Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) Notification
Last Reviewed and Updated: May 19, 2013.
This Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) Notification (“PPRA Notice”) may be updated periodically. The most current version is always available from the login page of Pearson Online Classroom. Any changes will be effective as soon as they are posted in Pearson Online Classroom.
Description of Intent
The School follows a philosophy of continuous improvement and honest, objective data analysis. This philosophy requires well-planned and sometimes independent research efforts to determine the effectiveness of the School’s programs and strategies. From time to time, the School will collect and analyze student performance data and various measures of effectiveness. In addition, families may be asked to participate in surveys or focus groups. Such research shall always be undertaken ensuring student privacy is protected and in compliance with the PPRA. For example, the names of the student, Learning Coach, and family members will not be revealed, and results will only be reported in the aggregate or by subgroupings of sufficient size so that anonymity of the participants is safeguarded.
Rights Afforded by the PPRA
The PPRA affords parents/legal guardians of minors certain rights regarding the School’s conduct of surveys, collection and use of information for marketing purposes, and conduct of certain physical exams. These rights include the following:
Requirement of parental consent prior to administering any U.S. Department of Education funded survey, analysis or evaluation that reveals information falling within the below categories ("Protected Information Survey"):
- Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent
- Mental or psychological problems of the student or student’s family
- Sex behavior or attitudes
- Illegal, antisocial, 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 clergy
- Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or parents
- Income, other than as required by law to determine program eligibility.
- The right to receive notice and an opportunity to opt a student out of the following:
- Any other Protected Information Survey, regardless of funding
- Any non-emergency, invasive physical exam or screening required as a condition of attendance, 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
- Activities involving collection, disclosure, or use of personal information obtained from students for marketing or to sell or otherwise distribute the information to others
- The right to inspect, upon request and before administration or use, of the following:
- Protected Information Surveys of students;
- Instruments used to collect personal information from students for any of the above marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes
- Instructional material used as part of the educational curriculum.
Notification Procedures
- The School will work to develop and adopt policies regarding these rights in consultation with parents/legal guardians. The School will also work to make 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.
- The School will directly notify parents of these policies annually in this PPRA Notice or after any substantive changes. The School will also directly notify by U.S. mail, e-mail, or other reasonably available method parents/legal guardians of students who are scheduled to participate in the specific activities or surveys described in this PPRA Notice and will provide an opportunity for the parent(s) or legal guardians to opt students out of participation of the specific activity or survey. The School will make this notification to parents near the beginning of the school year if it 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/legal guardians will be provided reasonable notification of the planned activities and surveys covered by the PPRA and will be provided an opportunity to opt their students out of such activities and surveys. Parents or legal guardians will also be provided an opportunity to review any pertinent surveys. The following is a list of the specific activities and surveys covered under this requirement:
- Collection, disclosure, or use of personal information for marketing, sales or other distribution
- Administration of any Protected Information Survey funded in whole or in part by the U.S. Department of Education
- Any nonemergency, invasive physical examination, or screening as described above in the Rights Afforded by the PPRA.
Reporting a Violation
Parents or legal guardians or students eighteen (18) years or older or emancipated minors who believe their rights have been violated may file a complaint to the following:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20202-5901
Phone: 202-260-3887