Parental notification for student surveys amended, advanced

A bill that would require Nebraska schools to notify parents, guardians and educational decisionmakers before conducting non-anonymous surveys that request sensitive student information was amended and advanced from select file April 8.

LB428, introduced by Glenvil Sen. Dave Murman, would require schools to give parents, guardians and educational decisionmakers 15 days’ notice before conducting a survey that collects sensitive information from students, such as details about sex, religion, politics and health-risks or medical information.

The notice would include the purpose of the survey, who survey results might be shared with and how student privacy would be protected.

Under the bill, parents also could request to review a copy of a survey and choose to exempt their child from participating. LB428 also would prohibit sexual questions in surveys given to students in kindergarten through sixth grade.

Murman offered a select file amendment to clarify that LB428 would operate in compliance with current federal data privacy laws applicable to minors and students. It also would allow schools to continue conducting anonymous surveys on student vaping and drug use without following the additional steps outlined in the bill.

Such surveys are noncontroversial and typically administered to gauge the effectiveness of anti-vaping education initiatives, Murman said.

Lincoln Sen. Danielle Conrad supported the measure, saying it strikes the right balance in respecting the interests of student privacy, parental rights and government regulation.

After adopting Murman’s amendment on a vote of 36-0, senators advanced LB428 to final reading by voice vote.