A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 15.1-06 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the administration of surveys to students in kindergarten through grade twelve schools.
SB2105 would add a new section to North Dakota Century Code chapter 15.1-06 governing how surveys may be administered to K-12 students. The bill defines “survey” broadly to include screening tools, questionnaires, polls, and other written documents used to obtain information from a student, including behavioral health-related surveys, but excludes surveys administered or approved by a licensed teacher or school administrator for educational or extracurricular purposes.
Under the bill, schools would be prohibited from administering a survey to a student on behalf of any third party other than the Department of Public Instruction. The bill also allows a school to administer a survey if the student’s parent or legal guardian has reviewed the survey and given written authorization for the student to participate. In effect, the measure creates a consent and source restriction framework for student surveys in public schools and related educational settings, including career and technical education centers.
The bill would affect school districts, administrators, teachers, and outside organizations that seek to collect information from students through surveys. It would limit third-party survey administration in K-12 schools, while preserving school- or teacher-directed surveys for educational or extracurricular purposes and allowing parent-approved participation. The measure would create new compliance obligations for schools and could reduce the use of external surveys, especially those involving student opinions, behavioral health screening, or data collection.
No committee transcript or vote record is provided, so there is no direct record of debate or member positions in the materials supplied. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears to reflect a cautious approach to student data collection and parental oversight rather than a controversial policy expansion. The fact that the bill was adopted by the Education Committee suggests at least some support in that setting, but the available record does not show broader legislative sentiment.
The main points of potential contention are likely to be the scope of the third-party survey ban, the breadth of the definition of “survey,” and how the bill would affect behavioral health or other student support screenings. Supporters would likely emphasize parental consent, privacy, and limits on outside data collection, while opponents might argue that the restriction could hinder useful research, student wellness efforts, or programs that rely on outside survey tools. Another possible issue is the carveout for surveys approved by teachers or administrators, which may raise questions about what counts as educational or extracurricular purposes.