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Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

Educational Records
 
 This Act affords parents and students over 18 years of age (eligible students) certain rights with respect to the student’s education records. They are:

· The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within ten (10) days of the day the District receives a request for access. Please contact the principal at your child’s school to review education records.

· The right to request the amendment of student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate or misleading. If the District decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the District will notify the parent 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 or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.

· The right to consent to disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorized disclosure without consent. One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. 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 personnel); a person serving on the School Board; a person or company with whom the District has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant or therapist); or a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. 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. Upon request, the District may disclose education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.

· The right to file a complaint with the US 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 is: Family Policy Compliance Office, US Dept of Education 400 Maryland Ave SW, Washington, DC 20202-4605.

 
 
Releasing Student "Directory Information"
 
The Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act defines certain information about your children as "directory information." This information may be released unless it is requested in writing to the school district that such information not be released. Directory information is:
  • Student's name, address, and telephone number
  • Parent/Guardian email address
  • Photograph Date and place of birth
  • Major field of study
  • Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
  • Weight and height of members of athletic teams
  • Dates of attendance and grade level
  • Degrees and awards received
  • Most previous educational agency or institution attended by the student
This type of information is used in school publications such as newsletters, school programs (music, drama, graduation, etc.), sports information sheets, honor roll and/or other recognition lists. During the school year, district personnel will be photographing students for publications, school newsletters, and websites. Requests for directory information also come from the local media.
 
In addition, many school events, activities and concerts will be videotaped for presentation on Tumwater's local cable channel, Channel 26. Parents who do not want their children included should make that request in writing to their school office each year.

Two federal laws require local educational agencies under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to provide military recruiters, upon request, with directory information categories: name, email address, address and telephone listing, unless parents have advised the district, in writing, not to release such information. In the fall, all parents of juniors and seniors will receive an informative letter with an "opt out" form to sign and return by October 1st. The "opt out" form is linked on the left-hand side of this page "Directory Info Opt Out Form".

The Tumwater School District will not release any directory information for commercial purposes or for other purposes not related to the conduct of school business.