The Pupil Privacy Act

During the COVID-19 pandemic, students were forced to participate in remote learning, which gave many parents the opportunity to get a closer, more detailed look at what was being taught and discussed in the classrooms. In turn, many parents felt the curriculum was getting too personal and too political in nature. As a result, more and more parents have expressed a desire to have more of a say in what is being taught and discussed in their children’s classrooms.

A recent survey given to 10th-grade students in the Sachem School District sparked more concerns from parents, and from myself, about what subject matters were being taught and discussed in our public schools. For this reason, I have introduced the Pupil Privacy Act (S.6052) legislation.

This legislation will provide parents/guardians with certain safeguards, which requires, among other things, parental review and consent and an opportunity for parents/guardians to opt their children out of surveys or questionnaires that ask for sensitive or personal information. The sensitive or personal information includes, but is not limited to, a student’s, parent’s or legal guardian’s personal attitudes, beliefs or experiences, related to any of the following subject areas:

Health

Mental health

Sexual behavior

Gender identification

Religious practices, affiliations or beliefs

Family dynamics

I firmly believe that it is every parent’s right to know what materials are being taught and what questions are being asked of their children.

For more details on the Pupil Privacy Act legislation, please visit: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2023/s6052.