BURLINGTON, Mass. — The U.S. Department of Education says Burlington Public Schools violated a federal parental rights law by allowing students to participate in a survey containing sensitive questions after some parents had requested their children be opted out.
In a letter released on Tuesday, the Department’s Student Privacy Policy Office found the district violated the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment, or PPRA, in connection with the administration of a 2025 Youth Risk Behavior Survey.
According to federal officials, the survey included questions about topics such as sexual activity, drug and alcohol use, and gender identity. Investigators said some students participated despite their parents having submitted opt-out requests.
“Parents must always have the final say when it comes to their children, not schools,” Student Privacy Policy Office Director Frank Miller said in a statement.
The Department has proposed a resolution agreement that would require Burlington Public Schools to take several corrective actions, including sending parents copies of the survey questions, issuing apology letters to affected families, updating district policies, and submitting future surveys containing sensitive topics for review.
Federal officials warned that failure to comply could result in enforcement action and potentially jeopardize federal funding.
In response, Burlington Superintendent Eric Conti said the district has already addressed the issue.
“The Burlington Public Schools yesterday received the Letters of Finding from the Student Privacy Policy Office,” Conti said in a statement. “The District identified and addressed this matter in 2024 and 2025, and we no longer have a contract with the outside vendor that drafted the original survey in question.”
Conti added that the district is reviewing the findings and proposed resolution agreement and will respond “expeditiously.”
The district said it will have no further comment at this time.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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