The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) affords parents and guardians certain rights regarding the district’s conduct of surveys, its collection and use of information for marketing purposes, and certain physical exams. These include the right to:

Consent before students are required to submit to a survey that concerns one or more of the following protected areas (“protected information survey”) if the survey is funded in whole or in part by a program of the U.S. Department of Education (ED):
- political affiliations or beliefs of the student or the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s);
- mental or psychological problems of the student or the student’s family;
- 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 student or the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s); or
- income, other than as required by law to determine program eligibility.
Receive notice and an opportunity to opt a student out of--
- any other protected information survey, regardless of funding;
- 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 student, except for hearing, vision, or scoliosis screenings or any physical exam or screening permitted or required under state law; and
- activities involving the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information from students for marketing or to sell or otherwise distribute to others.
Inspect, upon request and before administration or use--
- protected information surveys of students and surveys created by third parties;
- instruments used to collect personal information from students for any of the above marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes; and
- instructional material used as part of the educational curriculum.

These rights transfer from the parent(s)/guardian(s) to a student who is 18 years old or an emancipated minor under state law.

The Ithaca City School District will develop and adopt, in consultation with parents and guardians, policies regarding these rights, as well as 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 ICSD will directly notify parents and guardians of these policies at least annually at the start of each school year and after any substantive changes.

The ICSD will also directly notify - such as through U.S. Mail or email - parents and guardians of students who are scheduled to participate in the specific activities or surveys noted below and provide an opportunity for parents and guardians to opt their children out of participation in the particular activity or survey. The ICSD will make this notification to parents and guardians at 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 and guardians will be provided reasonable notification of the planned activities and surveys listed below and an opportunity to opt their children out of such activities and surveys. Parents and guardians will also be provided an opportunity to review any pertinent surveys.

The specific activities and surveys covered under this direct notification requirement include:

collection, disclosure, or use of personal information collected from students for marketing, sales, or other distribution;
administration of any protected information survey not funded in whole or in part by the U.S. Department of Education; and
any non-emergency, invasive physical exam or screening as described above.

Parents and guardians who believe their rights have been violated may file a complaint with:

U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202

Annual Notices

Access to Student Records

Annual Professional Performance Review of Teachers and Principals

Asbestos

Attendance Policy

Child Nutrition Program

Directory Information

Non-Discrimination/Discriminatory and Sexual Harassment Complaints

Parent and Family Engagement

Parents' Bill of Rights Regarding Student Data Privacy and Security

Pesticide Notification

Policy to Support Students Who are Homeless

Promotion and Placement

Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA)

Teacher Qualification Requests

Additional Resources