Bill hopes to protect students' rights

by Nick Delgado

Guam - Senator Tony Ada introduced a pair of legislation relative to protection of minors and students' rights. Bill 201 and 202 provides guidelines for obtaining parental consent for screening and restricts the type of information student surveys may request.

A news release from Senator Ada states school districts across the nation are conducting surveys that may include questions requesting students divulge information of a sensitive or personal nature. He states these surveys are often done without the knowledge or consent of parents.

Ada includes school districts have also been conducting mental health screenings without the consent of parents.

The measure hopes to ensure that prior to a government entity or school district administering certain academic or nonacademic surveys, assessments, analyses, evaluations, mental health screenings or comprehensive guidance and counseling values clarification programs to its students, it must receive written informed consent from a minor's or student's parent or legal guardian and must provide a copy of the document to be administered for viewing at convenient locations and time periods.