STUDENT SUBMISSION TO EDUCATIONAL SURVEYS AND RESEARCH

In this policy, “surveys, analyses, or evaluations” refer to methods of gathering data for research purposes.

Surveys Covering Protected Information

The District shall not administer any survey, analysis, or evaluation to any student if such survey, analysis, or evaluation collects information concerning:            

1. Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or the student’s parent;
2. Mental or psychological problems of the student or the student’s family;
3. Sex behavior or attitudes;
4. Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior;
5. Critical appraisals of other individuals with whom respondents have close family relationships;
6. Legally recognized privileged or analogous relationships, such as those of lawyers, physicians, and ministers;
7. Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or student’s parents; or
8. Income (other than that required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under such program without the prior written consent of the student’s parent/guardian, or of the student, if he/she is 18 years of age or older).

Surveys Not Covering Protected Information

All instructional materials, including teachers’ manuals, films, tapes, or other supplementary material which will be used in connection with any survey, analysis, or evaluation shall be available upon request for inspection by the student’s parent/guardian. For the purpose of this policy, “instructional material” does not include academic tests or assessments.

A parent/guardian may, upon request, receive a copy of a survey created by a third party before the survey is administered or distributed to a student.

The Superintendent or designee will be responsible for implementing any procedures necessary to protect the privacy of participating students and to provide parents/guardians with access to surveys within a reasonable time before administration or distribution.

The School District will notify parents/guardians of this policy at least annually at the beginning of the school year and within a reasonable time of any substantive change in policy. Where practical, the District will also directly notify parents/guardians annually at the beginning of the school year when surveys, analyses, or evaluations are scheduled or anticipated. Parents/guardians shall have the opportunity to opt their child out of participation in any survey, analysis, or evaluation, even if it does not cover one of the sensitive topics listed above. Students who are 18 years of age or older may opt out of such surveys, analyses, or evaluations.

Parents/guardians or eligible students who believe their rights have been violated may file a complaint with the Family Policy Compliance Office of the U.S. Department of Education.

Legal reference: Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment, 20 U.S.C. § 1232(h)