HSAC Consent Form and Letters

PASSIVE CONSENT FOR GRADES 6 – 8
PARENT NOTIFICATION LETTER
Kathy Sonnenfeld
Survey Director

P.O. Box 2393
Princeton, NJ 08543-2393
Telephone (609) 799-3535
Fax (609) 799-0005
www.mathematica-mpr.com
(609) 275-2293

[DATE]
Dear Parent or Guardian:
Your child’s school and school district are participating in a national study on the
training and certification of middle and high school math teachers. The Study of Secondary
Math Teachers from Alternative Routes to Certification is sponsored by the U.S. Department
of Education. Your school and school district have given Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.
(MPR) permission to conduct the study. MPR has conducted research that helps to improve the
quality of our nation’s schools for decades.
We are writing to tell you about the study and to invite your child to be part of the study.
While your child will not receive any direct benefit from participating in this study, the study will
help your district and school improve the quality of their teachers. Participating in the study
poses no risk to your child.
As part of the study, we will collect information from school records on your child’s state
or district math test scores, sex, age, grade level, race, ethnicity, eligibility for free or reducedprice lunch, English language learner status, and special education status. We will not collect
school grades.
This study will help us learn more about how well teachers do their jobs. Participation in
the study is voluntary, and your child can stop participating at any time. If you do not want your
child to take part in the study it will not affect the instruction or other services your child receives
at school.
The confidentiality of students, teachers, and schools participating in the study will be
protected. Only the researchers conducting the study will have access to the data that are
collected as part of the study. District officials, principals, teachers, and other school staff will
not have access to the study data. The data for all schools and classes in the study from this
district will be combined when presented.
Again, there are no potential risks to your child. However, if you do not want your child’s
anonymous school records included in the study, please call me, Kathy Sonnenfeld, at
Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., (609) 275-2293, or toll-free at (866) 330-9199. I’ll need to
know your child’s name, his or her math teacher’s name, the name of the school, and the school’s
location (city and state). Otherwise, you need not do anything.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. Thank you in advance for your
help with this important study.
Sincerely,

Form P:Grades 6 – 8

An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer

PASSIVE CONSENT FOR GRADES 9 – 12
PARENT NOTIFICATION LETTER
Kathy Sonnenfeld
Survey Director

P.O. Box 2393
Princeton, NJ 08543-2393
Telephone (609) 799-3535
Fax (609) 799-0005
www.mathematica-mpr.com
(609) 275-2293

[DATE]
Dear Parent or Guardian:
Your child’s school and school district are participating in a national study on the training
and certification of middle and high school math teachers. The Study of Secondary Math Teachers
from Alternative Routes to Certification is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. Your
school and school district have given Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. (MPR) permission to
conduct the study. MPR has conducted research that helps to improve the quality of our nation’s
schools for decades.
We are writing to tell you about the study and to invite your child to be part of the study. While
your child will not receive any direct benefit from participating in this study, the study will help your
district and school improve the quality of their teachers. Participating in the study poses no risk to
your child.
Your child’s class will be given a test of math skills during a regular school day in the spring
of 2010. This test will have no effect on your child’s grades, but it will help us learn more about
how well teachers do their jobs. Participation in the study is voluntary, and your child can stop
participating at any time. If you do not want your child to take part in the study it will not affect the
instruction or other services your child receives at school.
As part of the study, we will also collect information from school records on your child’s state
math test scores, sex, age, grade level, race and ethnicity, eligibility for free or reduced price lunch,
English language learner status, and special education status. We will not collect school grades.
The confidentiality of students, teachers, and schools participating in the study will be
protected. Only the researchers conducting the study will have access to the data that are collected as
part of the study. District officials, principals, teachers, and other school staff will not have access to
the study data. The data for all schools and classes in the study from this district will be combined
when presented.
Again, there are no potential risks to your child. However, if you do not want your child to be
included in the study, please call me, Kathy Sonnenfeld, at Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., (609)
275-2293, or toll-free at (866) 330-9199. I’ll need to know your child’s name, his or her math
teacher’s name, the name of the school, and the school’s location (city and state). Otherwise, you
need not do anything.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. Thank you in advance for your
help with this important study.
Sincerely,

Form P:Grades 9– 12

An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer

ACTIVE CONSENT PARENT NOTIFICATION LETTER
Kathy Sonnenfeld
Survey Director

P.O. Box 2393
Princeton, NJ 08543-2393
Telephone (609) 799-3535
Fax (609) 799-0005
www.mathematica-mpr.com
(609) 275-2293

[DATE]

Dear Parent or Guardian:
Your child’s school and school district are participating in a national study on the training
and certification of middle and high school math teachers. The Study of Secondary Math Teachers
from Alternative Routes to Certification is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. Your
school and school district have given Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. (MPR) permission to
conduct the study. MPR has conducted research that helps to improve the quality of our nation’s
schools for decades. We are writing to tell you about the study and to invite your child to be part of
the study.

We need your help.
o
o
o

Please read this letter and contact us if you have any questions.
Please read and sign the attached consent form to let us know if your child may take part in
the study.
Please return the consent form in the enclosed envelope to your child’s school/teacher as soon
as possible.
As a thank you, your child will receive a $5 gift card for returning this signed form
to the class teacher.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call me, Kathy Sonnenfeld, at Mathematica Policy
Research, Inc., (609) 275-2293, or call our toll free number, (866) 330-9199.
Thank you in advance for your help with this important study.
Sincerely,

Form A:Grades 9 – 12

An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer

OMB Control No.: ####-####

Expiration Date: ##/##/####

6522-### (A)

ACTIVE CONSENT FORM FOR GRADES 6 – 8
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ABOUT AN IMPORTANT STUDY
Your child’s school and school district are participating in a national study, the Study of Secondary Math
Teachers from Alternative Routes to Certification, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. The study
is about the training and certification of middle and high school math teachers. Your school district has given
Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. permission to conduct this study. While your child will not receive any direct
benefit from participating in this study, the study will help your district and school improve the quality of their
teachers. Participating in the study poses no risk to your child.
As part of the study, we will collect information from school records on your child’s state math test scores, sex,
age, grade level, race and ethnicity, eligibility for free or reduced price lunch, English language learner status, and
special education status. We will not collect school grades. This study will help us learn more about how well
teachers do their jobs. Participation in the study is voluntary, and your child can stop participating in the study at
any time. If you do not want your child to take part in the study it will not affect the instruction or other services your
child receives at school.
The confidentiality of students, teachers, and schools participating in the study will be protected. Only the
researchers conducting the study will have access to the data that are collected as part of the study. District officials,
principals, teachers, and other school staff will not have access to the study data. The data for all schools and
classes in the study from this district will be combined when presented.
PLEASE MARK ONE BOX BELOW

PLEASE MARK (X) ONLY ONE BOX

 YES, my child CAN participate in the Study of Secondary Math Teachers from Alternative Routes to
Certification
or

 NO, my child CANNOT participate in the Study of Secondary Math Teachers from Alternative Routes
to Certification
PLEASE PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION
Your Child’s Name: __________________________________________________________________________

PLEASE SIGN:
Parent/Guardian Signature: ________________________________________________ Date: _____________
sign

PLEASE PRINT
Print Parent/Guardian Name: __________________________________________________________________
print
Parent/Guardian Telephone Number: (______) -________ -__________
Student Name: [PRE-FILL STUDENT NAME]
School Name: [PRE-FILL SCHOOL NAME]
Teacher Name: [PRE-FILL TEACHER NAME ]
Math Class:
[PRE-FILL COURSE NAME/#]
PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM TO YOUR CHILD’S TEACHER LISTED ABOVE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
THANK YOU
If you have questions about the study, please call
Kathy Sonnenfeld, Survey Director at Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.
at (609) 275-2293 or toll-free at (866) 330-9199.

OMB Control No.: ####-####

Expiration Date: ##/##/####

6522-### (A)

ACTIVE CONSENT FORM FOR GRADES 9 – 12
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ABOUT AN IMPORTANT STUDY
Your child’s school and school district are participating in a national study, the Study of Secondary Math
Teachers from Alternative Routes to Certification, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. The study
is about the training and certification of middle and high school math teachers. Your school district has given
Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. permission to conduct this study. While your child will not receive any direct
benefit from participating in this study, the study will help your district and school improve the quality of their
teachers. Participating in the study poses no risk to your child.
Your child’s class will be given a test of math skills during a regular school day in the spring of 2010. This test
will have no effect on your child’s grades, but it will help us learn more about how well teachers do their jobs.
Participation in the study is voluntary, and your child can stop participating in the study at any time. If you do not
want your child to take part in the study it will not affect the instruction or other services your child receives at school.
As part of the study, we will also collect information from school records on your child’s state math test scores,
sex, age, grade level, race and ethnicity, eligibility for free or reduced price lunch, English language learner status,
and special education status. We will not collect school grades.
The confidentiality of students, teachers, and schools participating in the study will be protected. Only the
researchers conducting the study will have access to the data that are collected as part of the study. District officials,
principals, teachers, and other school staff will not have access to the study data. The data for all schools and
classes in the study from this district will be combined when presented.
PLEASE MARK ONE BOX BELOW

PLEASE MARK (X) ONLY ONE BOX

 YES, my child CAN participate in the Study of Secondary Math Teachers from Alternative Routes to
Certification
or

 NO, my child CANNOT participate in the Study of Secondary Math Teachers from Alternative Routes
to Certification
PLEASE PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION
Your Child’s Name: __________________________________________________________________________

PLEASE SIGN:
Parent/Guardian Signature: ________________________________________________ Date: _____________
sign

PLEASE PRINT
Print Parent/Guardian Name: __________________________________________________________________
print
Parent/Guardian Telephone Number: (______) -________ -__________
Student Name: [PRE-FILL STUDENT NAME]
School Name: [PRE-FILL SCHOOL NAME]
Teacher Name: [PRE-FILL TEACHER NAME ]
Math Class:
[PRE-FILL COURSE NAME/#]
PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM TO YOUR CHILD’S TEACHER LISTED ABOVE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU.
If you have questions about the study, please call
Kathy Sonnenfeld, Survey Director at Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.
at (609) 275-2293 or toll-free at (866) 330-9199.