The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students over 18 years of age (“eligible students”) certain rights with respect to their student’s education records. These rights are:
- The right to inspect and review the student’s education record within 45 days of the day the District receives a request to access. Parents or eligible students should submit to the administrator a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The school official will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.
- The right to request the amendment of the student’s educational records that the parent or eligible students believe are inaccurate. Parents or eligible students may ask the district to amend a record they believe is inaccurate. They should write the Superintendent, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate. If the District decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the school will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and advise them of their right to a hearing regarding the amendment requested. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of a right to a hearing.
- 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 educational 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 personnel); a person serving on the Board of Education; a person or company with whom the school has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist); a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as a school official, in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an educational record to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. Upon request, the District discloses educational records without consent to an official of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
- The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the school district to comply with the requirements of FERPA. Complaints may be filed at:
Family Office Complaince Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20201-4605