The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) affords Parent(s)/ Guardian(s) of minor scholars and eighteen (18) years-olds or other independent scholars (eligible scholars) certain rights regarding the Grand Rapids Public Schools conduct of surveys, collection and use of information for marketing purposes, and certain physical exams. These include:
- The right to consent before scholars are required to submit to a survey if it is funded in whole or in part by a program of the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and concerns one (1) or more of the following protected areas (Protected Information Survey): – Political affiliations or beliefs of the scholar or scholar’s parent – Mental or psychological problems of the scholar or scholar’s parent – Sex behavior or attitudes – Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior – Critical appraisals of others with whom respondents have close family relationships – Legally recognized privileged relationships, such as with lawyers, doctors or ministers – Religious practices, affiliations or beliefs of the scholar or parents – Income, other than as required by law, to determine program eligibility
- The right to receive notice and an opportunity to opt a scholar out of: Any other Protected Information Survey, regardless of funding – Activities involving collection, disclosure or use of personal information obtained from scholars for marketing or to sell or otherwise distribute the information of others – 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 scholar, except for hearing, vision or scoliosis screenings, or any physical exam or screening permitted or required under state law
- The right to inspect, upon request and before administration or use: – Protected Information Surveys of scholars – Instruments used to collect personal information from scholars for any of the above marketing, sales or other distribution purposes – Instructional material used as part of the educational curriculum
Parents and eligible scholars who believe their rights have been violated may file a complaint with:
Student Privacy Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington D.C. 20202-4605