Posted January 30, 2026 by Tiffany Lee
A recent update to the UNL Institutional Review Board/Lincoln Public Schools review process provides clarification to the research community as to when LPS review is necessary.
The updated guidance is available on Research Compliance, Integrity and Security’s Guidance Topics website, under the heading “Lincoln Public Schools (LPS) Approval Processes.”
Specifically, the update clarifies that all projects, including class projects or program evaluation projects, must be reviewed by the LPS Assessment and Evaluation Team prior to conducting any procedures within the LPS district or with LPS students, staff or faculty – regardless of the UNL IRB review requirement.
All projects to be conducted within an LPS-associated program, including before or after school, require review and approval by LPS.
Research teams seeking use of communication channels or other recruitment tools through LPS must still obtain LPS approval through the process described above.
Projects requesting access to student records or data may require IRB review and approval.
Access to data or private information may also require compliance with Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act regulatory requirements, including the establishment of data use agreements, other permissions or FERPA-compliant consent completed and signed by parents or students. It is typically not appropriate to request that teachers, instructors, faculty, other staff or LPS personnel “de-identify” information and provide records without district or administrative permissions.
If the project does not require IRB review and approval, but LPS review and approval is required, the UNL IRB will still facilitate the review process through NuRamp by submission of a Determination Form.
