The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and Pennsylvania law afford parents/guardians and students eighteen (18) years of age and over (eligible students) certain rights with respect to the student’s educational records, as follows:

1. The right to inspect and review the student’s educational records within thirty (30 days of the district’s receipt of a request for access:

A parent or eligible student making such a request must submit to the school principal (or appropriate school official) a written request that identifies the record(s) s/he wishes to inspect. The principal will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the record may be inspected.

1. The right to request amendment of the student’s educational records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise violates the privacy rights of the student.

A parent or eligible student may request the district to amend a record s/he believes is inaccurate, misleading or violates the privacy rights of the student by clearly identifying in writing the part of the records s/he wants changed and specifying why it is inaccurate, misleading or violates the privacy rights of the student. The request shall be made to the building principal (or appropriate school official).

If the district decides not to amend the record as requested, the principal will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and advise him/her of the right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedure will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.

1. The right to consent to disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA and State law authorize disclosure without consent.

Anyone if required by a court order or subpoena. However, where the subpoena is issued by a federal grand jury, the district will make reasonable efforts to notify the parent or eligible student prior to complying with the subpoena or court order.

The school district may disclose group scholastic achievement data from which the individual cannot be identified without consent of the parent or eligible student.

1. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the district to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:

Family Policy Compliance Office

U.S. Department of Education

600 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington DC 20202-4605

1. The right to refuse to permit the designation of any or all the categories of directory information.

The district is permitted by law to disclose directory information without written consent of the parent or eligible student. The parent or eligible student has the right to refuse to permit the designation of any of the categories of directory information if a written refusal is forwarded to the building principal by September 30th.

Directory information which may be released may include the student’s name, date, and place of birth; major field of study; participation in officially recognized activities and sports; weight and height of members of athletic teams; dates of attendance; degrees and wards received; the most recent and previous education agency or institution attended by the student; email address; photograph and other similar information.

1. The right to request that information not be provided to military recruiting officers.

Names, addresses, and home telephone numbers of secondary school students will be released to military recruiting officers unless a student submits, within twenty-one (21) calendar days, written requests to the Superintendent that such information not be released.