E 5125bNotification of Rights Under FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students over 18 years of age ("eligible students") certain rights with respect to the student's education records. These rights are:

1. The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day the school receives a request for access.

Parents or eligible students should submit to the school principal or designee a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The school official will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. A copying fee may be charged.

2. The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate, misleading or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA.

Parents or eligible students who wish to ask the school to amend a record should write the school principal or designee, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it should be changed. If the school decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the school 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.

3. The right to provide written consent before the school discloses personally identifiable information from the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes 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 school as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel) or a person serving on the school board. A school official also may include a volunteer or contractor outside of the school who performs an institutional service or function for which the school would otherwise use its own employees or who is under the direct control of the school with respect to the use and maintenance of personally identifiable information from education records, such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist; a parent or student volunteering to serve on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee; or a parent, student, or other volunteer 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 or her professional responsibility.

Other exceptions for disclosure without consent are detailed in FERPA and Board Policy and Administrative Regulation 5125.

4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the school or District to comply with the requirements of FERPA. A complaint may be filed with:

Family Policy Compliance Office

U.S. Department of Education

400 Maryland Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20202-8520

In addition, you are entitled to notice of the following disclosures of student records:

1. Upon request, the District discloses education records without consent to officials of another school district or an institution of post-secondary education where the student seeks or intends to enroll, or is already enrolled if the disclosure is for purposes of the student’s enrollment or transfer.

2. By September 15 of each year, the District will provide to the University of Alaska a list of names and addresses of students in the graduating class who meet scholarship eligibility requirements for each scholarship program. Release of a student’s name to the University of Alaska will not be made if the parent or eligible student objects. An objection should be made in writing to the assistant superintendent of instruction on form E 5125.1(b).

3. By July 15 of each year, the District will transmit to the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development information on each graduating student’s eligibility for the Alaska Performance Scholarship Program. This is a required disclosure that occurs without consent and without the opportunity to object.

4. By January 15 and July 15 of each year, the District will provide to the Alaska Military Youth Academy, operated by the Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs, a report containing the name, address, and dates of attendance of prior students ages 15 through 18 who appear no longer enrolled in any educational institution and who have not received a diploma or GED. Release of a student’s information to the Alaska Challenge Youth Academy will not be made if the parent or eligible student objects. An objection should be made in writing to the assistant superintendent of instruction on form E 5125.1(b).