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Notices & Policies Rights Under the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment PPRA

Rights under the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA)

The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232h; 34 CFR Part 98) applies to programs that receive funding from the U.S. Department of Education (ED). PPRA is intended to protect the rights of parents and students in two ways. It provides that schools and contractors:

  1. Make instructional materials available for inspection by parents if those materials will be used in connection with an ED-funded survey, analysis, or evaluation in which their children participate; and
  2. Obtain written parental consent before minor students are required to participate in any ED-funded survey, analysis, or evaluation that reveals information concerning:
    1. Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or the student’s parent;
    2. Mental and psychological problems of the student or the student’s family;
    3. Sex behavior or attitudes;
    4. Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, and 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 parent; or
    8. Income (other than that required by law to determine program eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under such program).

This requirement to notify parents and to offer them the opportunity to opt out of (remove their child) from participation also applies to the following:

  1. Activities involving the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information collected from students for the purpose of marketing or for selling that information, or otherwise providing that information to others for that purpose.
  2. The administration of any third party (non-Department of Education funded) survey containing one or more of the above described eight items of information.
  3. Any non-emergency, invasive physical examination or screening that is: a) required as a condition of attendance; 2) administered by the school and scheduled by the school in advance; and 3) not necessary to protect the immediate health and safety of the student, or of other students.

In the event that the District conducts any protected information surveys or other activities referred to herein during the upcoming school year, parents and eligible students will be notified within a reasonable period of time prior to the administration of the surveys or activities, at which time parents will also have an opportunity to review the survey or activity and/or to opt their child out of participation. 

Parents or eligible students who believe their rights under PPRA may have been violated may file a complaint with ED by writing the Family Policy Compliance Office. Complaints must contain specific allegations of fact giving reasonable cause to believe that a violation of PPRA occurred.

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20202-4605