February 18, 2008 Dear Educator,
I am a doctoral candidate at the University of Central Florida. For my dissertation study, I am conducting a quantitative study exploring teachers’ perceptions and beliefs toward statewide assessment, in particular, the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT). The title of the study is “Teacher Perceptions of the Achievement of Students with Learning Disabilities on Statewide Assessments”. The research methodology will include quantitative data based on the 2007 report of FCAT statistics, as well as quantitative data in the form of a teacher perception and beliefs survey.
I am veteran ESE teacher who is currently working as a Behavior Specialist at Lake Whitney Elementary School in the West Learning Community. I have been teaching for over 25 years and have spent 8 of those years working in the Orange County School District. I have received both OCPS and IRB approval for this study. I will attach these letters of approval as well as my survey to this letter.
I am interested in sending the survey Teacher Perceptions and Beliefs Survey to the 3rd grade ESE teachers in your building. ESE teachers have been invited to participate in an
anonymous online survey identifying their perceptions and beliefs toward statewide assessment. Your email address was obtained from the Global OCPS email list. The teachers are invited to assist in this study because they have been identified as educators who work with students with learning disabilities at the third grade level participating in the FCAT. Participants will be asked to complete a survey regarding teachers’ perceptions and beliefs. In addition they will be asked to answer simple demographic types of questions on their characteristics as teachers, the students in their third grade class, and the school in which they work. They will be given a $5.00 gift certificate for their participation in this study. They will be asked to provide contact information and return to my email address [email protected] in order to receive their gift certificate.
This survey is completely voluntary. They may choose not to participate or not to answer any specific questions. They may skip any question you are not comfortable answering. They are free to withdraw their consent to participate and may discontinue their participation in the study at any time without consequence. There are no anticipated risks.
They may not take this survey if they are under the age of 18.
If they wish to receive the $5.00 gift certificate, they will identify contact information at the end of their consent letter.
The survey is anonymous. They can be assured that their responses will never be matched with their name, since IP addresses will be removed from the survey when it is submitted.
Following the completion of the study, the researcher will provide survey results and review best practices shared by teachers of students with disabilities. Participants will also be provided with a list of literature that identifies positive instructional practices for this population of students.
Composite data will be assessed to determine differences in teacher perception among ESE teachers and statewide assessment.
They will be asked to: Please answer questions honestly.
The survey is located at:
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https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=xqGEmLuUbZw1aU5Eyd5Pcg_3d_3dUH. If they
choose to participate, they can complete the survey right now, or anytime until 3/31/08.
If you have any questions about this research project, please contact me through email at
U
[email protected]. I may also be reached at my work number (407) 877-8888 ext. 324. My
faculty advisor, Dr. Mary Little can be reached at (407)823- 3275 or by email
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[email protected]. Research at the University of Central Florida involving human participants
is carried out under the oversight of the Institutional Review Board (IRB).
Questions or concerns about research participants’ rights may be directed to the Institutional Review Board Office, IRB Coordinator, University of Central Florida, Office of Research & Commercialization 12443 Research Parkway, Suite 302, Orlando FL 32826-3252. The telephone number is (407) 823-2901. The office is open from 8:00 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday except on UCF holidays.
The results of this study may be published. However, the data obtained from you will be combined with data from others in the publication. The published results will not include your name or any other information that would personally identify you in any way.
To complete the survey online, the teachers will go to:
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https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=xqGEmLuUbZw1aU5Eyd5Pcg_3d_3dU
I am asking your permission to send this survey to your teachers. Please respond to this email so that I can distribute the survey to your 3rd grade ESE teachers. Also, please identify the teachers in your building who are teachers of students with disabilities whose students participate in the FCAT. Their names will be kept confidential and their responses to the survey will be anonymous.
Sincerely,
Maryann Gromoll, M.Ed.
Curriculum & Instruction Doctoral Candidate University of Central Florida