Dear Parent or Guardian,
Tulsa Public Schools (TPS) and the Birth through Eight Strategy for Tulsa (BEST) Study team are working together to learn about the experiences of Tulsa families with young children to help children become more successful in school and in life. Thank you for your interest in the BEST Study!
By giving your consent to participate in the study you agree to the following activities:
· Let the BEST Study team talk to you on the phone. We will talk to you three times over the next three years – one call each year. The first call will be about 20 minutes. The next two calls will be about 60 minutes. When we talk, we will ask you about being a parent, your child’s development, and the types of community supports you use in Tulsa.
· Allow TPS to share information about your child. This will include your child’s age and gender. Other information will include your child’s academic performance and if they qualify for free or reduced price lunch. This information will only be used for the study. It will not be used for anything else.
· Allow public agencies, such as the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, to share information about you and your child. For example, this will include information about child care subsidies and energy assistance. This information will only be used for the study. It will not be used for anything else.
If you decide to join the study, we will give you a gift card each time we talk with you. By the end of the study, you will receive a total of $150 in gift cards.
Participation in the BEST Study is voluntary and confidential. We will not share your answers, your information, or your child’s information with anyone. The only people who will have this information are members of the BEST Study team. We will not use your name or your child's name in any report. If you decide not to participate in the study, nothing will change. Nothing will change about your child’s experience in Tulsa Public Schools, or in any other way. There are no known risks to participating in this study. You can decide not to participate at any time with no penalty. You may choose to skip questions you do not wish to answer when we call you, with no penalty. You will not receive any direct benefit from being in this study, but your participation may help make Tulsa a better place for families.
If you have questions or concerns about the BEST Study, please contact our study leaders from the American Institutes for Research (AIR): Eboni Howard, 312-588-7339, ehoward@air.org, or Stephanie McCarty, smccarty@air.org. If you have concerns or questions about your or your child’s rights as participants, please contact AIR’s Institutional Review Board (IRB). Members of this group are responsible for the protection of project participants. You can reach them at IRB@air.org or toll-free at 1-800-634-0797.
The BEST Study team includes staff from AIR (www.air.org) and Decision Information Resources, Inc. (http://www.dir-online.com/). You can learn more about the BEST Study at https://best.airprojects.org/.