The Wapakoneta City Board of Education encourages the District staff to initiate and participate in experimental and research programs.

The Superintendent shall be responsible for establishing procedures by which such programs can be initiated, conducted, and evaluated.

The use of special funding (State grants, federal grants, contributions) outside general revenue receipts shall be used to finance experimental and research programs wherever practical and possible.

All educational research is coordinated by the Superintendent of Schools and the administrators will participate when appropriate.

While recognizing the value of educational research, the Board also has the responsibility to protect students, parents, and staff from harassment, invasion of privacy, physical, psychological, social, and educational injury. Consequently, the Board requires that the Superintendent screen all proposals carefully.

Pilot Projects may be implemented upon approval of the Superintendent and notification to the Board of Education. Appropriate liaison will be established with the staff of the County Board of Education.

For purposes of clarification, pilot projects will be described as the introduction of educational experiments, in a protected environment, for a period sufficient to test the applicability and viability of that experiment for fulfilling present and future needs of the District.

The Board of Education believes that the pilot project should be evaluated by objective devices and procedures to determine whether the results are indicative of program improvement potential.

Revised 6/27/02