Notification of Student Records Rights and Directory Information

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.

FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children's education records. These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level. Students to whom the rights have transferred are "eligible students."

•	Parents or eligible students have the right to inspect and review the student's education records maintained by the school. Schools are not required to provide copies of records unless, for reasons such as great distance, it is impossible for parents or eligible students to review the records. Schools may charge a fee for copies.

•	Parents or eligible students have the right to request that a school correct records which they believe to be inaccurate or misleading. If the school decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student then has the right to a formal hearing. After the hearing, if the school still decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student has the right to place a statement with the record setting forth his or her view about the contested information.

•	Generally, schools must have written permission from the parent or eligible student in order to release any information from a student's education record. However, FERPA allows schools to disclose those records, without consent, to the following parties or under the following conditions (34 CFR § 99.31):
•	School officials with legitimate educational interest;
•	Other schools to which a student is transferring;
•	Specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes;
•	Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student;
•	Organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the school;
•	Accrediting organizations;
•	To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena; 
•	Appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies; and
•	State and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system, pursuant to specific State law.

Schools may disclose, without consent, "directory" information such as a student's name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, honors and awards, and dates of attendance. However, schools must tell parents and eligible students about directory information and allow parents and eligible students a reasonable amount of time to request that the school not disclose directory information about them.

Board Policy in the Greenfield R-IV School District states that parents or eligible students will have ten school days to view the student’s “directory” information and to provide in writing to the school district that they choose to not have this information or any portion of the “directory” information released. “Directory” information is considered a “public record” which must be released by the district to any person who requests it under the Missouri Sunshine Law.

Schools must notify parents and eligible students annually of their rights under FERPA. 

For more information:

US Department of Education web site on Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA): http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html
 
Missouri Sunshine Law:http://www.ago.state.mo.us/sunshinelaw/sunshinelaw.htm

FERPA:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-5901
 Phone:  202-260-3887

Missouri Sunshine Law:
Missouri Attorney General's Office
Supreme Court Building
207 W. High St.
P.O. Box 899
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Phone: 573-751-3321
Fax: 573-751-0774