PLANS Focus Group Consent Form | Center for Leadership and Educational Equity (CLEE)

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The Center for Leadership and Educational Equity (CLEE) implements the Plan, Lead, Act, Network, and Sustain (PLANS) program, which helps schools improve learning experiences and outcomes for students. The program uses research-based strategies, including Community Assets and Needs Mapping Sessions, to understand what’s working well in schools and what can be improved.

Purpose
We are inviting you to participate in a one-hour focus group to share your experiences as a parent, family member, or guardian in the school community. This discussion is part of the PLANS program and will help inform the Community Assets and Needs Mapping Sessions. These sessions bring together families, educators, school leaders, and students to analyze school data, identify strengths and challenges, and recommend improvements to support student success.

The focus group will be a small group discussion led by a trained CLEE facilitator. It will take place virtually on Zoom at a date and time that is organized with your principal. Each focus group will consist of 6-12 individuals, take approximately 60 minutes, and be conducted virtually on Zoom (the Zoom link will be shared with your student in a separate email) , and you will be asked about your experiences with school communication, engagement, and opportunities for family involvement.

Confidentiality and Privacy
Your name will not be used in any reports, and your responses will not be linked to you. However, because this is a group discussion, we cannot guarantee full confidentiality, as other participants will hear what is said. We encourage everyone to respect each other’s privacy and not share what is discussed outside the group.

Benefits
This focus group gives parents and guardians a chance to share their perspectives, provide feedback on their experiences with the school, and contribute to meaningful school improvements. Your input will help school leaders better understand family engagement and make decisions that support student success.

Risks
There are minimal risks associated with participating in this focus group. While the discussion is meant to be a respectful and supportive space, you may feel mild discomfort if discussing personal experiences. If at any time you feel uncomfortable, you may choose not to answer a question or leave the discussion.

Freedom to Withdraw
Participation in the focus group is completely voluntary. You may skip any question or stop participating at any time without consequences. Your decision to participate will not affect your relationship with the school, your child’s education, or any services you receive.

Permission to Record
To ensure we accurately capture your insights, we would like to audio record the discussion. These recordings will be strictly confidential and only accessible to CLEE. They will be securely stored and will not be shared with school or district leadership or staff. No names or any information that could identify you will be included in reports, and all findings will be presented anonymously.

The focus group responses will be analyzed using ChatGPT4, an artificial intelligence tool, to assist in identifying key themes. No participant, student or family names will ever be entered into ChatGPT4, and the results will be reviewed and interpreted by the researcher to ensure accuracy and meaningfulness.

More Information. If you would like more information about this study, you may contact Michelle Li, Program Director at CLEE at michelleli@clee.org.

Informed Consent. I have read and understand the above information. I voluntarily consent to participate in the focus group.

What is this about?

The Center for Leadership and Educational Equity (CLEE) is working with your school to guide improvement efforts. We are asking you to take part in a one-hour focus group to talk about your school experiences. This discussion will help school leaders, teachers, and families learn about what is working well at your school and what can be improved. The focus group will be a small group discussion led by a trained CLEE facilitator. It will take place virtually on Zoom at a date and time that is organized with your principal. Each focus group will consist of 6-12 individuals, take approximately 60 minutes, and be conducted virtually on Zoom (the Zoom link will be shared with you in a separate email). You will be asked about your experiences with school climate, learning opportunities, and engagement—basically, what school is like for you.

Will my information be private?

We will not use your name in any reports, and your answers will not be linked to you. But since this is a group discussion, we cannot promise full privacy, because other students will also hear what is said. We ask that everyone respect each other’s privacy and does not share what is discussed outside the group.

Do I have to participate?

No, it’s completely up to you. If you decide to join, you can skip any question or stop at any time. Your grades, school experience, or relationships with teachers and staff will not be affected if you choose not to participate.

Will the focus group be recorded?

We would like to record the discussion, so we don’t miss anything important. The recordings will be kept private and only CLEE staff will listen to them. They will not be shared with your teachers or school leaders. No names or anything that could identify you will be in the reports.

The focus group responses will be analyzed using ChatGPT4, an artificial intelligence tool, to assist in identifying key themes. No participant, student or family names will ever be entered into ChatGPT4, and the results will be reviewed and interpreted by the researcher to ensure accuracy and meaningfulness.

What do I get for participating?

This is a chance to share your thoughts and help improve your school! Your voice matters, and your feedback will be used to help make positive changes.

What if I have questions?

If you have any questions before or after the focus group, you can contact Michelle Li, Program Director at CLEE at michelleli@clee.org.

Do you agree to participate?

If you understand everything above and want to participate, please sign below.

Email Address

Please provide your email address to receive the date, time and Zoom link If you are a STUDENT - please enter your school email address

Participant Signature(Required)

The Center for Leadership and Educational Equity (CLEE) implements the Plan, Lead, Act, Network, and Sustain (PLANS) program, which helps schools improve learning experiences and outcomes for students. The program uses research-based strategies, including Community Assets and Needs Mapping Sessions, to understand what’s working well in schools and what can be improved.

Purpose
We are requesting your permission for your child to participate in a one-hour focus group about their school experiences. This small-group discussion, facilitated by a trained CLEE staff member, is part of the PLANS program and will provide valuable insights for the Community Assets and Needs Mapping Sessions.

The focus group will take place virtually on Zoom at a date and time that is organized with your principal. Each focus group will consist of 6-12 individuals, take approximately 60 minutes, and be conducted virtually on Zoom (the Zoom link will be shared with your student in a separate email) and will explore students’ experiences with school climate, learning opportunities, and engagement. In the Community Assets and Needs Mapping Sessions, students, educators, school leaders, and families analyze key school data—such as academic performance, school climate surveys, and focus group feedback—to identify strengths, challenges, and opportunities for improvement. The goal is to enhance student experiences and guide data-driven school improvement efforts.

Confidentiality and Privacy
Your child’s name will not be used in any reports, and we will not attribute specific quotes to them. However, since focus groups involve group discussions, complete confidentiality cannot be guaranteed. Students will be encouraged to respect each other’s privacy and keep discussions within the group. The information gathered will only be used to support school improvement efforts. A signed consent form is required for your child to participate.

Benefits
This focus group gives students a chance to share their thoughts, provide input on their school experiences, and contribute to meaningful school improvements. Their voices will help identify strengths and areas for growth, ensuring that student perspectives are included in decision-making.

Risks
This focus group poses minimal risks to participants. While the discussion is designed to be a respectful and supportive space, students may experience mild discomfort when sharing personal experiences. In addition, the session may take place during the school day and may require students to miss up to one hour of instructional time; however, school staff will be informed in advance, and students will be responsible for making up any missed work.

Freedom to Withdraw
Participation in the focus group is completely voluntary. To ensure we accurately capture student input, we would like to audio record the focus group. These recordings will be strictly confidential and only accessible to CLEE. The recordings will be securely stored and will not be shared with school or district leadership or staff. No names or identifying details will be included in reports, and all findings will be presented anonymously to protect participants’ privacy.

Permission to Record
To ensure we accurately capture student input, we would like to audio record the focus group. These recordings will be strictly confidential and only accessible to CLEE. They will be securely stored and will not be shared with school or district leadership or staff. No names or any information that could identify participants will be included in reports, and all findings will be presented anonymously to protect participants’ privacy.

The focus group responses will be analyzed using ChatGPT4, an artificial intelligence tool, to assist in identifying key themes. No participant, student or family names will ever be entered into ChatGPT4, and the results will be reviewed and interpreted by the researcher to ensure accuracy and meaningfulness.

More Information. If you would like more information about this study, you may contactMichelle Li, Program Director at CLEE at michelleli@clee.org

Informed Consent. I have read and understand the above information. I voluntarily consent to my child’s participation in the focus group.

Parent / Guardian Email Address(Required)

Parent / Guardian Signature(Required)

PLANS Focus Group Consent and Assent form

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