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POLICY STATEMENT

This policy prevents the possibility of associating statistical data with any identifiable individual. To protect the privacy of individuals, very small population numbers must be suppressed (masked) when reporting aggregated data.

RATIONALE

Under the legislation, a public body may disclose personal information for research or statistical purposes. Protection of privacy, however, must be ensured when data is reported.

LEGISLATION/ REGULATIONS

Part 3, Division 2 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act sets out the use and disclosure of personal information by public bodies and disclosure for research or statistical purposes.

POLICY

When reporting, numbers or percentages must be suppressed if they are elements of a population that is one through four.

For example, if there were only 4 students in a grade, no further breakdowns of personal information would be provided i.e., it wouldn't be reported that 2 female and 2 male students were in that grade. On the other hand, if there were 10 students in a grade, it could be reported that 8 female students and 2 male students were in that grade.

This policy applies to all school, district and ministry staff involved with reporting personal information and any other organization reporting information provided by the Ministry of Education.

PROCEDURES

N/A