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

PLANS Focus Group – Participant Consent Form

Please complete and sign this consent form to confirm your participation in the PLANS program focus groups.

Do you need translation for this form?(Required)

Yes

Do you need interpreter services for the sessions?(Required)

Yes

What language do you need translation / interpreter services in?(Required)

We will follow up via email within 1-3 business days.

Participant Name(Required)

First Last

School Name(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 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 the opportunity 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.

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)

PLANS Focus Group – Participant Consent Form

Join The Community

Office

Send Payments To:

About Us

News & Updates

Programs

Get In Touch

Resources

My Library