pROTECTION OF PUPIL RIGHTS

Document N002: Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) Notice

The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) is a federal law that ensures parents have control over the personal information schools gather from students. The Washington County School District strictly adheres to these guidelines regarding student surveys, physical exams, and marketing data collection.

1. Right to Explicit Consent (Protected Surveys)

The district must obtain prior written parental consent before a student is required to take any survey funded by the U.S. Department of Education that asks about any of the following eight protected areas:

• Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or parent.

• Mental or psychological problems of the student or student’s family.

• Sexual behavior or attitudes.

• Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior.

• Critical appraisals of close family relationships.

• Legally recognized privileged relationships (such as with doctors, lawyers, or ministers).

• Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or parent.

• Income (except when legally required to determine program or meal eligibility).

2. Right to Notice and "Opt-Out"

Parents have the right to receive advance notice and opt their child out of participating in:

• Any non-emergency, invasive physical exam or screening required for school attendance (Note: This does not apply to routine hearing, vision, or scoliosis screenings).

• Surveys concerning the eight protected areas listed above that are not funded by the federal government.

• Activities where personal data is collected from students for marketing, sales, or distribution purposes.

3. Right to Inspect Materials

Upon request, parents have the right to inspect:

• Any protected information or third-party surveys before they are given to students.

• Any instruments or tools used to collect personal data for marketing or sales purposes.

• Any instructional or curriculum materials used as part of the educational program.

What this means for parents: At the start of the school year, the district will notify you of any scheduled surveys or physical screenings. For any activities planned later in the year, you will receive reasonable advance notice and the opportunity to review the materials and opt your student out. These rights automatically transfer from the parent to the student once the student turns 18 or becomes an emancipated minor.

How to File a Complaint

If a parent believes their student privacy rights under the PPRA have been violated, a formal federal complaint can be submitted directly to:

Student Privacy Policy Office

U.S. Department of Education

400 Maryland Avenue, SW

Washington, D.C. 20202