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Review and Prior Approval of Surveys and Research Studies.

Independent "third-party" researchers, for example, colleges and universities, sometimes request permission to gather survey or research study information from students. The district’s Department of Research and Evaluation must approve any third-party surveys or research before it can begin. Part of that approval process includes prior notification to the parent(s)/guardian(s) of any studies and the opportunity to inspect the materials. After inspection of the materials, parent(s)/ guardian(s) may request that their child(ren) not participate in the study. Parent(s)/guardian(s) with questions or concerns about any studies may contact the Director of Student Data Science Analytics. 

Sometimes studies conducted by, or on behalf of, the school district is viewed by some parent(s)/guardian(s) as being overly personal or private. If a study conducted by, or on behalf of, the school district includes one or more items pertaining to the list below, the district shall protect the privacy of individual student responses: 

• Political affiliations or beliefs of the student, the student’s parent or members of the student’s household; 
• Mental or physical problems of the student, the student’s family or members of the student’s household; 
• Sexual 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 those of lawyers, physicians, and ministers; 
• Religious practices, affiliations or beliefs of the student, the student’s parent or members of the student’s household; or 
• Income (other than that required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a program for receiving financial assistance under such program). 

If the study containing one or more of the items listed above is conducted or funded, in whole or in part, by the United States Department of Education, consent of the parent or student, who is 18 years old or is an emancipated minor under state law, is required prior to administering the study. If the survey is not funded by the Department of Education, the parents may opt-out of the study. The district will provide sufficient time for parent(s)/ guardian(s) to review the material and, after review, request that their child(ren) not participate. Parents/guardians have a right to review, upon request, instructional materials used in connection with studies that contain one or more of the protected areas listed above. 

The review and opt-out provisions also apply to the collection, disclosure or use of student information for marketing purposes. They do not apply to the collection, disclosure or use of information for 1) college or postsecondary or military recruitment, 2) book clubs, magazines, and programs providing access to low-cost literary products, 3) curriculum and instructional materials, 4) tests and assessments used to provide data about student achievement, 5) fundraising efforts by school-related organizations, or 6) student recognition programs. 

Parents who believe their rights may have been violated regarding surveys or research studies, non-emergency physical examinations or inspection of curricular materials may file a complaint with Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave. S.W., Washington, D.C. 20202-5920. (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) 20 U.S.C. 1232g, 34 CFR Part 99, Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (formerly the No Child Left Behind Act), The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) (20 U.S.C. Section 1232h, 34 CFR Part 98), District Policy 3232 and Regulation 3232R).

Information explaining the procedures for surveys and research to be held in the district can be found here. 

Page last updated: 06/17/19