FERPA

Data Privacy Protection and Privacy of Pupil Specific Data- Annual Notice

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records, and is covered in School Board Policy 515. The law applies to all schools that receive federal funds.

FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their child’s education records. When a student reaches the age of 18 or attends a post-secondary school or college, the parent’s rights transfer to the student and the student is then an “eligible student” under the law.

Private Data

Under FERPA, parents and eligible students have the following rights:

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

2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records to ensure that they are not inaccurate, misleading or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy or other rights; 

3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that such consent is not required for disclosure pursuant to this policy, state or federal law, or the regulations promulgated thereunder;

4. The right to refuse release of secondary students’ names, addresses, and home telephone numbers to military recruiting officers; 

5. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the school district to comply with the federal law and the regulations promulgated thereunder; 

6. The right to be informed about rights under the federal law; and 

7. The right to obtain a copy of this policy at the location set forth in the COPIES OF POLICY section of policy 515.  

Directory information

Directory information means the student’s name, photograph, video or other visual representation, date and place of birth, dates of attendance, grade level, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, degrees, honors and awards received. Directory information does not include personally identifiable data which references religion, race, color, social position or nationality. Data collected from nonpublic school students, other than those who receive shared time educational services, shall not be designated as directory information unless written consent is given by the student’s parent or guardian. 

Policy 515 - Protection & Privacy of Pupil Records