Annual FERPA Notification

Annual FERPA Notification:

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students who are 18 years of age or older (“eligible students”) certain rights with respect to the student’s education records. These rights are:

1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records.

a) Any parent or eligible student may request the Principal of the building to make available to them at a time specified by the Principal, the child’s cumulative record folder.

b) The request for access to records shall be granted within a reasonable period of time, but in no case more than 45 days after the request has been made.

c) Cumulative record folders may be reviewed in a school building at a specified place in the presence of a school administrator or their designee.

d) No material may be removed from the file nor may the file be removed from the school.

2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records to ensure they are not inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy or other rights, and be provided with a process which includes a hearing and the right to attach differing perspectives to the record.

a) Parents or eligible students who believe that inappropriate material is included in the student’s record should submit a statement in writing to the Principal of the building.

b) The Principal will review the statement and either remove the controversial material or give a reason why this is not being done and inform the parents or eligible students of their right to a hearing. The hearing may be conducted by any individual, including a school official, who does not have a direct interest in the outcome of the hearing. The decision shall be in writing within a reasonable amount of time after the hearing and shall be based solely on the evidence presented at the hearing.

c) Parents or eligible students may place in the student's file a statement containing their belief that certain material is inappropriate.

3. The right to consent to disclosure of personally identifiable information (PII) contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent the Act authorizes disclosure without consent. These exceptions include, but are not limited to, allowing disclosure without consent to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official includes a person who needs to review a student’s educational record or information contained in that record and who is:

a) A person employed by the School Administrative Unit (SAU) #70 or one of its districts as an administrator, supervisor, educator or substitute educator, paraprofessional, or support staff member, including tutorial, health, law enforcement, transportation, nutrition, athletic, extra- or co- curricular, clerical or other support staff;

b) A member of the School Board acting on behalf of the Board and with the recommendation of the Superintendent;

c) A person or company with whom the SAU #70 or the School district has contracted to perform a special task, including an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, therapist, evaluator; and

d) Any other person designated by the School Board, Superintendent or Principal to have legitimate educational interests.

4. The right to file with the U.S. Department of Education a complaint concerning alleged failures by the school to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The contact information for such a complaint is:

Family Policy Compliance Office U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20202

5. The right to obtain a copy of the school’s policy and written procedures or protocols related to student records.