STUDENT RECORDS
The School District maintains many student records including both directory information and confidential information.
Neither the Board nor its employee's shall permit the release of the social security number of a student, or other individual except as authorized by law (see AG 8350).
Directory information can be provided upon request to any individual, other than a for‑profit organization, even without the written consent of a parent. Parents may refuse to allow the Board to disclose any or all of such “directory information” upon written notification to the Board. For further information about the items included within the category of directory information and instructions on how to prohibit its release you may wish to consult the Board’s annual Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) notice which can be found on the District’s website by clicking on the “Parents” tab then “Student Directory Policy.”
Other than directory information, access to all other student records is protected by (FERPA) and Michigan law. Except in limited circumstances as specifically defined in State and Federal law, the School District is prohibited from releasing confidential education records to any outside individual or organization without the prior written consent of the parents, or the adult student, as well as those individuals who have matriculated and entered a postsecondary educational institution at any age.
Confidential records include test scores, psychological reports, behavioral data, disciplinary records, and communications with family and outside service providers.
Students and parents have the right to review and receive copies of all educational records. Costs for copies of records may be charged to the parent. To review student records please provide a written notice identifying requested student records to the building principal. You will be given an appointment with the appropriate person to answer any questions and to review the requested student records.
Parents and adult students have the right to amend a student record when they believe that any of the information contained in the record is inaccurate, misleading or violates the student’s privacy. A parent or adult student must request the amendment of a student record in writing and if the request is denied, the parent or adult student will be informed of their right to a hearing on the matter. Individuals have a right to file a complaint with the United States Department of Education if they believe that the District has violated FERPA.
Consistent with the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), no student shall be required, as a part of the school program or the District’s curriculum, without prior written consent of the student (if an adult, or an emancipated minor) or, if an unemancipated minor, his/her parents, to submit to or participate in any survey, analysis, or evaluation that reveals information concerning:
A. political affiliations or beliefs of the student or his/her parents;
B. mental or psychological problems of the student or his/her family;
C. sex behavior or attitudes;
D. illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating or demeaning behavior;
E. critical appraisals of other individuals with whom respondents have close family relationships;
F. legally recognized privileged and analogous relationships, such as those of lawyers, physicians, and ministers;
G. religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or his/her parents; or
H. income (other than that required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under such a program).
Consistent with the PPRA and Board policy, the Superintendent shall ensure that procedures are established whereby parents may inspect any materials used in conjunction with any such survey, analysis, or evaluation.
Further, parents have the right to inspect, upon request, a survey created by a third party before the survey is administered or distributed by the school to the student. The parent will have access to the survey within a reasonable period of time after the request is received by the building principal.
The Superintendent will provide notice directly to parents of students enrolled in the District of the substantive content of this policy at least annually at the beginning of the school year, and within a reasonable period of time after any substantive change in this policy. In addition, the Superintendent is directed to notify parents of students in the District, at least annually at the beginning of the school year, of the specific or approximate dates during the school year when the following activities are scheduled or expected to be scheduled:
A. activities involving the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information collected from students for the purpose of marketing or for selling that information for otherwise providing that information to others for that purpose); and
B. the administration of any survey by a third party that contains one or more of the items described in A through H above.
The Family Policy Compliance Office in the U.S. Department of Education administers both FERPA and PPRA. Parents and/or eligible students who believe their rights have been violated may file a complaint with:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW 20202-4605
Washington, D.C.
www.ed.gov/offices/OM/fpco
Informal inquiries may be sent to the Family Policy Compliance Office via the following email addresses:
[email protected]; and
[email protected].