THE DARK SIDE OF SCHOOL SURVEYS...

11/15/2021

The SEL or climate, wellness, or school experience surveys are the new thing in Utah and pretty much every school district is giving them. There will most likely be more and more of them as they gain popularity with teachers and administrators in school districts across Utah. On the surface they appear benign, but if you do a little digging it becomes apparent that these SEL surveys have a dark side. As a parent, it is important to be educated and informed so you can make the best decision when it comes to the safety and privacy of your child.

Students across the state of Utah are being given SEL Skills and Competencies surveys. Each district might call them something different. Nebo calls them wellness surveys. Davis calls them school experience surveys. Regardless of the name, they are the same survey from a company called Panorama Education. School districts in partnership with the USBE have contracted with Panorama Education to supply and analyze the survey data.

SEE EXAMPLE OF SURVEY HERE

Who is Panorama and what do they do?

Panorama is a million dollar data collection and analytics company. They survey our children, analyze the data, and build SEL profiles for each student. The questions are selected by the School or the USBE and can be anything they choose from "Do you come to class prepared?" to "What is your race?" or "What gender do you identify with?

Analyzing and searching large amounts of computerized data is considered data mining, which is exactly what is being done to our children's survey data. The survey answers will be used to create social/emotional profiles on our kids and their schools. Below are samples profiles that are found on Panorama's website.

Sample survey profiles taken from https://www.panoramaed.com

Questions parents should ask themselves:

What will this information be used for?
Will they share this information about my child?
Who will they share it with?
Will they share the information gathered with Parents?
Are they using this survey to reveal information about your child's beliefs and attitudes?
Is it the school's or the parents' responsibility to monitor a child's social and emotional health?
Are teachers and school administrators trained therapists?
Do we want psychological profiles to be built on our children? Is this a good idea gone bad?
Do you want your tax dollars spent on this program?
Could there be any alternate agendas, like CRT, that will be pushed with these surveys?

A fellow parent has some interesting thoughts when it comes to Panorama surveys. See what she has to say. Click below.

ParEnt's thoughtS on PANORAMA Surveys

Does the Panorama Survey violate state code?

State law requires school districts to get parents' permission to take surveys of a particular nature. This code ensures that students are protected when it comes to data collection in Utah's schools. Utah code 53E-9-203 states that among other things, surveys dealing with mental or psychological problems; religious affiliations or beliefs; and illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior have to follow the following procedures:

Obtain written parental consent. Written consent is opt-in and not opt-out.
Provide parents a written statement that informs them that they may view the survey questions.
Provide parents with a link to see the questions that will be used on the survey.

REAd STATE LAW 53E-9-203

We are of the opinion that any survey dealing with SEL automatically falls into at least one of the above categories and should have to follow state code.

They must obtain written consent from the parent, i.e., be opt-in.
They must also provide written notice that the survey is available to view with a link to see the questions.

Link to Panorama PDF that explains how their surveys measure the psychological attributes they are intended to measure

LINK TO PDF

Click below to see how Panorama uses tax payer money to survey and build profiles of our children.

FURTHER INFO ON PANORAMA

Is your child's school planning on administering a Panorama Survey?
Do you have concerns as a parent?
Click below to download an opt-out form to give to your principal.

DOWNLOAD FORM

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