February 2, 2004

Testimony against the MSS from a parent, April 2001
"...these questions [are] disturbing, inappropriate, and probing into very personal and private matters...I do not want something like this to ever be given to kids. This kind of questioning is not the way to gather any information useful to a school district. As stated in the form letter that went home with our kids, 'Frank questions will be asked addressing issues adolescents encounter such as...' "

In a memo sent last Friday to all Minnesota school superintendents, the MN Department of Education clarified new policies school districts MUST FOLLOW in administering the Minnesota Student Survey (MSS). The MSS is a controversial survey developed by the Search Institute that asks and collects personal and invasive data on students.

In the memo, Commissioner Yecke clarifies that changes in federal law (No Child Left Behind): "requires LEAs [local school districts] to obtain prior written parental consent before minor students are required to participate in any USDOE [federal Department of Education] funded survey, analysis or evaluation that reveals information concerning one or more of the following protected information:

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 demanding 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;

8. income (other than that required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under such program).

"The MSS asks questions in one or more of the above topics and is funded in part by the USDOE. Although students may choose not to participate in the survey or not answer specific questions, prior written consent from the parent (or the student if 18 years of age or older or emancipated) is required before the MSS is administered this year.

"For other surveys that elicit the above protected information that are not funded in whole or part by the USDOE, prior written consent is not required, but parents have the right to opt out of such surveys. Parents also have the right to inspect any such surveys, and to inspect the instructional materials used in such surveys.

"In addition, all LEAs are required to develop and adopt policies - in consultation with parents - concerning student privacy consistent with [federal law]."

Questions:
"If you have questions about MSS, please contact: Ruth Ellen Luehr, MDE Learning Readiness and Support 651-582-8403 and ruthellen.luehr@state.mn.us or "Jessie Montano, Director of NCLB Consolidated Programs 651-582-8784 and jessie.montano@state.mn.us"

More from parent testimony: