The Toronto District School Board's External Research Review Committee (ERRC) reviews requests from external
individuals and/or organizations applying to conduct research in TDSB schools. This review process ensures that
proper procedures and guidelines are followed in conducting research. Once applications have been approved, the
final decision to participate rests with individual school principals. Staff, students, and parents also have the
right to decide if they wish to participate.
- We have
transitioned to an online application form. Please complete the online form and submit your application
in one pdf through the online form. Hard copy, mailed applications will not be
accepted.
- At this point
applicants do not need to submit Police Reference Check information. Any acceptance decisions will be
conditional upon receipt of Police Reference Check/Vulnerable Sector Screening
documentation.
- As visitors are limited in TDSB schools, we are strongly encouraging
online data collection activities.
- If in-person research must be conducted, all visitors must adhere to the
TDSB’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
- Above all, it is the principal’s prerogative to decide whether or
not the school will be involved in approved research studies.
The TDSB will be pausing external research activities and will not be accepting new applications. If you have
a current partnership with a school, these applications will be reviewed on a case by case basis. Please email
errc@tdsb.on.ca if you have questions.
We appreciate the contribution that external researchers bring to their fields and value the shared
knowledge. When external research activities resume, an announcement will be put on this web page.
Please see the following information documents for more details:
Once you have completed the research application form, please submit.
Common Questions and Answers:
Does my research need ethics review by the TDSB?
- If you are accessing the TDSB’s students, staff, and/or families for
research purposes, researchers must submit an application form to the External Research Review Committee.
This is in addition to researcher’s own institution’s Ethics Board.
- Please note, once applications have been approved, the final decision to
participate rests with individual school principals. Staff, students, and parents also have the right to
decide if they wish to participate.
How do I apply to the TDSB’s ethics review?
- Download and read through the guidelines and application form. Complete the
application form and save as a pdf. Combine and merge all necessary documents into one pdf.
- Access the online application form, complete
the form and submit your application.
- You will receive a confirmation email when your application has been received.
- Your application will be added to the next ERRC meeting date.
- There is approximately a two-week turnaround time post ERRC meetings dates for a
response to applications.
How do I renew or amend my research
- Please download
and complete the renewal/amendment form and email the form to errc@tdsb.on.ca
What do I do if I am a TDSB employee and am asked to
participate in external research?
- If a study has
been approved by the TDSB, researchers will have an approval letter. Please ask to see the ERRC approval
letter. Please note, the final decision to participate in an external research study rests
with individual school principals. Staff, students, and parents also have the right to decide if they wish
to participate. An ERRC approval letter does not endorse the study, it simply means that the TDSB has
approved the research methods and applicants can move forward with recruiting participants.
Do I require a police reference check to conduct
research at the TDSB?
- All research
applicants that are entering the school and/or conducting research with students require a police
reference check and vulnerable sector screen. Please visit Police
Reference Information for more information.
Where can I get more information?