Board delays decision on district participation in PACE student survey; considers active consent and parent outreach

Administrators showed the board an active‑consent form for the PACE student survey and asked whether the district should participate and, if so, whether to require active (signed parent permission) or passive consent. The form provided to the board explains the survey, offers links for parents to view questions in advance, and requires a signed slip allowing a student to participate. Staff said they are not pursuing the fourth‑grade pilot at this time and noted the survey would be administered to sampled classes, not every student. A staff member said historically the district used passive consent for similar surveys, in which case participating students stayed in class while nonparticipants were given alternative assignments or supervised elsewhere. Board members asked practical questions: whether paper forms would be sent home; what nonparticipant students would do during survey time (administration said they would receive an alternative assignment and historically were sent to the library); whether parents could have students complete the survey at home or online (staff said PACE typically provides an electronic, anonymous administration with access codes and they would check vendor guidance); and whether a minimum participation rate is required for valid results (staff said that is up to PACE). Several board members expressed a preference for active consent or requested more time to review question content; the board agreed to wait until absentee directors returned before placing the item on the agenda for a vote.