http://www.spokesmanreview.com/opinion/letter.asp?ID=9066
SpokesmanReview.com
Letters to the editor
Tread lightly, OSPI
The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) recently sent a
memorandum to all 296 school districts, canceling administration of a survey
attached to the infamous WASL.
Unfortunately, OSPI failed to state in their memorandum (or to the press) that
if school districts were to allow students to fill out these questionnaires
then those schools would be violating explicit federal statutes concerning
surveys of human subjects and minor children. This glaring omission could
jeopardize federal funding.
OSPI flat-out ignored "Protection of Human Subjects" federal laws in
developing, distributing and administering this survey. Parent Empowerment
Network and
was characterized as "complaining parents."
Nevertheless, OSPI stopped the survey. If school administrators misunderstand
the importance of survey cancellation, as some have, then they are in violation
of federal law and subject to parental lawsuits.
In 2005, the OSPI pleaded ignorance to a 1974 civil rights law (FERPA), which
allows parents to view their child's WASL tests. Any more OSPI surprises for
parents?
Donald C. Orlich
Pullman