Student Surveys: Ask Yourself Some
Questions
It's not unusual for school administrators to be asked permission to
distribute surveys to their students. Federal law enforcement
officials say that among the factors to weigh when you're deciding
whether to use class time to collect information from students is
knowing how the information will be used.
Information about students is a valuable asset. It can help
educational institutions reach students who might be interested in
their programs, and it can be used by commercial businesses to target
an audience who might like their products and services.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently reached settlements with
two companies that distribute surveys to students through their
schools. According to the FTC, the companies
claimed that they would use the student information for educational
purposes only, such as college recruitment. The FTC
contends that the companies also used the
information for commercial marketing purposes. The companies have
agreed to make clear disclosures if they plan to use student
information for noneducational marketing purposes.
If an organization asks you to distribute a survey to your students,
the FTC recommends that you check to see if the survey form includes a
privacy statement. If there is no privacy statement, you may want to
think twice about distributing the survey. In any case, it is wise to
know:
- who is collecting the information;
- how the information will be used;
- with whom the information will be
shared; and
- whether students will have a choice
about the use of their information.
The Protection of Pupil Rights
Amendment (PPRA) is a federal law that affords certain rights to
parents of minor students with regard to surveys that ask questions of
a personal nature, as well as to surveys designed to collect personal
information from students for marketing purposes. Briefly, with regard
to marketing surveys, PPRA generally requires schools to develop policies,
notify parents about these surveys and permit them to opt their
children out of participation in those surveys.
Surveys that are exclusively used for certain educational purposes are
excepted from these requirements. For more information
about the PPRA, visit the Department of Education's website at
www.ed.gov/offices/OM/fpco.
The FTC works for the consumer to
prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the
marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and
avoid them. To file a
complaint or to get free information
on consumer issues, visit
www.ftc.gov or
call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The
FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft and other fraud-related
complaints into
Consumer Sentinel, a
secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law
enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
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FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION |
FOR THE CONSUMER |
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1-877-FTC-HELP |
www.ftc.gov |
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January 2003 |
