to you for three weeks.  The three-week window is identified on the survey.

There are no known risks from taking part in this study, but in any research, there is some possibility that you may be subject to risks that have not yet been identified.

Although there may be no direct benefits to you, the possible benefits of your participation in the research are to determine the maturity level of the school’s professional staff as a learning community. Results will inform school leaders as to whether professional learning communities are an effective structure for improving student achievement.

All information obtained in this study is strictly confidential. The results of this research study may be used in reports, presentations, and publications, but the researchers will not identify you. In order to maintain confidentiality of your records, Sharon Griffith will secure all data collected in a password protected personal database, accessible only to herself. This information will remain secured for three years, in which it will then be destroyed.

Participation in this study is completely voluntary. It is ok for you to not participate. You may withdraw from the study at any time, by not completing the survey. Participation is voluntary and nonparticipation or withdrawal will not affect your employment with the district.

The researchers want your decision about participating in the study to be absolutely voluntary.

There is no payment for your participation in the study.

Any questions you have concerning the research study or your participation in the study, before or after your consent, will be answered by Sharon Griffith at 919-464-7386.

If you have questions about your rights as a subject/participant in this research, or if you feel you have been placed at risk, you can contact the Chair of the Institutional Review Board, through the College of Doctoral Studies at (602) 639-7804.

This form explains the nature, demands, benefits and any risk of the project. By completing the survey you agree knowingly to assume any risks involved. Remember, your participation is voluntary. You may choose not to participate or to withdraw your consent and discontinue participation at any time without penalty or loss of benefit.

Thank you in advance for your participation.