Notification of Rights under FERPA
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students over 18 years of age (“eligible students”) certain rights with respect to the student’s education records. These rights are:
(1) Parents and eligible students have the right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days after the Mon Valley CTC receives a request for access. Parents or eligible students should submit to the Director a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The school will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.
It is presumed by the school that both natural parent/guardian(s) of a student have authority to inspect and review the education records of the student unless there is evidence that there is a legally binding instrument or court order governing such matters as divorce, separation or custody, which provides to the contrary.
(2) Parents and eligible students have the right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that they believe to be inaccurate. Parents or eligible students may ask the school to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate. They should submit the request in writing to the Director, clearly identifying the part of the record they want changed, and specifying why it is inaccurate. 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 advise them 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) Parents and eligible students have 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 school as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the Joint Operating Committee; or 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 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.
Per federal guidance, student medical records, maintained by school nurses, are considered educational records and will be shared with staff who the school determines have a legitimate educational interest in the information and a need to know medical information to protect the safety and health of the student. Once provided to the school, specific parental consent will not be sought to share information on a need-to-know basis.
(4) Parents and eligible students have 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 20202-5901
Notification of Disclosure of Directory Information
FERPA requires that the Mon Valley CTC, with certain exceptions, obtain your written consent prior to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from your child’s education records. However, the school may disclose appropriately designated “directory information” without written consent, unless you have advised the school to the contrary in accordance with applicable procedures. The primary purpose of directory information is to allow the school to include this type of information from your child’s education records in certain school publications. Examples include graduation programs, honor roll or other academic achievements and participation in school events and activities.
Directory information, which is information that is generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if released, can also 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 yearbooks. In addition, two federal laws require local educational agencies receiving assistance under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide military recruiters, upon request, with three directory information categories – names, addresses and telephone listings – unless parents have advised the school that they do not want their student’s information disclosed without their prior written consent.
If you do not want the Mon Valley CTC to disclose directory information from your child’s education records without your prior written consent, you must notify the Director in writing within thirty (30) days of receipt of this notice. The school has designated the following information as directory information:
• Student’s name
• Address
• Telephone listing
• Participation in officially recognized activities and events
• Photograph
• Degrees, honors, and awards received
• Date and place of birth
• Dates of attendance
• Grade level
• Vocational program of enrollment