Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

State and Federal law gives parents [and students over eighteen (18) years of age] certain rights concerning student school records.

Annual Notice About Your Rights Concerning Student Records: Parent(s)/ guardian(s) have the right to inspect and review all records and data related to their child who is under 18 years of age or over 18 years of age if claimed as a dependent under IRS rules. This includes print, computer media, microfilm, and microfiche records. This may be done by contacting the school administration for an appointment. All requests will be granted within a reasonable period of time, not to exceed 30 days. Students 18 years of age and older have the right to inspect and review their records by following the same procedure outlined above. Parent(s)/guardian(s) have an opportunity to challenge the content of their child’s record, to ensure that it is not inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of privacy. Parent(s)/guardian(s) of students over eighteen (18) years of age claimed as a dependent under IRS rules and students over eighteen (18) years of age not claimed as a dependent are provided the opportunity to correct or delete inaccurate, misleading, or inappropriate data by first requesting a meeting with the school administration or department responsible for developing that information. If the school administration or department responsible for developing the information agrees that it needs to be corrected, then it is done, and only a notation that the record has been corrected or deleted is placed in the file. If an agreement is not reached at this level, then the parent(s)/guardian(s) or student over the age of 18 years if not claimed as a dependent, has the right to request a formal hearing under School Board Policy. You have the right to let other people see your school records; however, the law allows some people to see your records without your consent. Exemptions to consent for disclosure:

  1. School Board members, as part of an expulsion proceeding.
  2. School district employee or adult volunteer may see records if he or she needs information in the record in order to do his or her job as an employee or volunteer
  3. Another educational institution even after a student has already enrolled or transferred if the purpose is related to the student’s enrollment or transfer.
  4. Schools or institutions of post‐secondary education to which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
  5. Federal, state, and local authorities involved in an audit or evaluation of compliance with educational program requirements
  6. Financial aid institution, such as college loan personnel.
  7. Accrediting organizations.
  8. Persons who comply with lawfully issued order or subpoenas.
  9. Persons who deal with health or safety emergencies.
  10. State or local officials in connection with serving the student’s under juvenile justice systems in the accordance with an interagency agreement or cooperative agreement as mandate by section 1003.52 Florida Statute.

Some of the information in your child’s school record is not confidential and may be released without your consent. This information is defined as “Directory Information”. The primary purpose of directory information is to allow the District to include this type of information from your child’s educational records in certain school publications.

Examples include: Yearbook, honor roll, graduation reports, sport publications, etc. The following records/reports are designated as Directory Information.

  1. Student’s name
  2. Date of Birth
  3. Dates of attendance
  4. Address
  5. Telephone number, if not unlisted or restricted per state statute
  6. Major field of study
  7. Degrees, honors, and awards received
  8. Most recent previous educational institution
  9. Height & weight of members of athletic teams
  10. Participation in recognized sports/activities

If you do not want directory information released, you must notify the school administration in writing specifying what types of directory information you do not want released. The written notice to the school administration must be received within two (2) weeks of the first day of the school year or entry into the school system, if you enroll after the school year has begun.

Military recruiters and institutions of higher education are entitled, under federal law, to a list of names, addresses, and telephone numbers of high school students, unless you object to such release. The Superintendent also authorizes release of this information to companies that manufacture class rings and publish yearbooks. You must notify your child’s school administration in writing, if you do not wish this information released without your consent. Both parents have a right to see their child’s record unless there is a certified copy of an order on file at the school that specifically denies the right of access to school records. Copies of school records are available for a minimum copying charge.

You have the right to inspect, upon request, any instructional material used as part of the educational curriculum. This does not include academic tests/ assessments.

You have the right to opt out of any physical examination or screening that is invasive in nature – any medical examination that involve exposure of private body parts, or any acts during examination that include incision, insertion, or injection into the body, but do not include a hearing, vision, scoliosis screening, or head lice exams.

“Note: The School District may permit School Resource Officer (SRO) to view live feed of School District risk-management surveillance videos (bus or schools) or playback of such videos. A subpoena
is required if the officer requests a copy of the video.”