|
|
|
|
|
| Students Speak Toolkit > II. The Focus Group Blueprint > A. Design > 8. Make decisions about the logistics of the recruitment. > Sample letters to parents |
|
Elementary School Students
Letter to Parents October 12, 2001 Jane Doe Dear Ms. Doe: We in Mayflower County Schools have a firm commitment to making our schools inviting and safe places for our students, staff, and families. In light of this commitment, the school board will soon consider recommendations about making our schools as safe as possible. We are in the process of conducting some focus group research to find out whether our students feel that school is inviting and safe. We want to make sure that a carefully selected sample of students in grades 4 through 12 get a chance to talk with each other and with the researchers about what makes them feel safe or unsafe at school. Without using any student names or identities, we will share student views with the school board members to make sure they do not miss any important data as they make their decision. For this research on school safety we will be conducting two focus groups in each middle school and high school and one focus group in each elementary school with students in grades 4 and 5. Your daughter, Christy, has been selected as a potential participant in this research through a random sampling process. On October 25, 2001 at 12:30, during the school day and on the school grounds, seven or eight students from grades 4 and 5 will spend about 45 minutes in a guided conversation about school climate and school safety. We will provide refreshments for the students. The conversation will be led by a school counselor. The researchers will make a tape recording of the conversation and will transcribe parts of that tape - without including any student names - for analysis. Researchers will prepare a final report and present it to the school board at its regular meeting on December 3. That is a public meeting, which you are invited to attend. If you agree to permit Christy to participate in this focus group, please sign the enclosed parental permission form and return it by October 19 to Mrs. Gomez. We appreciate your considering this request. Sincerely, |
|
High School And Middle School Students
Letter to Parents October 12, 2001 Mr. Tyrone Wallace Dear Mr. Wallace: We in Mayflower County Schools have a firm commitment to making our schools inviting and safe places for our students, staff, and families. In light of this commitment, the school board will soon consider recommendations about making our schools as safe as possible. We are in the process of conducting some focus group research to find out whether our students feel that school is inviting and safe. We want to make sure that a carefully selected sample of students in grades 4 to 12 get a chance to talk with each other and with the researchers about what makes them currently feel safe or unsafe at school. Without using any student names or identities, we will share student views with the school board members to make sure they do not miss any important data as they make their decision. For this research on school safety we will be conducting two focus groups in each middle school and high school and one focus group in each elementary school with students in grades 4 and 5. Your son, Jamal, has been selected as a potential participant in this research through a random sampling process. On October 24 at 10:00 a.m., during the school day and on the school grounds, seven or eight students of the same gender will spend about 90 minutes in a guided conversation about school climate and school safety. We will provide refreshments for the students. The conversation will be led by two trained high school facilitators. A member of our work team will also be present on site. The researchers will make a tape recording of the conversation and will transcribe parts of that tape - without including any student names - for the purpose of analysis. Researchers will prepare a final report and present it to the school board at its regular meeting on December 3. That is a public meeting, which you are invited to attend. If you agree to permit Jamal to participate in this focus group, please sign the enclosed parental permission form and return it by October 19 to Mr. Martin. We appreciate your considering this request. Sincerely, |
|
|
|
|
|