Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment

Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment

The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) is a federal law that provides parents/guardians of elementary and secondary students rights regarding the collection of data for surveys, marketing, and certain physical exams. The Bainbridge Island School District Board of Directors has adopted Board Policy No. 3232 detailing the rights and obligations of the PPRA. More information about the PPRA can be found at: www.ed.gov.

The PPRA requires parents/guardians to be informed before their student(s) are asked questions in a survey about:

1. Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent;
2. Mental or psychological problems of the student or student’s family;
3. Sex behavior or attitudes;
4. Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior;
5. Critical appraisals of others with whom respondents have close family
relationships;
6. Legally recognized privileged relationships, such as with lawyers, doctors,
or ministers;
7. Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or the student’s
parent; or
8. Income, other than as required by law to determine program eligibility.

For surveys that ask questions about one or more of the eight identified topics above, parents/guardians have the right to receive notice, inspect upon request, and be given an opportunity to opt their student out of participation.

For surveys that ask about one or more of the eight identified topics and are funded in whole or in part by the United States Department of Education, parents/guardians have the right to receive notice, inspect upon request, and provide consent prior to their student’s participation. Rights transfer from parents/guardians to students when they turn 18 years old or are emancipated under state law.

Parents/guardians who believe their PPRA rights have been violated may file a complaint:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue SW
Washington, D.C. 20202