Under what circumstance may educational assessments be conducted without parental consent?

Conducting educational assessments without parental consent is permissible when researchers have obtained a waiver from the Institutional Review Board (IRB). The IRB is responsible for reviewing research studies to ensure that they meet ethical standards and protect the rights and welfare of participants. A waiver indicates that the IRB has determined that the research poses minimal risk to participants and that obtaining consent is not feasible or necessary for the research's objectives. This can apply in specific circumstances where the potential benefits of the research outweigh the ethical concerns about obtaining consent.

In contrast, standardized testing typically requires that consent be obtained, while anonymization of data may make it ethical to conduct research post hoc but does not eliminate the need for consent at the test administration stage. Additionally, assessments required for graduation often necessitate parental involvement and consent as a part of the educational policy framework. Hence, the option involving an IRB waiver stands out as the most appropriate scenario where parental consent may be bypassed.