Notification of Rights Under the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA)

PPRA affords parents and students who are 18 or emancipated minors (“eligible students”) certain rights regarding the conduct of surveys, collection and use of information for marketing purposes and certain physical exams. 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; or (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 student, except for hearing, vision or scoliosis screenings, or any physical exam or screening permitted or required under state law; and (3) Activities involving collection, disclosure, or use of personal information obtained from students for marketing or to sell or otherwise distribute 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; and (3) Instructional material used as part of the educational curriculum. 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, D.C. 20202-4605. 

Grievance Procedure

Any student who believes he or she has been subjected to prohibited discrimination or harassment is required to report the allegation to his or her principal or assistant principal. Alternatively, if the student believes his or her principal or assistant principal has engaged in prohibited discrimination or harassment, he or she is required to report the allegation to a trusted counselor or teacher. Any district employee who receives an allegation of prohibited discrimination or harassment from a student is required to immediately report the allegation to the district’s Executive Director of Student and Legal Affairs. 

The district’s Director of Student Services, or his or her designee, upon receiving a report of prohibited discrimination or harassment, is required to promptly conduct and complete an investigation. The nature of the investigation will depend on the allegation. However, the investigation will typically include: obtaining a complete written statement of the student’s allegation; obtaining any evidence supporting the allegation, such as witness interviews, documents or other physical evidence; interviewing the alleged perpetrator; and, obtaining any evidence supporting the alleged perpetrator’s response to the allegation. 

The district’s Director of Student Services, or his or her designee, after completing the investigation, will conclude whether the student was subjected to prohibited discrimination or harassment. The district’s Director of Student Services may also conclude that, based on the evidence, he or she is unable to reach such a conclusion. If prohibited discrimination or harassment has occurred, the district’s Director of Student Services, in consultation with the district’s Superintendent, will take the remedial action he or she deems reasonable and appropriate to prevent the recurrence of prohibited discrimination or harassment and, if appropriate, impose sanctions against the perpetrator. When prohibited discrimination or harassment has not occurred, or the district’s Director of Student Services is unable to reach a conclusion based on the evidence, he or she, in consultation with the district’s Superintendent, may take reasonable steps to address the complaining student’s legitimate concerns. The district’s Director of Student Services will promptly communicate his or her conclusions to the student and the alleged perpetrator and will, also, communicate this policy’s prohibition against retaliation. 

Contact Information:

Director of Student Services
Wayne-Westland Community Schools
36745 Marquette, Westland, Michigan 48185 
734-419-2083