• Student Records

    The District protects the confidentiality of personally identifiable information for all students in accordance with state and federal laws and the District’s student records policy.

    The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), in addition to Pennsylvania Department of Education regulations and School Board policy, affords parent(s)/guardian(s) and students over 18 years of age (“eligible students”) certain rights with respect to students’ education records.

    These rights are:

    • The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within forty-five (45) days of the date the District receives a written request for access. Parent(s)/guardian(s) or eligible students should submit to the Building Principal of the school where the student is enrolled or was previously enrolled a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The principal or his/her designee will make arrangements for access and notify the parent(s)/guardian(s) or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. The District shall charge a fee for copies of records not to exceed duplicating costs that are made for parent(s)/guardian(s) so long as the fee does not effectively prevent parent(s)/guardian(s) from exercising their right to inspect and review those records.
    • The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent(s)/guardian(s) or eligible student believes is inaccurate. In order to request such an amendment, the parent(s)/guardian(s) or eligible student should make the request in writing to the Building Principal and clearly identify the record they want changed. The request should also specify the reasons why the record is believed to be inaccurate. If the District decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent(s)/guardian(s) or eligible student, the District will notify the parent(s)/ guardian(s) 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(s)/guardian(s) or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing. 
    • 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 such exception is for a disclosure to school officials who possess a legitimate educational interest in the record. A school official is a person employed by the 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; 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/her professional responsibility. The District will also disclose education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll, upon request of that school district.

    The parent(s)/guardian(s) or eligible student may request that the District disclose educational records to a third party by submitting a written consent form to the District. Consent forms may be obtained from the Building Principal.

    Parent(s)/Guardian(s) and eligible students also have 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 are as follows:
    Family Policy Compliance Office 
    U.S. Department of Education 
    400 Maryland Avenue, SW 
    Washington, DC 20202-5901