It is the policy of the Seattle School Board that, to protect student data privacy pursuant to federal law and guidelines, all materials used for research, evaluation, or analysis in a program or project, including surveys, assessments, or instructional materials, are available for inspection by parents and guardians. 

Informed consent from parents/guardians and adult or emancipated minor students is required for all third-party research involving primary data collection from students. Policy No. 4280, Research Activity, provides broader policy guidance related to research activity conducted by external entities. 

Pertaining to surveys and other forms of data collected internally by the district for research, evaluation, or analysis, the district will obtain informed consent from parents/guardians and adult or emancipated minor students in every situation wherein funding from the U.S. Department of Education is used, and which reveals student information concerning any of the following: 

1. Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or the student’s parent/guardian; 

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 the student has 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/guardian; 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). 

In cases of district-led collection of student data that may concern the above eight categories, but is not funded by the U.S. Department of Education, the district shall notify parents/guardians and adult or emancipated minor students of their rights for refusal for their or their child’s participation in the data collection activity.  

The district shall establish and follow protocols to protect student privacy during the administration of any survey, analysis, or evaluation. 

The Superintendent is authorized to develop procedures to implement this policy, as necessary.