Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

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 request that Technology Leadership High School correct
        records that they believe to be inaccurate or misleading. If the Technology Leadership High 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 Technology Leadership High 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.
    • • Parents or eligible students have the right to inspect and review the student’s education records
        maintained by the school. Technology Leadership High School is 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. Technology Leadership High School may charge a fee for copies.
    • • Technology Leadership High School 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
        Technology Leadership High School 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.

Technology Leadership High School 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, Technology Leadership High School must tell parents and eligible students about directory information and allow parents and eligible students a reasonable amount of time to request that the Technology Leadership High School not disclose directory information about them.

Technology Leadership High School must notify parents and eligible students annually of their rights under FERPA. The actual means of notification (special letter, inclusion in the registration packet, student handbook, or website) is left to the discretion of Technology Leadership High School. All student files will be stored in a locked cabinet with a written log of viewers.