PPRA and Student Privacy        

Dear Parent/Guardian:

     In 2001 the No Child Left Behind Act amended the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA).  This recent federal legislation on student privacy requires that school district's notify parents of their rights under PPRA.  To this end, the Pleasantville School District district sent home a letter over the summer detailing those rights.  The letter was developed from a template offered by the New York State School Boards Association and was reviewed by our own attorney.  However, even though the letter details Pupil Privacy Rights, it does not illustrate what our own individual practice as a school district has been regarding pupil privacy.  We recognize that it is important to clarify for our community what has been our practice regarding this issue.

     Rest assured that the Pleasantville School District takes student privacy very seriously and does NOT release ANY directory information for the purposes outlined in the annual notification letter.  The District also does NOT administer any surveys that are funded by the Department of Education.  We believe strongly that if such a survey (of the type of information listed in PPRA) were to be evaluated for distribution to our student body then direct communication with the parents, community and Board of Education would first take place.  In recent years, the only survey that has been administered on such a level has been the US Department of Justice’s Clear Choices 5^th grade survey.  It has been our practice that shortly before the administration of this survey, the middle school principal contacts the 5^th grade parents.

    Thank you for your support of our schools.  Please contact your building principal if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Mary Fox-Alter

Director of Instructional Services and Technology

PPRA Annual Notification Letter.

Dear Parent/Guardian:

            The Board of Education recognizes that student privacy is an important concern of parents and the Board wishes to ensure that student privacy is protected pursuant to the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment, as revised by the No Child Left Behind Act. To that end, the Board has adopted a policy on student privacy.

             Pursuant to the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment, as revised by the No Child Left Behind Act, and the Pleasantville School District’s policy on student privacy, you have the right to opt your child out of the following activities:

 1.      The collection, disclosure and use of personal information gathered from students for the purpose of marketing or selling that information. This does not apply to the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information collected from students for the exclusive purpose of developing, evaluating or providing educational products or services for, or to students, such as:

a.    College or other postsecondary education recruitment, or military recruitment;

b.     Book clubs, magazines and programs providing access to low-cost literary products

c.     Curriculum and instructional materials used in schools;

d.     Tests and assessments used to provide cognitive, evaluative, diagnostic, clinical, aptitude, or achievement information for students or to generate other statistically useful data for the purpose of securing such tests and assessments, and the subsequent analysis and public release of the aggregate data from such tests and assessments;

e.     Student recognition programs;

f.       The sale by students of products or services to raise funds for school related activities.

 2.      The administration of any survey revealing information concerning one or more of the following

3.    The administration, by the school, of any non-emergency, invasive physical examination or screening that is required as a condition of attendance, but not necessary to protect the immediate health or safety of the student or other students and not other wise permitted or required by state law. The term ‘invasive physical examination’ means any medical examination that involves the exposure of private body parts, or any act during such examination that includes incision, insertion, or injecting into the body, but does not include a hearing, vision or scoliosis screening.  It does not apply to any physical examination or screening required or permitted under New York State law, including those permitted without parental notification.

        If you have any questions about the District’s student privacy policy and your right to opt your child out of certain activities, please contact the building principal.

                                                            Sincerely,

                                                             Dr. Donald Antonecchia