Different versions of this process has been tested during the COVID-19 pandemic with active protocols at that time.  The current options are based on the knowledge gained from the testing.  The investigators are required to obtain parental permission prior to collecting data from the minors.  The permission has to be in the form of a signature.  Although this practice is more crucial for studies that may expose minors to some form of risk or discomfort, routine education research done in a school set up  may be done by obtain parental permission through an online process.  This is an attempt by the MTSU IRB to simplify the parental consent process without compromising the rights of the minors and the parents.  The following process is still under review and it is altered accordingly. 

• The PI will submit copies of traditional parental consent and child assent templates for review
• The PI will indicate in Appendix B of the Expedited/Full application that Qualtrics will be used for administering parental consent
• The Office of Research Compliance will administratively review and alter the submitted parental consent template for Qualtrics display.  A text version of the template will be sent back to the PI to be used in constructing  a Qualtrics link for parental consent.  
• The Qualtrics link will contain the disclosure section of the parental consent script (Part A).  If the parent decides to enroll, then s/he will answer questions in Part B of the consent script.  Once the parent consents, the investigator can solicit the name and other details of the minor needed to contact the participant.  
• After the review, the PI will receive a PDF version of the parental consent template along with a final text version for Qualtrics.  The PDF version must be signed by te parent and sent to the parents along with the recruitment tool (email, letter, etc).  The recruitment script will have instructions to visit the Qualtrics page to enroll their child if the parent should decide to volunteer.  
• The recruitment script must also be submitted for review.
• This process for seeking parental consent must be clearly described in Appendix B of the protocol application.  
• Child assent cannot be obtained via Qualtrics presently.