School Board Passes Resolution Regarding Student Surveys

In response to a survey administered to Bourbon Middle School students in January, the school board passed a resolution Feb. 6 that adopts procedures regarding future surveys.

The surveys must comply with requirements of the Pupil Privacy Rights Amendment; the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act; board policies JO and JHDA, which pertain to student privacy and administration of student surveys and requires:

-Administration of non-academic surveys will be considered only when participation has the probability of benefiting students, staff and patrons of the district;

-When survey information is presented as a brochure, hyperlink (link to a website) or webinar, the building principal must read through all materials and/or view the entire webinar before recommending administration;

-The building principal will thoroughly review and examine the survey content during the initial approval phase;

-If participation in the non-academic survey is recommended by a designee and not the principal, the designee will thoroughly discuss the content and administration with the principal. The principal will approve or disapprove administration of the survey;

-If another district school also is included in the grade level range for the survey, the building principal providing initial approval will discuss the survey in detail with other principals;

-The content of the non-academic survey will be made available for parent or guardian review via the district webpage and Facebook, to the extent required and/or permitted by law;

-Parents and guardians will be notified by email and/or any other method available to the school about the survey and where they can obtain a copy for review. Copies of the survey will be available at the school office in the building where the survey will be given. It also will be emailed to parents and guardians upon request;

-Parents and guardians will be provided an opportunity to notify the school prinicipal if they do not wish their child or children to participate in the survey;

-Depending upon the requirements of law, parents will either be required to provide affirmative consent for their child to participate in the survey or they will be provided with notice of the opportunity to opt out.

If a student survey addresses the following:

-political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent;

-mental and psychological problems of the student or the student’s family;

-sex behavior or attitudes;

-illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating or demeaning behavior;

-critical appraisals of other individuals with whom respondents have close family relationships;

-legally recognized privileged or analogous relationships, such as lawyers; physicians and ministers;

-religious practices, affiliations or beliefs of the student or parent; or

-income

The PPRA will be applicable. Schools and contractors providing and/or administering the survey must make instructional materials available for inspection by parents if those materials will be used in connection with a US Department of Education-funded survey.

If a student survey is funded by a source other than the Education Department, the district must:

-Directly notify parents of their rights under the PPRA and provide the notice at least annually; and

-Offer an opportunity for parents to opt their child from participation.

In the notification, the district must notify parents the specific or approximate dates during the school year when these activities are scheduled. The rights provided to parents under PPRA transfer from the parent to the student when the student turns 18 or is an emancipated minor under Missouri law.

The right to opt out does not apply to surveys that do not include information listed above. There is no right to opt out of academic assessments or surveys, including but not limited to surveys intended to assess the effectiveness of academic programs.