Student Handbook
2007-2008
STATEMENT OF RIGHTS
Parents and eligible students have the following rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and this policy.
1. The right to inspect and review the student's education record.
2. The right to exercise a limited control over other people's access to the student's education record.
3. The right to seek to correct the student's education record; in a hearing if necessary.
4. The right to report violations of the FERPA to the Department of Health, Education and Welfare.
5. The right to be informed about FERPA rights
All rights and protection given parents under the FERPA and this policy transfer to the student when he or she reaches age 18 or enrolls in a post secondary school. The student then becomes a "eligible student."
MODEL NOTIFICATION OF RIGHTS UNDER FERPA FOR ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students over 18 years of age ("eligible students") certain rights with respect to the student's education records. They are:
(1) The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day the District receives request for access. Parents or eligible students should submit to the school principal (or appropriate school official) a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The principal will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.
(2) The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate or misleading. Parents or eligible students may ask the District to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. they should write the school principal, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the District decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent of eligible students, the District will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and advise them of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.
(3) the right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate education interests. A school official is a person employed by the District as an administrator, supervisor instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the School Board; a person or company with whom the District has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist); or a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. (Optional) Upon request, the District discloses education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll. (NOTE: FERPA requires a school district to make a reasonable attempt to notify the student of records request unless it states in its annual notification that it intends to forward records on request.)
(4) The right to file a complaint with the US Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the District to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and
address of the Office that administers FERPA are:
Family Policy Compliance Office
US Department of Education
600 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-4605
The district will arrange to provide translations of this notice to non-English speaking parents in their native language.