Postsecondary SIG Focus Group Opportunity 

Background:  WERA is seeking 8 organizations (school districts, ESDs, or community organizations) to conduct focus groups on the supports and persistent challenges facing high school students as they explore post-secondary opportunities.  We are particularly interested in the perspectives of Latin@/Hispanic, Black, Indigenous, rural, and low-income students.

Timeline

• Organizations interested in conducting one or more focus groups with high school juniors and seniors are asked to reply to this RFP.  Responses will be entered here.  Preference will be given to current WERA members.  
• Proposals must be complete by 5:00 p.m. on January 31, 2025.
• Successful proposals will be notified no later than Friday, February 7.
• A mandatory meeting to discuss the focus group protocol and related details will be on Thursday, February 13 from noon to 1:00 pm
• All focus groups must be completed between February 17 and March 28, 2025.
• Recordings of focus group conversations are due to the WERA office by March 31, 2025.

Expectations of the local organization

• Host one hour-long focus group of 8-10 juniors and seniors.
• Attend a mandatory training (zoom) to discuss the focus group protocol and related details on Thursday, February 13 from noon to 1:00 pm
• Identify a time and location to host the focus group between February 17 and March 28.
• Recruit a diverse set of 8-10 current high school juniors and seniors to attend a focus group.  (Organizations can propose to host multiple groups.)
• Distribute, collect, and transmit student/parent consent forms to WERA
• Facilitate and record the focus group on local equipment. 
• Transfer the recording to the WERA office by March 31, 2025.

WERA will provide:

• A focus group protocol and conduct a brief training about the intention of the questions and the kinds of probing/follow-up questions to use during the focus group.  The 2024 protocols are available here:  English version       Spanish version
• A $200 VISA gift card to the focus group facilitator and co-facilitator, $25 VISA gift cards for each student participant, and $100 for pizza/food/snacks at each focus group
• A secure link for the organization to transfer the recording for transcription and analysis.

If you would like to engage with WERA in this area, please complete the linked google form. 

The application form closes at 5:00 p.m. on January 31, 2025.  

Please direct any questions to Paul Stern, Executive Secretary at [email protected]