OMB Appendix B IES Evaluation PLC-EL

Appendix B. Research Information Sheets
Parent/Guardian Research Information Sheet
Teacher Research Information Sheet
Center Leader Research Information Sheet
Facilitator Research Information Sheet
District or State Personnel Research Information Sheet

CHILD RESEARCH INFORMATION SHEET
Preschool Language and Literacy Project
Your child’s preschool teacher is participating in a research study with Florida State University
(FSU) during the 2023/24 school year. Your child is being asked to voluntarily take part in the
study as well. We are doing this study to learn more about early language and literacy
development and how instruction during preschool can support all students’ successful
development as readers.
Students in this study will be asked to complete several language and literacy activities at two
different times during the school year. In addition, we will also ask the South Carolina Office of
Early Learning and Literacy to share your child’s preK and kindergarten readiness assessment
results with the study team.
We will coordinate with your child’s teacher to schedule times to work with your child that will
not take away from their classroom instructional activities. We will tell your child about our
study and then ask if they are willing to complete the language and literacy activities. If your
child does not want to participate or says yes and then changes their mind, your child will be
returned to class. There are no consequences for choosing not to participate.
We will store your child’s information in ways we think are secure (safe). We will store paper
files in locked filing cabinets. We will store electronic files in computer systems with password
protection.
If you prefer that we not include your child in this study please contact the project coordinator,
Dr. Jennifer Dombek, at (850) 645-2980 or jdombek@fcrr.org. You can also contact the
principal investigator, Dr. Sarah Herrera, at (850) 645-1748 or sherrera@fcrr.org if you have any
questions.
If you have any questions or concerns about your rights as a research participant, or regarding
the study and would like to talk to someone other than the researcher(s), you are encouraged to
contact the FSU Institutional Review Board (IRB) office at (850) 644-7900. You may also
contact the FSU IRB office by email at humansubjects@fsu.edu, or in writing at FSU Human
Subjects Committee, 2010 Levy Avenue, Research Building B, Suite 276, Tallahassee, FL
32306-2742.

2010 Levy Ave., Suite 100, Tallahassee, FL 32310
(850) 644-9352 | www.fcrr.org

TEACHER RESEARCH INFORMATION SHEET
Preschool Language and Literacy Project
You are being asked to voluntarily take part in a research study with Florida State University
(FSU) during the 2023/24 school year. Your students are also being asked to participate and will
receive a research information sheet. We are doing this study to learn more about how
professional learning opportunities focused on building a community of practice among
preschool teachers can influence their knowledge and instructional practices in language and
literacy development. We also want to learn more about how building a community of practice
among preschool teachers can influence children’s early language and literacy development.
All teachers participating in this study will be asked to do the following:
• Send a research information sheet home with the children in your class.
• Complete paper-based surveys twice during the school year. Compensation for time spent
completing the surveys will be $180.
• Allow study staff to conduct three passive observations of your classroom (fall, winter,
and spring). These observations are not evaluative. They serve to document the ways
teachers and students engage in language and literacy activities during the school day.
Compensation for time spent coordinating with study staff to schedule observations will
be $45.
• Allow study staff to work with the participating children in your class to administer
several language and literacy assessments twice during the school year. Compensation for
time spent coordinating with study staff to schedule student assessments will be $75.
Only teachers who have been randomly assigned to the experimental group will be asked to do
the following:
• Attend and engage in Professional Learning Community: Emergent Literacy (PLC-EL)
sessions. Twelve PLC-EL sessions will take place over the course of the 2023/24 school
year. A facilitator will lead the sessions with a small group of preschool teachers. All
teachers who attend all 12 PLC-EL sessions will be eligible to earn 16 hours of credit for
recertification through the South Carolina Department of Education and/or SC
Endeavors. Teachers will also be eligible to earn 3 credit hours toward instructional
practices via Read to Succeed. Compensation for time spent attending and completing
tasks for PLC-EL sessions will be $900.
• Allow study staff to conduct two passive observations of PLC-EL sessions. These
observations are not evaluative. They serve to document the ways facilitators and
teachers engage in professional learning environments. Facilitators will coordinate with
study staff to schedule these observations.
• A subset of teachers will be selected to participate in two focus group sessions over the
course of the 2023/24 school year to learn about your expectations and experiences
regarding the PLC-EL sessions. Compensation for time spent participating in focus group
sessions will be $120.
2010 Levy Ave., Suite 100, Tallahassee, FL 32310
(850) 644-9352 | www.fcrr.org

Since this is voluntary, you may skip any questions you do not feel comfortable answering over
the course of the study. All surveys and focus groups completed by you will be assigned a
number so only researchers in this study will be able to tell they are your responses. We will
store your completed surveys and focus group records in ways we think are secure. We will store
paper files in locked filing cabinets. We will store electronic files in computer systems with
password protection.
If you do not want to be part of this study please contact the project coordinator, Dr. Jennifer
Dombek, at (850) 645-2980 or jdombek@fcrr.org. You can also contact the principal
investigator, Dr. Sarah Herrera, at (850) 645-1748 or sherrera@fcrr.org if you have any
questions.
If you have any questions or concerns about your rights as a research participant, or regarding
the study and would like to talk to someone other than the researcher(s), you are encouraged to
contact the FSU Institutional Review Board (IRB) office at (850) 644-7900. You may also
contact the FSU IRB office by email at humansubjects@fsu.edu, or in writing at FSU Human
Subjects Committee, 2010 Levy Avenue, Research Building B, Suite 276, Tallahassee, FL
32306-2742 or in writing at FSU Human Subjects Committee, 2010 Levy Avenue, Research
Building B, Suite 276, Tallahassee, FL 32306-2742.

2010 Levy Ave., Suite 100, Tallahassee, FL 32310
(850) 644-9352 | www.fcrr.org

CENTER LEADER RESEARCH INFORMATION SHEET
Preschool Language and Literacy Project
You are being asked to voluntarily take part in a research study with Florida State University
(FSU) during the 2023/24 school year. We are asking you to take part in this research study
because you hold the role of an early childhood administrator or school principal working in a
public school or private childcare facility that serves preschool-aged children. We are doing this
study to learn more about how professional learning opportunities focused on building a
community of practice among preschool teachers can influence preschool teachers' knowledge
and instructional practices in language and literacy development. We also want to learn more
about how building a community of practice among preschool teachers can influence children’s
early language and literacy development.
All school administrators or principals participating in this study will be asked to do the
following:
• Complete a paper-based survey in the fall. Compensation for time spent completing the
survey will be $70.50.
A subset of school administrators or principals participating in this study will be asked to do the
following:
• Participate in two interviews over the course of the 2023/24 school year to learn about
systems and supports, including facilitators and barriers that support the implementation
of evidence-based strategies to support emergent literacy instruction and student learning.
Compensation for time spent participating in interviews will be $141.
Since this is voluntary, you may skip any questions you do not feel comfortable answering over
the course of the study. All surveys and interviews completed by you will be assigned a number
so only researchers in this study will be able to tell they are your responses. We will store your
completed surveys and interview records in ways we think are secure. We will store paper files
in locked filing cabinets. We will store electronic files in computer systems with password
protection.
If you do not want to be part of this study please contact the project coordinator, Dr. Jennifer
Dombek, at (850) 645-2980 or jdombek@fcrr.org. You can also contact the principal
investigator, Dr. Sarah Herrera, at (850) 645-1748 or sherrera@fcrr.org if you have any
questions.
If you have any questions or concerns about your rights as a research participant, or regarding
the study and would like to talk to someone other than the researcher(s), you are encouraged to
contact the FSU Institutional Review Board (IRB) office at (850) 644-7900. You may also
contact the FSU IRB office by email at humansubjects@fsu.edu, or in writing at FSU Human
Subjects Committee, 2010 Levy Avenue, Research Building B, Suite 276, Tallahassee, FL
2010 Levy Ave., Suite 100, Tallahassee, FL 32310
(850) 644-9352 | www.fcrr.org

32306-2742 or in writing at FSU Human Subjects Committee, 2010 Levy Avenue, Research
Building B, Suite 276, Tallahassee, FL 32306-2742.

2010 Levy Ave., Suite 100, Tallahassee, FL 32310
(850) 644-9352 | www.fcrr.org

FACILITATOR RESEARCH INFORMATION SHEET
Preschool Language and Literacy Project
You are being asked to voluntarily take part in a research study with Florida State University
(FSU) during the 2023/24 school year. We are doing this study to learn more about how
professional learning opportunities focused on building a community of practice among
preschool teachers can influence their knowledge and instructional practices in language and
literacy development. We also want to learn more about how building a community of practice
among preschool teachers can influence children’s early language and literacy development.
Your current role in your school or district makes you well-suited to participate in our study as a
professional learning community facilitator.
All facilitators participating in this study will be asked to do the following:
• Complete paper-based surveys twice during the 2023/24 school year. Compensation for
time spent completing the surveys will be $60.
• Attend four Professional Learning Community: Emergent Literacy (PLC-EL) training
sessions over the course of the 2023/24 school year (summer, fall, winter, spring). These
training sessions will be led by our study staff. Compensation for time spent attending
and engaging in training will be $480.
• Lead 12 PLC-EL sessions over the course of the 2023/24 school year. As a facilitator you
will use the PLC-EL materials and guidance to lead PLC-EL sessions with a small group
of preschool teachers. Facilitators will be eligible to earn 16 hours of credit for
recertification through the South Carolina Department of Education and/or SC Endeavors
and are also eligible to earn 3 credit hours toward instructional practices via Read to
Succeed. Compensation for time spent leading PLC-EL sessions will be $480.
• Allow study staff to conduct two passive observations of PLC-EL sessions. These
observations are not evaluative. They serve to document the ways facilitators and
teachers engage in professional learning environments. Facilitators will coordinate with
study staff to schedule these observations.
A subset of facilitators participating in this study will be asked to do the following:
• Participate in two interviews over the course of the 2023/24 school year to learn about
your expectations and experiences regarding the PLC-EL sessions. Compensation for
time spent participating in interviews will be $90.
Since this is voluntary, you may skip any questions you do not feel comfortable answering over
the course of the study. All surveys and interviews completed by you will be assigned a number
so only researchers in this study will be able to tell they are your responses. We will store your
completed surveys and interview records in ways we think are secure. We will store paper files
in locked filing cabinets. We will store electronic files in computer systems with password
protection.

2010 Levy Ave., Suite 100, Tallahassee, FL 32310
(850) 644-9352 | www.fcrr.org

If you do not want to be part of this study please contact the project coordinator, Dr. Jennifer
Dombek, at (850) 645-2980 or jdombek@fcrr.org. You can also contact the principal
investigator, Dr. Sarah Herrera, at (850) 645-1748 or sherrera@fcrr.org if you have any
questions.
If you have any questions or concerns about your rights as a research participant, or regarding
the study and would like to talk to someone other than the researcher(s), you are encouraged to
contact the FSU Institutional Review Board (IRB) office at (850) 644-7900. You may also
contact the FSU IRB office by email at humansubjects@fsu.edu, or in writing at FSU Human
Subjects Committee, 2010 Levy Avenue, Research Building B, Suite 276, Tallahassee, FL
32306-2742 or in writing at FSU Human Subjects Committee, 2010 Levy Avenue, Research
Building B, Suite 276, Tallahassee, FL 32306-2742.

2010 Levy Ave., Suite 100, Tallahassee, FL 32310
(850) 644-9352 | www.fcrr.org

STATE OR DISTRICT PERSONNEL RESEARCH INFORMATION SHEET
Preschool Language and Literacy Project
You are being asked to voluntarily take part in a research study with Florida State University
(FSU) during the 2023/24 school year. We are asking you to take part in this research study
because you hold a district- or state-level role in early childhood education. We are doing this
study to learn more about how professional learning opportunities focused on building a
community of practice among preschool teachers can influence their knowledge and instructional
practices in language and literacy development. We also want to learn more about how building
a community of practice among preschool teachers can influence children’s early language and
literacy development.
We are asking you to participate in two interviews (summer/fall and spring) over the course of
the 2023/24 school year to learn about systems and supports, including facilitators and barriers
that support the implementation of evidence-based strategies to support emergent literacy
instruction and student learning. Compensation for time spent participating in interviews will be
$150.
Since this is voluntary, you may skip any questions you do not feel comfortable answering over
the course of the study. All of your responses will be assigned a number so only researchers in
this study will be able to tell they are your responses. We will store your interview records in
ways we think are secure. We will store paper files in locked filing cabinets. We will store
electronic files in computer systems with password protection.
If you do not want to be part of this study please contact the project coordinator, Dr. Jennifer
Dombek, at (850) 645-2980 or jdombek@fcrr.org. You can also contact the principal
investigator, Dr. Sarah Herrera, at (850) 645-1748 or sherrera@fcrr.org if you have any
questions.
If you have any questions or concerns about your rights as a research participant, or regarding
the study and would like to talk to someone other than the researcher(s), you are encouraged to
contact the FSU Institutional Review Board (IRB) office at (850) 644-7900. You may also
contact the FSU IRB office by email at humansubjects@fsu.edu, or in writing at FSU Human
Subjects Committee, 2010 Levy Avenue, Research Building B, Suite 276, Tallahassee, FL
32306-2742 or in writing at FSU Human Subjects Committee, 2010 Levy Avenue, Research
Building B, Suite 276, Tallahassee, FL 32306-2742.

2010 Levy Ave., Suite 100, Tallahassee, FL 32310
(850) 644-9352 | www.fcrr.org