The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) provides certain rights to parents and eligible students (18 years of age or older) with respect to the student’s education records.

Inspection of records

Parents/eligible students may inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of making a request. Such requests must be submitted to the superintendent or building administrator in writing and must identify the records to be inspected. The superintendent or building administrator will notify the parent/eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. Parents/eligible students may obtain copies of education records at a minimal cost per page.

Amendment of records

Parents/eligible students may ask the school department to amend education records they believe are inaccurate, misleading or in violation of the student’s right to privacy. Such requests must be submitted to the superintendent or building administrator in writing, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the superintendent or building administrator decides not to amend the record as requested, the parent/eligible student will be notified of the decision, their right to request a hearing, and information about the hearing procedure.

Disclosure of records

The school department must obtain a parent/eligible student’s written consent prior to disclosure of personally identifiable information in education records except in circumstances as permitted by law.

1. Directory Information: The school department designates the following student information as directory information that may be made public at its discretion: name, participation and grade level of students in officially recognized activities and sports, height and weight of student athletes, dates of attendance in the school unit, and honors and awards received. Parents/eligible students who do not want the school department to disclose directory information must notify the superintendent in writing by September 15 or within 30 days of enrollment, whichever is later.

2. Military Recruiters/Institutions of Higher Education: Military recruiters and institutions of higher education are entitled to receive the names, addresses and telephone numbers of secondary students and the school department must comply with any such request, provided that parents have been notified of their right to request that this information not be released without their prior written consent. Parents/eligible students who do not want the school department to disclose this information must notify the superintendent in writing by September 15 or within 30 days of enrollment, whichever is later.

3. School Officials with Legitimate Educational Interests: Education records may be disclosed to school officials with a “legitimate educational interest.” A school official has a legitimate educational interest if he/she needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his/her professional responsibility. School officials include persons employed by the school department as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); members of the Board of Education; persons or companies with whom the school department has contracted to provide specific services (such as attorneys, auditors, medical consultants, evaluators, or therapists); and parents, students and volunteers serving on an official committee such as a disciplinary or grievance committee) or assisting a school official in performing his/her professional responsibilities.

4. Other School Units: As required by Maine law, Rocky Channels Schools System (AOS 98) sends student education records to a school unit to which a student applies for transfer, including disciplinary records, attendance records, special education records and health records (except for confidential health records for which consent for dissemination has not been obtained).

5. Other Entities/Individuals: Education records may be disclosed to other entities and individuals as specifically permitted by law. Parents/eligible students may obtain information about other exceptions to the written consent requirement by request to the superintendent or building administrator.

6. Complaints Regarding School Department Compliance with FERPA: Parents/eligible students who believe that the school department has not complied with the requirements of FERPA have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education. The office that administers FERPA is: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20202.