Parental Rights at Issue In Probe of Student Survey

By Darcia Harris Bowman

A federal investigation into a survey given by a New Jersey school district is calling attention to a little-known law that requires parental consent before students can be asked about sensitive topics.

The U.S. Department of Education is looking into complaints from a small group of parents in the Ridgewood district about a poll taken last fall without parents' permission. Students were questioned about their sexual habits, experience with drugs and alcohol, and mental health, among other matters.

Carole A. Nunn, whose 15-year-old daughter responded to the survey with other high school students in early November, is alleging the district violated the federal Protection...