6162.51P Surveys of Students

6162.51
                                                                                   INSTRUCTION

                          SURVEYS OF STUDENTS (CABE Model Policy)
                                   First Reading 3/23/22

Surveys can be a valuable resource for schools and communities in determining student needs
for educational services. When a survey is used, every effort should be made to ask questions
in a neutral manner to ensure the accuracy of the survey.

Administrators, teachers, other staff members and the Board of Education may use surveys for
many purposes. Such purposes may include, but are not limited to, the need for student
services, the determination of prevailing views pertaining to proposed policies and/or practices,
or the determination of student knowledge and/or attitudes related to a specific subject or
units. These are examples of surveys and not intended to be an all-inclusive listing.
Administrative approval is required for surveys. Responses will not be used in any identifying
manner.

Surveys used in any experimental program or research project will be subject to the
requirements of Policy 6141.11. Parents shall have the right to inspect all instructional material
that will be used for a survey, analysis, or evaluation as part of a federal program.

Prior to administering a survey, the Board or Education must approve all that are received by
the Superintendent that include reference to any of the factors listed below. In addition, no
student may, without parental consent, take part in a survey, analysis, or evaluation that reveals
information concerning:

1.     political affiliations or beliefs of the student or the student’s parents;
2.     potential embarrassing psychological problems mental or psychological problems of the
       student or the student’s family;
3.     sex behavior or attitudes;
4.     illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating and demeaning behavior;
5.     critical appraisals of family members other individuals with whom respondents have
       close family relationships;
6.     legally recognized privileged or analogous relationships, such as those of lawyers,
       physicians and ministers;
7.     income (other than that required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a
       program or for receiving financial assistance under such program); or
8.     religious practices, affiliations or beliefs of the student or the student’s
       parent/guardian.

Surveys conducted for other agencies, organizations or individuals must have the
recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools and the approval of the Board of Education
as to content and purpose. The results of such approved surveys must be shared with the

SURVEYS OF STUDENTS                                                                    Page 1 of 3
Board of Education.

Parents/guardians shall have the right to inspect, upon their request, a survey created by a third
party before the survey is administered or distributed by a school to a student. Such requests
shall be made in writing with a response to be at least two weeks in advance of any survey to be
given.

For surveys not funded in any part by the federal government, parents/guardians need not
give written consent, but must instead be given prior notice of the survey with the
opportunity to opt their child out of participation if the survey elicits information concerning
any of the eight protected areas listed above.

Overall survey results following decisions must be shared with all parties who request such
information.

Parents/guardians shall be notified at least annually, at the beginning of the school year, of
this policy and when enrolling students for the first time in district schools. This notification
must explain that parent/guardians, or students 18 or older, have the right to “opt the
student out of participation,” in writing, in the following activities;

1.     The collection, disclosure and use of personal information gathered from students for
       the purpose of marketing or selling that information. 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, such as:

       a.      College or other post-secondary education recruitment, or military
               recruitment;

       b.      Book clubs, magazines and programs providing access to low-cost literary
               products;

       c.      Curriculum and instructional materials used in schools;

       d.      Tests and assessments;

       e.      Student recognition programs; and

       f.      The sale by students of products or services to raise funds for school-related
               activities;

2.     The administration of any survey that delves into the restricted sensitive subject areas
       identified and listed above.

The term “personal information” means individually identifiable information including a
student’s or parent’s name, address, telephone number, or social security number.



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(cf. 6161 – Equipment, Books and Materials: Provision/Selection)
(cf. 6161.1 – Materials Selection - Library Media Centers
(c.f. Series 6000 - Parental Access to Instructional Material)


Legal Reference:      Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, 20 U.S.C. §1232h
                      Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment, as amended by the Every
                      Student Succeeds Act, Pub. L. 114-95

                      Regulation 34 CFR Part 98 (PPRA Regulations)




Policy adopted:       February 11, 2003
Policy revised:




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