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Gwinnett County Public Schools

Privacy: Parents and Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA)

The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment affords Parents and Eligible Students rights and protections regarding instructional materials used in educational programs, surveys administered to students, and the conduct of certain physical examinations. The rights and protections established by the PPRA include:

Instructional Materials. The Parent or Eligible Student has the right to inspect any instructional material used as part of the educational curriculum for the student; and

Surveys. The Parent or Eligible Student has the right to inspect any survey created by a third party, prior to the administration or distribution of the survey and the right to opt the student out of participation in any such survey. In addition, before a student may be required to submit to a survey revealing “Protected Information,” the written consent of the Parent or the consent of the Eligible Student is required. Finally, a minor student may not volunteer to submit to a survey revealing “Protected Information” without providing the Parent of the student with prior written notice of the administration of the survey and an opportunity to opt out of the survey. “Protected Information” is information in the following categories:

  • Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent;
  • Mental and psychological problems of the student or the student’s family;
  • Sex behavior and attitudes;
  • Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, and 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;
  • Income (other than that required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under such program); or
  • Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or parents.

Physical Examinations. Parents have the right to notice of 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.

A Parent or Eligible Student may contact the Chief of Staff at (678) 301-6005 to obtain a copy of Gwinnett County Public Schools’ policies and procedures developed pursuant to the PPRA.

A Parent or Eligible Student who believes their rights under PPRA may have been violated may file a complaint by writing the Student Privacy Policy Office. Complaints must contain specific allegations of fact giving reasonable cause to believe that a violation of PPRA occurred.

            Student Privacy Policy Office

            U.S. Department of Education

            400 Maryland Avenue, SW

            Washington, D.C.  20202