Protecting the Privacy
of Student Records
Exhibit 2-2
Fact Sheet: Protection of
Pupil Rights Amendment1
The protection of Pupil Rights Amendment
(PPRA), 20 U.S.C. 1232h, applies to programs that receive funding from
the U.S. Department of Education. The law was amended under the "Goals
2000: Educate America Act" on March 31, 1994. The Department issued a Notice
of Proposed Rulemaking on August 28, 1995, to reflect changes in the law.
Final regulations are expected in early 1997.
PPRA is intended to protect the rights
of parents and students in two ways:
-
It seeks to ensure that schools and contractors
make instructional materials available for inspection by parents if those
materials will be used in connection with a Department of Education-funded
survey, analysis, or evaluation in which their children participate; and
-
It seeks to ensure that schools and contractors
obtain written parental consent before minor students are required to participate
in any Department of Education-funded survey, analysis, or evaluation that
reveals information concerning:
-
1. Political affiliation;
-
2. Mental and psychological problems potentially
embarrassing to the student and his/her family;
-
3. Sex behavior and attitudes;
-
4. Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating
and demeaning behavior;
-
5. Critical appraisals of other individuals
with whom respondents have close family relationships;
-
6. Legally recognized privileged or analogous
relationships, such as those of lawyers, physicians, and ministers; or
-
7. Income (other than that required by law
to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving
financial assistance under such program).
Parents or students who believe their rights
under PPRA may have been violated may file a complaint with the Department
of Education 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 or technical
assistance, you may call (202) 260-3887 or TDD (202) 260-8956 or contact:
Family
Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
600 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-4605
1
Developed by the Family Policy Compliance Office of the U. S. Department
of Education.
For questions about the content of this product, please contact
Lee
M. Hoffman.