Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment
PPRA
Students
PPRA limits surveys, analyses, and evaluations that ask students about eight protected areas, such as political beliefs, mental health, sexual behavior, and family income. It also requires local policies and parent notice on surveys, physical exams, and the collection or use of student information for marketing.
- Where
- Federal
- Citation
- 20 U.S.C. 1232h; 34 CFR Part 98
- Status
- In force
- In force since
- 1974-08-21
- Last amended
- 2015-12-10
- Enforced by
- U.S. Department of Education (Student Privacy Policy Office)
- People can sue
- No
- Penalties
- Administrative enforcement through the Department of Education with potential loss of federal program funds; no fines and no express private right of action.
- Applies to
- State and local educational agencies and schools receiving U.S. Department of Education program funds
What a privacy notice must say
- Adopt policies, in consultation with parents, and notify parents at least annually about third-party surveys, physical exams, and collection of student personal information for marketing or sale, with an opt-out.20 U.S.C. 1232h(c)(1)-(2)
Rights it gives people
- Make instructional materials used with covered surveys available for parental inspection.20 U.S.C. 1232h(a)
Practices it requires
- Obtain prior written parental consent before a minor student must take a U.S. Education Department-funded survey that reveals information in any of eight protected areas.20 U.S.C. 1232h(b)
- Protect student privacy when personal information is collected, disclosed, or used for marketing or selling.20 U.S.C. 1232h(c)(1)(E)
Sources
Checked against these sources on 2026-09-25 by research agent (Claude), primary sources.
Unverified: effective_date uses the date PPRA's predecessor section was added by Pub. L. 93-380 (Aug. 21, 1974); a separate effective-date provision was not checked
Research reference, not legal advice.