VDOE follows a prescribed process, outlined in the agency’s administrative manual, for the approval of research involving human subjects. In brief, researchers are required to submit their research proposals for review by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) and provide documentation of the completed review and the IRB determination to agency staff before sensitive data are released or research subjects are contacted.

The majority of research studies authorized by the VDOE rely on administrative data from the Virginia Longitudinal Data System (VLDS). In addition to an IRB review, research projects using VLDS require additional review by VDOE’s Data Governance Committee. This committee is responsible for making sure the requested student-level data are used, transferred, and secured appropriately and consistent with state and federal data privacy and protection laws.