Appendix D: Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA)

The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232h; 34 CFR Part 98) applies to programs that receive funding from the U.S. Department of Education (ED). PPRA is intended to protect the rights of parents and learners in two ways:

• It seeks to ensure that schools and contractors make instructional materials available for inspection by parents if those materials will be used in connection with an ED-funded survey, analysis, or evaluation in which their children participate; and
• It seeks to ensure that schools and contractors obtain written parental consent before minor learners are required to participate in any ED-funded survey, analysis, or evaluation that reveals information concerning:
  1. Political affiliations;
  2. Mental and psychological problems potentially embarrassing to the learner and their family;
  3. Sex behavior and attitudes;
  4. Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating and demeaning behavior;
  5. Critical appraisals of other individuals with whom respondents have close family relationships;
  6. Legally recognized privileged or analogous relationships, such as those of lawyers, physicians or ministers;
  7. Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the learner or their family; or
  8. Income (other than that required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under such program).

Parents or learners who believe their rights under PPRA may have been violated may file a complaint with ED by writing the Family Policy Compliance Office. Complaints must contain specific allegations of fact giving reasonable cause to believe that a violation of PPRA occurred.

For additional information or technical assistance, you may call (202) 260-3887 (voice).

Individuals who use TDD may call the Federal Information Relay Service at 1-800-877- 8339. Or you may contact us at the following address:

Family Policy Compliance Office Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-5920