Protecting Your Child's Privacy Rights This School Year
Going thru all those forms in your student's take-home packet? Consider the following:
- the FERPA form - you have quite the dilemma. If you do not approve allowing your student's data to go out, you risk your child not being in the yearbook. (I find this all pretty silly but I believe this is done to get that data.)
A better directory opt-out form (and one I would have used.) I think the district could challenge you on this but I think if it's what you submit, well, then you are on record.
Here's what they do in one district in Colorado. I like this one.
Also on FERPA, it was amended (by our friend, Arne Duncan) to allow districts and other educational entities to allow any group/person with a "legitimate education interest" access to student data. Here's something to consider;
In CA, the law requires this disclosure proactively by the Districts to parents each year. (CA Ed Code 49063)Actually via FERPA:
(d) The criteria to be used by the district in defining "school officials and employees" and in determining "legitimate educational interest" as used in Section 49064 and paragraph (1) of subdivision
Schools/districts must provide parents with an annual notification of their FERPA rights, including the following:
"1. A school and/or LEA must:
a. Establish criteria in the annual notification of FERPA rights about who is a “school official” and what constitutes a “legitimate educational interest”;
b. Determine that the disclosure is to a school official who has a legitimate educational interest in the education records; and
c. Use reasonable methods to ensure that school officials obtain access to only those education records in which they have a Seattle Schools Community Forum: Protecting Your Child's Privacy Rights This School Year: