• Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA)

    The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) affords parents and students who are 18 years of age or emancipated minors (eligible students) certain rights regarding conducting surveys, collection and use of information for marketing purposes, and certain physical exams by Roanoke City Public Schools. 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:

    1. Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent.
    2. Mental or psychological problems of the student or student’s family.
    3. Sexual behavior or attitudes.
    4. Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior.
    5. Critical appraisals of others with whom respondents have close family relationships.
    6. Legally recognized privileged relationships, such as with lawyers, doctors, or ministers.
    7. Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or parents.
    8. Income, other than as required by law to determine program eligibility.

    Receive notice and an opportunity to opt a student out of:

    1. Any other protected information survey, regardless of funding.
    2. 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 child, except for hearing, vision or scoliosis screenings, or any physical exam or screening permitted or required under state law.
    3. Activities involving collection, disclosure, or use of personal information obtained from students for marketing or for selling, or otherwise distributing the information to others.

    Inspect, upon request and before administration or use:

    1. Protected information surveys of students.
    2. Instruments used to collect personal information from students for any of the above marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes.
    3. Instructional material used as part of the educational curriculum. Roanoke City Public Schools will develop policies, in consultation with parents, regarding these rights, as well as arrangements to protect child privacy in the administration of protected surveys and the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information for marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes. The school division will directly notify parents and eligible students of these policies at least annually at the start of each school year and after any substantive changes. The school division will also directly notify parents and eligible students, such as through U.S. mail or e-mail, at least annually at the start of each school year of the specific or approximate dates of the following activities and provide an opportunity to opt a student out of participating in the following:
      • Collection, disclosure, or use of personal information 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.
      • Any non-emergency, invasive physical examination or screening as described  above. Parents/eligible students who believe their rights have been violated may file a complaint with:

    Family Policy Compliance Office
    U.S. Department of Education
    400 Maryland Avenue SW
    Washington, DC 20202-5920