Pupil Records, including Challenges and Directory Information
“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 within 5 days after the day the School receives a request for access. Parents or eligible students should submit to the Director or designee a written request that identifies the records 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.
2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA. Parents or eligible students who wish to ask the School to amend a record should write the Director of Operations or designee, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it should be changed. If the School 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 of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.
3. The right to provide written consent before the School discloses personally identifiable information (“PII”) from 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 School as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel) or a person serving on the School board. A School official also may include a volunteer or contractor outside of the School who performs an institutional service of function for which the School would otherwise use its own employees and who is under the direct control of the school with respect to the use and maintenance of PII from education records, such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist; a parent or student volunteering to serve on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee; or a parent, student, or other volunteer assisting another School official in performing his or her tasks. A School official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.Upon request, the School discloses education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll, or is already enrolled if the disclosure is for purposes of the student’s enrollment or transfer.
4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the School to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA are:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20202
FERPA permits the disclosure of PII from student’s education records, without consent of the parent or eligible student, if the disclosure meets certain conditions found in §99.31 of the FERPA regulations. Except for disclosures to School officials, disclosures related to some judicial orders or lawfully issued subpoenas, disclosures of directory information, and disclosures to the parent or eligible student, §99.32 of the FERPA regulations requires the School to record the disclosure. Parents and eligible students have a right to inspect and review the record of disclosures.
A School may disclose PII from the education records of a student without obtaining prior written consent of the parents or the eligible student —
1. To other School officials, including teachers, within the educational agency or institution whom the School has determined to have legitimate educational interests. This includes contractors, consultants, volunteers, or other parties to whom the school has outsourced institutional services or functions, provided that the conditions listed in §99.31(a)(1)(i)(B)(1) - (a)(1)(i)(B)(2) are met. (§99.31(a)(1)).
2. To officials of another school, school system, or institution of postsecondary education where the student seeks or intends to enroll, or where the student is already enrolled if the disclosure is for purposes related to the student’s enrollment or transfer, subject to the requirements of §99.34. (§99.31(a)(2)).
3. To authorize representatives of the U. S. Comptroller General, the U. S. Attorney General, the U.S. Secretary of Education, or State and local educational authorities, such as the State educational agency in the parent or eligible student’s State (SEA). Disclosures under this provision may be made, subject to the requirements of §99.35, in connection with an audit or evaluation of Federal- or State-supported education programs, or for the enforcement of or compliance with Federal legal requirements that relate to those programs. These entities may make further disclosures of PII to outside entities that are designated by them as their authorized representatives to conduct any audit, evaluation, or enforcement or compliance activity on their behalf. (§§99.31(a)(3) and 99.35).
4. In connection with financial aid for which the student has applied or which the student has received, if the information is necessary to determine eligibility for the aid, determine the amount of the aid, determine the conditions of the aid, or enforce the terms and conditions of the aid. (§99.31(a)(4)).
5. To accrediting organizations to carry out their accrediting functions. (§99.31(a)(7)).
6. To parents of an eligible student if the student is a dependent for IRS tax purposes. (§99.31(a)(8)).
7. To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena. (§99.31(a)(9)).
8. To appropriate officials in connection with a health or safety emergency, subject to §99.36. (§99.31(a)(10).
9. Information the School has designated as “directory information” under §99.37. (§99.31(a)(11)).‘Directory Information’ is information that is generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if released. Directory information can be disclosed to outside organizations without a parent’s prior written consent. Outside organizations include, but are not limited to, companies that manufacture class rings or publish year books.
The School has designated the following information as directory information:
1. Student’s name
2. Grade level
3. Weight and height of members of athletic teams
4. Degrees, honors, and awards received
If you do not want the School to disclose directory information from your child’s education records without your prior written consent, you must notify the School in writing at the time of enrollment or re-enrollment. Please notify the Director of Operations at: Alma Fuerte Public School 119 W. Palm St. Altadena, CA 91001
Legal Disclaimers The information contained in the Alma Fuerte Public School Handbook (AFPS) is provided for informational purposes only. Information may be changed or updated without notice. AFPS expressly disclaims all liability with respect to actions taken based on any content in this handbook or in any newsletter articles. AFPS assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in this handbook or other documents which are referenced in this handbook. AFPS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, disability, religion, or sexual orientation.