Notification of Rights Under the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA)

PPRA affords parents of elementary and secondary students certain rights regarding the conduct of surveys, collection and use of information for marketing purposes, and certain physical exams.  These include, but are not limited to, the right to:

  • Consent before students are required to submit to a survey that concerns one or more of the following protected areas (“protected information survey”) if the survey is funded in whole or in part by a program of the U.S. Department of Education (ED)–

    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 student’s parent; or

    8. Income, other than as required by law to determine program eligibility.

  •  Receive notice and an opportunity to opt a student out of –

    1. Any other protected information survey, regardless of funding;

    2. Any non-emergency, invasive physical exam or screening required as a condition of attendance, administered by the school or its agent, and not necessary to protect the immediate health and safety of a student, except for hearing, vision, or scoliosis screenings, or any physical exam or screening permitted or required under State law; and

    3. Activities involving collection, disclosure, or use of personal information collected from students for marketing or to sell or otherwise distribute the information to others. (This does not apply to the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information collected from students for the exclusive purpose of developing, evaluating, or providing educational products or services for, or to, students or educational institutions.)

  •  Inspect, upon request and before administration or use –

    1. Protected information surveys of students and surveys created by a third party;

    2. Instruments used to collect personal information from students for any of the above marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes; and

    3. Instructional material used as part of the educational curriculum.

These rights transfer from the parents to a student who is 18 years old or an emancipated minor under State law.

The Williston Basin School District 7 has developed and adopted policies, in consultation with parents, regarding these rights, as well as arrangements to protect student privacy in the administration of protected information surveys and the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information for marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes.  District 7 will directly notify parents of these policies at least annually at the start of each school year and after any substantive changes.  District 7 will also directly notify, such as through U.S. Mail or email, parents of students who are scheduled to participate in the specific activities or surveys noted below and will provide an opportunity for the parent to opt his or her child out of participation of the specific activity or survey. District 7 will make this notification to parents at the beginning of the school year if the District has identified the specific or approximate dates of the activities or surveys at that time.  For surveys and activities scheduled after the school year starts, parents will be provided reasonable notification of the planned activities and surveys listed below and be provided an opportunity to opt their child out of such activities and surveys.  Parents will also be provided an opportunity to review any pertinent surveys.  Following is a list of the specific activities and surveys covered under this direct notification requirement:

  • Collection, disclosure, or use of personal information collected from students for marketing, sales, or other distribution.

  • Administration of any protected information survey not funded in whole or in part by ED.

  • Any non-emergency, invasive physical examination or screening as described above.

Parents who believe their rights have been violated may file a complaint with:    
                                                            Student Privacy Policy Office
                                                            U.S. Department of Education
                                                            400 Maryland Avenue, SW
                                                            Washington, D.C.  20202

Click here to read more information about the PPRA.