18A:36-34 - School surveys, certain, parental consent required before administration - New Jersey Statutes

18A:36-34.  School surveys, certain, parental consent required before administration1.  a.  Unless a school district receives prior written informed consent from a student's parent or legal guardian and provides for a copy of the document to be available for viewing at convenient locations and time periods, the school district shall not administer to a student any academic or nonacademic survey, assessment, analysis or evaluation which reveals information concerning:

(1)political affiliations;

(2)mental and psychological problems potentially embarrassing to the student or the student's family;

(3)sexual behavior and attitudes;

(4)illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating and demeaning behavior;

(5)critical appraisals of other individuals with whom a respondent has a close family relationship;

(6)legally recognized privileged or analogous relationships, such as those of lawyers, physicians, and ministers;

(7)income, other than that required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under a program; or

(8)social security number.

b.The school district shall request prior written informed consent at least two weeks prior to the administration of the survey, assessment, analysis or evaluation.

c.A student shall not participate in any survey, assessment, analysis or evaluation that concerns the issues listed in subsection a. of this section unless the school district has obtained prior written informed consent from that student's parent or guardian.

d.A school district that violates the provisions of this act shall be subject to such monetary penalties as determined by the commissioner.

L.2001,c.364.