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Protection of Pupil Rights

The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) (Statue: 20 U.S.C. § 1232h; Regulations: 34 CFR Part 98) applies to programs that receive funding from the U.S. Department of Education (ED). PPRA is intended to protect the rights of parents and students in two ways:

  1. It seeks to ensure that schools and contractors make instructional materials available for inspection by parent(s)/guardians(s) if those materials will be used in connection with an ED-funded survey, analysis, or evaluation in which their children participate; and
  2. It seeks to ensure that schools and contractors obtain written parental consent before minor students are required to participate in any ED-funded survey, analysis, or evaluation that concerns one or more of the following eight protected areas:
    • Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or the student’s family;
    • Mental or psychological problems of the student or his/her 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 student’s parent(s)/guardian(s); or
    • Income (other than that required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under such program).

Parent(s)/guardian(s) or students who believe their rights under PPRA may have been violated may file a complaint with ED by writing the Family Policy Compliance Office. Complaints must contain specific allegations of fact giving reasonable cause to believe that a violation of PPRA occurred.

 

For additional information, contact the Family Compliance Office at studentprivacy.ed.gov or by phone at 1-800-USA-LEARN (1-800-872-5327). Parent(s)/guardian(s) who believe their rights have been violated may file a complaint with:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-5920

 

 

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