Initiating Research
How to Submit an ERC Proposal
- Step 1: Fill out the UTD-ERC intake form: UTD-ERC staff will review your intake form and assess whether the scope of your research can be supported by ERC data.
- Step 2: Meet with UTD-ERC staff: If it is determined that ERC data can support your research, UTD-ERC staff will schedule a meeting to provide an overview of the Education Research Center Program and guide you on how to submit a successful proposal.
- Step 3: Send an initial draft of your proposal for feedback: UTD-ERC staff will provide extensive feedback on your proposal to ensure that it satisfies the requirements of the ERC Advisory Board.
- Step 4: Submit a final proposal to the UTD-ERC: UTD-ERC staff will submit your proposal to the ERC Advisory Board for consideration.
- Step 5: Present your proposal to the ERC Advisory Board, and answer questions from Board members.
- Step 6: If needed, address concerns or feedback from ERC Advisory Board if proposal is conditionally approved.
Extensions or Additional Data Requests
Request Submission
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board reviews requests for extensions and additional data during quarterly meetings. To submit a request for your project for an upcoming meeting, please complete the online form. Our team will respond within a week.
Note: Do not submit request through email.
Frequently Asked Questions (pdf)
Gaining Access to ERC Data for Approved Projects
Researchers approved by the ERC Advisory Board must meet certain requirements before they are granted access to data they have requested.
- Submit a formal IRB approval letter from the institution affiliated with the principal researcher to conduct the study.
- Submit a certificate confirming all members of the research team with access to data have completed FERPA training.
- Sign confidentiality agreement and remote access forms. Note: These documents are sent once ERC Advisory Board approves study.
Additional Research Support Services
In an effort to make ERC data accessible to a broader range of stakeholders, the UTD-ERC offers a suite of additional research support services on a fee-for-service basis. We can partner with your organization to draft effective ERC proposals to address your research needs; build customized longitudinal datasets that are analysis ready; compute relevant metrics and ensure that they are FERPA compliant; and carry out statistical and/or complex econometric analyses. Fees for research support services are negotiated based upon the scope of the work required.
If you are interested in exploring opportunities to partner with us to facilitate your work with ERC data, please fill out this form and a member of our team will reach out via email to discuss your request in more detail.
Supplemental Data
Researchers may require data outside of the ERC’s administrative records to conduct their studies. Supplemental data includes information collected by the TEA, THECB, or TWC, but not released through the ERC program, as well as data from other state agencies (e.g., Texas Juvenile Justice Department), federal agencies or third-party private entities. Supplemental data includes individual-level data and data collected in more aggregated forms.
Currently, the THECB, in collaboration with the TEA, is developing guidance to help researchers understand the process of merging supplemental data and identify which types of supplemental data can and cannot be merged under state law. We will post this guidance as soon as it is made available.
It can take several years before supplemental data can be merged with state administrative records. We recommend PhD students do not bring in supplemental data to conduct ERC research as this could significantly lengthen the amount of time they spend in their doctoral program.