Student Surveys
The board recognizes the importance of conducting student surveys and gathering information from students. Surveys relating to and/or gathering certain information from students are subject to the parent’s consent and/or right to opt his/her student in/out of the survey.
The school district shall require parental consent before a student is required to submit to a survey that concerns one or more of the following protected areas (“protected information surveys”) 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 parents;
- Mental or psychological problems of the student or the student’s family;
- Sex behaviors or attitudes;
- Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating or demeaning behavior;
- Critical appraisals of others with whom the respondents have close family relationships;
- Legally recognized privileged relationships, such as with lawyers, doctors, or ministers;
- Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the students or parents; or
- Income, other than as required by law to determine program eligibility.
The school district shall provide an opportunity for parents to opt their child in any of the following surveys and/or information gathering processes:
- A protected information survey, which concerns any of the protected areas outlined above, regardless of the source of funding of the survey;
- Any non-emergency, invasive physical examination 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 examination or screening permitted or required under Iowa law; and
- Activities involving the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information obtained from students for marketing or to sell or otherwise distribute the information to others
The school district shall provide parents an opportunity to inspect upon request and before administration or use, any of the following information:
- Protected information surveys of students;
- Instruments used to collect personal information from students for any of the above marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes; and
- Instructional materials used as part of the educational curriculum.
Approved: June 29, 2015
Revised/Reviewed: April 22, 2024