A Massachusetts school district violated federal law when it required middle school students to complete a survey asking about drug use, sex, and gender identity after their parents explicitly opted them out, federal officials announced this week.
The U.S. Department of Education’s Student Privacy Policy Office found that Burlington Public Schools failed to comply with the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment during its 2025 administration of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey. The questionnaire was given to students as young as seventh grade.
According to the department, district officials admitted to administering the survey despite receiving opt-out notices from several families…