Policy for Confidential Student Records
The board recognizes the importance of maintaining student records and preserving their confidentiality. Student records containing personally identifiable information are kept confidential at collection, storage, disclosure and destruction stages. The board secretary is the custodian of student records. Student records may be maintained in the central administration office or administrative office of the student's attendance center.
Parents and eligible students will have access to the student's records during the regular business hours of the school district. An eligible student is a student who has reached eighteen years of age or is attending an institution of post-secondary education at the post high school level. Parents of an eligible student are provided access to the student records only with the written permission of the eligible student unless the eligible student is defined as a dependent by the Internal Revenue Code. In that case, the parents may be provided access without the written permission of the student. A representative of the parents or eligible student, who has received written permission from the parents or eligible student may inspect and review a special education student's records. Parents, other than parents of an eligible student, may be denied access to a student's records if the school district has a court order stating such or when the district has been advised under the appropriate laws that the parents may not access the student records. Parents may inspect an instrument used for the purpose of collection of student personal information prior to the instrument's use.
A student record may contain information on more than one student. Parents will have the right to access the information relating to their student or to be informed of the information. Eligible students will also have the right to access the information relating to themselves or be informed of the information.
Parents and eligible students will have a right to access the student's records upon request without unnecessary delay and in no instance more than forty-five calendar days after the request is made. Parents, an eligible student or an authorized representative of the parents will have the right to access the student's records prior to an Individualized Education Program (1EP) meeting or hearing.
Copies of student records will be provided if failure to do so would effectively prevent the parents or student from exercising the right to access the student records. Fees for copies of the records are waived if it would prevent the parents or student from accessing the records. A fee may not be charged to search or retrieve information from student records.
Upon the request of parents or an eligible student, the school district will provide an explanation and interpretation of the student records and a list of the types and locations of education records collected, maintained or used by the school district.
If the parents or an eligible student believes the information in the student records is inaccurate, misleading or violates the privacy or other rights of the student, the parents or an eligible student may request that the school district amend the student records. The school district will decide whether to amend the student records within a reasonable time after receipt of the request. If the school district determines an amendment is made to the student record, the school district will make the amendment and inform the parents or the eligible student of the decision in writing.