hburgnews.com

Comment from Jeremy Aldrich
Time: June 18, 2008, 8:55 am

Of course, as an HCPS employee I’m somewhat biased, but I think that the conclusion here is appropriate.

A lot of people want this report to become public, but it can’t. Federal law and state code both say that student records (including any personally identifiable information) MUST be private. The federal law even says funding will be withheld from divisions that don’t protect student privacy.

Comment from Dave Briggman
Time: June 18, 2008, 10:22 am

Funny that you mention pupil rights, Jeremy. Your system and Rockingham both administer student surveys on an frequent basis which violates the federal statute immediately after the one you provided, above:

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode20/usc_sec_20_00001232—h000-.html

The relevant part of the statute says:

(b) Limits on survey, analysis, or evaluations

No student shall be required, as part of any applicable program, to submit to a survey, analysis, or evaluation that reveals information concerning—

(1) political affiliations or beliefs of the student or the student’s parent;

(2) mental or psychological problems of the student or the student’s family;

(3) sex behavior or attitudes;

(4) illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or 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, and ministers;

(7) religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or student’s parent; 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),

without the prior consent of the student (if the student is an adult or emancipated minor), or in the case of an unemancipated minor, without the prior written consent of the parent.

Your school system gives “notice” of the administration of surveys by advertising the dates in the DNR classifieds…and I’m fairly certain Rockingham gives parents no notice.

Either way, both fail to comply with the opt-in requirement of the law.

Comment from Emmy
Time: June 18, 2008, 11:29 am

Here we go again.

Comment from Brian M
Time: June 18, 2008, 2:49 pm

Here we go again? Was it ever really resolved the first time? It was blown up in the paper claiming all of these allegations, but then nothing…

I would hope that HHS & the School Board wouldn’t just whitewash over it, but I suspect that they would. If it was the Swim Team or the Golf Team, the coaches would have been fired and students expelled. But we must remember that it is the Football Team. And Football Teams are notoriously known for getting away with murder.

Comment from Emmy
Time: June 18, 2008, 2:56 pm

I’m sorry, I should have been more clear on what I was referring to. I meant it towards Dave’s statement about the surveys. Its a yearly thing he brings up.

I agree that it shouldn’t be ignored.

Comment from Brian M
Time: June 18, 2008, 3:18 pm

Ahh, gotcha. Being a newbie to this site I don’t have the benefit (is that even the right word) of hearing the same thing posted over and over. Thanks for clarifying, Emmy! =o)

Comment from Emmy
Time: June 18, 2008, 3:21 pm

Ah I sometimes forget, my apologies. I do think this might be the first time he’s brought it up here though, so its new for all perhaps!

Comment from JGFitzgerald
Time: June 19, 2008, 5:03 pm

RATB:

Relevance apparent to Briggman.

Comment from Dave Briggman
Time: June 20, 2008, 12:28 pm

Oh, Joe, you’re such a wonk.