Is drug testing a violation of students’ privacy rights?
This concern usually stems from a misunderstanding of the purpose of student drug testing. Foremost, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that student drug testing can be done, but must be done confidentially. Schools have a responsibility to respect students’ privacy, so it is vital that only the people who need to know the test results see them—parents and a school administrator, for example. The results should not be shared with anyone else, not even teachers. The purpose is not to expose and punish children for drug use, but to deter use, intervene early with those who have just begun to use, and to provide professional help to those who have become dependent. Student drug-testing records should also be kept strictly confidential in accordance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education. Stu
This concern usually stems from a misunderstanding of the purpose of student drug testing. Foremost, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that student drug testing is permissible, but must be done confidentially. Schools have a responsibility to respect students’ privacy, so it is vital that only the people who need to know the test results see them—parents, the student, and a school administrator, for example. The results should not be shared with anyone else, not even teachers. The purpose is not to expose and punish children for drug use, but to deter use, intervene early with those who have just begun to use, and to provide professional help to those who have become dependent. Student drug-testing records should also be kept strictly confidential in accordance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department
