• FERPA & Designated Directory Information



    FERPA

    The North Tonawanda City School District's procedures for the confidentiality of student records are consistent with federal statutes, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The parents, those acting in a parental relationship, or eligible students of the North Tonawanda City School District are hereby notified that you have the following rights in relation to student records under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and Board of Education Policy #7240:

    1. The right to inspect and review student’s education records, unless otherwise limited by court order or other legally binding instrument, within 45 days of receipt of request.

    2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate.

        Parents or eligible students may request such amendment by writing to the School Principal (or appropriate school official), clearly identify 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 the right to a hearing regarding the requested amendment. Additional information regarding hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of this right.

    3. 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 District as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the School Board; a person or company with whom the School has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant or therapist); or a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or 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.

    4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the School 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,

       400 Maryland Ave., SW,

       Washington, DC 20202-4605.

    5. If either a student’s parent, those acting in a parental relationship, or the eligible student desire to obtain copies of the policy pertaining to student records, notification should be presented to the Director of Student Services, 176 Walck Road, North Tonawanda, NY 14120.

     

    Note – All rights and protections given parents under the FERPA and this policy transfer to the student when he or she reaches age 18 and petitions for self-determination, or attends a post-secondary school, or has been designated an “emancipated minor”.  The student then becomes an “eligible student.”
     
     
    Designated Directory Information
    The school district designates the following personally identifiable information contained in a student’s education record as “directory information” and shall release the information without prior written consent unless it is for commercial purposes.
    1. Student’s name
    2. Name(s) of the student’s parent(s) or legal guardians
    3. Student’s grade designation (i.e. first grade, tenth grade, etc.)
    4. Student’s extracurricular school activities and offices (e.g. member of the Math Club; Secretary of Student Council)
    5. Student’s school achievement, awards and honors (e.g. member of National Honor Society; selected for MVP award in Soccer)
    6. Relevant statistics and personal data if a member of an athletic team or other school sponsored course, organization or activity
    7. Present and previous school(s) attended by the student

    Any other information will require parental consent through an “opt-out” process to release to any agency including military recruiters, institutions of higher education, and potential employers. You must advise the school district in writing of any and all items which you refuse to permit the District to designate as directory information about the student.