The Council Bluffs school board is expected to approve a new policy at tonight’s (Tuesday) meeting. Ron Diimig is supervisor of student services for Council Bluffs Public Schools. He says the “Protection of Pupil Rights” amendment deals with surveys that might ask intrusive questions, things like whether they’ve ever taken drugs, what their sexual behavior is, or asking questions about things their family may do. No such survey has ever been given to schoolkids, no such questions asked, but Diimig says if they ever were, the schools will have a policy in place. Diimig says it’s federal law that schools must have a district policy stating that these things are federal law. Diimig says the policy will prepare districts for the likelihood that some day, researchers may approach the schools asking if they can poll students on their behavior or attitudes. The issue arises from federal grants that go to colleges and universities that may be doing “all kinds of research on all kinds of topics,” and he says often they’ll turn to schools as the best place to ask their questions of young people. While the new policy must pass approval by the board at tonight’s meeting, Diimig says it’s not particularly controversial. Diimig can’t imagine anyone speaking out against a policy that says parents should be informed about surveys being presented to their kids. If they don’t already have such a policy, Diimig says schools all over the state will be going through the same process of adopting one. The model policy Bluffs schools is working from was developed by the Iowa Association of School Boards. Diimig says Congress recently passed the Federal Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, which requires districts to affirm this privacy policy.
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