FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT (FERPA)
And RELEASE OF RECORDS TO OTHERS (Policy 4700)
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a Federal law that governs the maintenance and release of student records. Under this law, parents of students or students (if they are at least 18 years of age) have both the right to inspect records kept by the school about the student and the right to correct the inaccuracies in the records.
Federal law requires that Dare County Schools, with certain exceptions, obtain written consent prior to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from any student’s education records. Student records will be released promptly when a student transfers to another school and in other circumstances specifically required or permitted by law. Federal laws require local education agencies that receive assistance under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to provide military recruiters or institutions of higher education, upon request, with three directory information categories – names, addresses and telephone listings – unless parents have advised the school system that they do not want their secondary student’s information disclosed without their prior written consent. In addition, Dare County Schools may make public appropriately designated “directory information” without written consent, unless a parent, guardian or student (age 18 or older) notifies school officials in writing of objection to the disclosure.
If you do not want Dare County Schools to disclose directory information from your child’s education records without your prior written consent, you must notify school officials in writing. In School Board Policy 4700, Dare County Schools has designated the following information as directory information:
- Student’s name
- Address
- Telephone listing
- Electronic Mail Address
- Date and place of birth
- Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
- Weight and height of members of athletic teams
- Dates of attendance
- Grade Level
- Diplomas, certifications and awards received
- Most recent previous school or educational institution attended by the student
- Pictures or videos taken on buses, school grounds, in school buildings and at school activities unless the picture or video may reveal confidential or embarrassing information about a student
- Eligibility for driver’s license or permit under North Carolina General Statutes 20-11(n) and 20-13.2(cl).
Parents also have the right to withhold consent for their child to participate in certain curricular, counseling and information-gathering activities that are detailed in School Board Policy 4002.
Copies of all policies may be found in the office of the Superintendent, on the school system’s web site, and in the Principal’s office of each school within the Dare County School system.
Complaints about failures of the Dare County Schools to comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act may be made, in writing, to FERPA Office, Federal Building Number 6, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202.