FERPA - Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

NOTIFICATION OF RIGHTS

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 by completing a request form (Appendix G of School Board Procedure 515) and submitting it to the principal.
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 by completing a request form (Appendix H of School Board Procedure 515) and submitting it to the principal.
3. The right to provide written consent before the school discloses personally identifiable information 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. Upon request, the school discloses education records without consent to officials of another school, school district, or post-secondary institution 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 ISD 279-Osseo Area Schools 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

Osseo Area Schools, Independent School District No. 279, designates the following personally identifiable information contained in a student’s education record as “directory information,” and will disclose that information to the general public without prior written consent:

1. Student’s and parent’s name(s);
2. Student’s school of attendance;
3. Student’s dates of school enrollment;
4. Student’s grade level (e.g., first grade, tenth grade, etc.);
5. Student’s awards and degrees;
6. Student’s participation in officially recognized activities/sports;
7. Student’s height and weight, if a member of an athletic team;
8. Student’s photograph, including audio or video image of the student participating in school-related activities or events; and
9. Information regarding a student stated/written in district or school publications (e.g. yearbooks, newspapers and webpages) that would not be objectively viewed as harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed.

In addition to the information available to the general public, the following information is listed as limited directory data or limited directory information available to the parent/guardian of a student, an eligible student or persons/entities specifically permitted access under school board policy:

1. The names of other students in the classes, to which the student is assigned;
2. The classroom photographs of classes in the student’s school; and
3. Mailing and email addresses of parents and students in specific circumstances authorized under school board policy.

A parent/guardian of a student or an eligible student may object to the listed directory information being disclosed without the parent/guardian or eligible student’s prior written consent except as provided under federal and state law. In order to make all directory information private, the parent/guardian or eligible student must submit a completed Denial of Release of Directory Information (Appendix C) to the Building Principal or Superintendent of Schools.

This designation will remain in effect for one year or until it is modified by the written direction of the student’s parent/guardian or the eligible student whichever occurs first.

October 2019