Book: I

Section: Instruction

Title: Student Surveys and Marketing

Code: ILD

Status: Active

Adopted: November 2, 2005

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STUDENT SURVEYS AND MARKETING INFORMATION

 

From time to time, the Portland Public Schools may administer surveys to students in the course of developing and evaluating programs and services offered in the schools.  The school unit will comply with the federal Protection of Pupil Rights Act and applicable regulations concerning the administration of surveys and the use of personal information about students for marketing purposes as outlined in this policy.

Parental Consent to Surveys

No student shall be required to participate in a survey receiving funding under U.S. Department of Education programs that reveals the following information without prior notice to and the written consent of parents/guardians:

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

 

In the case of surveys not funded under U.S. Department of Education programs, parents/guardians will receive prior notice of the survey and their right to opt-out.  Parents/guardians may request that their child not participate in a particular survey by submitting a written request to the Superintendent (or other appropriate administrator designated by the Committee) within ten days (or other time period designated by the Committee) of receiving the notice.

 

(NOTE:  As reflected in the paragraphs above, PPRA requires prior written consent only for surveys funded in whole or in part by the U. S. Department of Education funds.  For ease of administration, local School Committees may decide to extend the requirement for prior written consent to any survey administrated in the school unit that involves the categories listed above.)

Notice to Parents Regarding Surveys

Parents/guardians will be provided with a copy of this policy at the beginning of each school year, and within a reasonable time if substantive changes are made to the policy by the School Committee.  If actual or expected dates of surveys have been scheduled when the policy is distributed, parents/guardians of affected students will be notified at that time.  If surveys are scheduled after the start of the school year, parents/guardians will be provided with reasonable notice before the survey is administered. 

Procedures for Inspection of Surveys/Instructional Materials

Parents/guardians have the right to inspect any survey created by a third party before it is distributed or administered to students.  Parents may also inspect any instructional materials, including teacher’s manuals, films, tapes, or other supplementary material which will be used in connection with any survey.

 

Parents/guardians may request to inspect surveys or related instructional materials by submitting a request in writing to the Superintendent (or other appropriate administrator designated by the Committee)within ten days of receiving notice that a survey is to be administered.  The superintendent (or other appropriate administrator designated by the Committee) shall make arrangements for the parent/guardian to inspect the survey and/or materials within a reasonable time prior to the scheduled date for the survey.

 

Use of Student Personal Information for Marketing Purposes

The Portland Public Schools does not collect, use or disseminate personal information about students for marketing or commercial purposes.

 

This policy does not prevent the collection , use or dissemination of personal information collected from students for the exclusive purpose of developing, evaluating or providing educational products or services for or to students of educational institutions (including but not limited to tests and assessments, sale by students of products or services to raise funds for school-related purposes, student recognition programs and book clubs or magazines).

Protection of Student Privacy

The Superintendent shall be responsible for ensuring that appropriate measures are taken to ensure that student privacy is protected when surveys are administered or personal information about students is collected, disclosed or sued for marketing purposes.  Portland Public Schools will follow the same procedure used to safeguard the confidentiality of student education records under FERPA.

 

Students Over 18/Emancipated Students

In the case of emancipated students or students over the age of 18, the parent/guardian rights described in this policy transfer to the students.

 

Complaints

The United States Department of Education maintains an office that handles complaints about alleged violations of the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment by local school units.  Complaints regarding violations may be submitted in writing to:

Family Policy Compliance Office

U.S. Department of Education

400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.

Washington D.C. 20202-4605

 

Cross References

JRA - Student Education Records & Information

ILD - Student Surveys and Marketing Information.pdf (25 KB)

 

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