Leading with Equity: Building Leaders
Informed Consent Form – Focus Group
Thank you for your interest in participating in the Leading with Equity: Building Leaders project conducted by the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership at National Louis University. The purpose of the study is to understand the racial equity impact of actualizing the “North Star” vision of a unified professional framework for all early childhood education and care (ECEC) program leaders working across sectors and settings. The findings from this research will be used to improve public policies, higher education practices, and professional learning experiences for diverse ECEC program leaders—Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) administrators working in schools, centers, and homes.
This focus group will take approximately 90 minutes and will use the Zoom virtual platform. Your participation will not pose any physical or emotional risk beyond that of everyday life activities. While you are not likely to have any direct benefit from being in this research study, taking part in this study may contribute to a better understanding of BIPOC leaders’ experiences. Your participation is completely voluntary and you can cease participation in the focus group at any time. The session will be recorded. The recording will NOT be shared with anyone accept the researchers working on this project.
Notes and transcripts of this session will be aggregated with data from all participants, so your identity (or that of your program or organization) will NOT be disclosed. Only members of the research team will have access to the recordings, transcripts, and notes. They will reside on a secured and restricted access shared drive at National Louis University. Any hard copy data will be kept in a locked cabinet at the McCormick Center for up to 3 years after the completion of this study, at which time they will be destroyed and all electronic data will be deleted. Results of this study may be presented at professional conferences and/or published in journals, books, or other resources related to education. If you would like to receive a copy of the study’s final report, please email Dr. Talan and she will send it upon completion of the study.
If you are selected and participate a 90-minute focus group, you will receive a $50 gift certificate in appreciation of your time and effort.
In the event you have questions, you may contact:
Dr. Teri Talan, Michael W. Louis Chair,
McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership
Professor, National College of Education
(847) 947-5060
teri.talan@nl.edu
If you have any concerns or questions before or during participation that you feel have not been addressed by the researcher, you may contact:
Dr. Shaunti Knauth, Chair
Institutional Research Review Board, National Louis University
(312) 261-3526
shaunti.knauth@nl.edu