- Download the Guide
- Introduction
- Ontario’s Access and Privacy Legislation
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Collecting personal information
- Are school boards limited in the amount or kind of personal information they may collect?
- Does a school board need consent to collect personal information about a student?
- When can a school board collect personal information indirectly?
- Does a school board need to give notice that it is collecting personal information?
- What are the rules for collecting, using, disclosing and requiring the production of Ontario Education Numbers?
- Using and disclosing personal information
- Consent to collect, use and disclose personal information
- Safeguarding and retaining information
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Access to information
- How do students and parents access personal information?
- Do individuals have a right to access general records from a school board?
- Do students need to reach a certain age before they can exercise their access rights?
- How does a child’s age affect the parent’s right of access to personal information?
- Do non-custodial parents have a right to access a child’s school records?
- Correction of Personal Information
- Special Topics
Does a school board need consent to collect personal information about a student?
If a school board has the legal authority to collect personal information, and it is collecting the information directly from the student, or their parents or guardians, then the school board does not require consent.
Even though consent is not required for a direct collection of information to be authorized, a school board may still decide to get consent. For example, a school board may design a student survey that it believes is necessary to meet its obligations under the Education Act to promote student achievement and well-being. It may decide to make this survey consent-based by clearly indicating the survey is voluntary and providing information on how to opt out and withhold consent.13
13. For example, see IPC Privacy Report MI10-5
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