The Lincoln Public Schools believes in the importance of research and the importance of cooperating with other educational agencies and institutions. However, the District also recognizes that its primary mission is to educate students and that it has special responsibilities to students and their parents/guardians. Therefore, the Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment or the director’s designee will review all proposals to conduct external research to determine the extent to which the research would interfere with instruction or the operation of the school and whether the rights of students, parents and staff are adequately protected. Only proposals that do not unduly interfere with instruction or the operation of the school and make adequate provisions to protect the rights of participants will be approved. The Lincoln Public Schools does not support, authorize, approve or condone any program of external evaluation and research that is not in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations. Lincoln Public Schools staff will not participate in external research unless the proposal has been approved by the Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment or the director’s designee. All studies undertaken as part of an external program of research and evaluation shall be conducted in a manner that is in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations.