| Do you wonder if your child's right to privacy in their | | | | amazing what you will find in your child's school record. |
| educational records, has been violated? Would you like | | | | If something is written about your child or family that |
| to learn how FERPA can help your child? This article | | | | you disagree with, ask that it be taken out. If the school |
| will discuss the Family Educational Rights and Privacy | | | | district refuses, they can file for a due process hearing, |
| Act (FERPA), which applies to all educational | | | | to prove to the hearing officer that the school's |
| institutions to which receives funds from the | | | | records are accurate. |
| Department of Education. Also discussed are 4 | | | | Benefit 3: Use FERPA to ask for items that you may |
| benefits that your child can get from FERPA. | | | | not think about, as part of your child's school record. |
| Benefit 1: Use FERPA to review your child's school | | | | You have the right to review everything that has your |
| record to see if it is accurate, and if it contains items | | | | child's name on it; permanent record, temporary record, |
| that you have not seen. It is amazing, what you can | | | | e mails, internal memos, testing materials and protocols, |
| find in your child's school record. Also look for items | | | | audio recordings, video recordings, etc. If your child has |
| that may support your case. | | | | difficulty on the bus, ask and see if your child's bus |
| For Example: If your child has behavior difficulties, that | | | | contains a camera. If it does, ask for copies of any |
| special education personnel want to suspend them for, | | | | day that you are concerned about. |
| look for evidence that the behavior has been | | | | Benefit 4: If you feel that your child's confidentiality has |
| happening for a while. School personnel are supposed | | | | been breeched by special education personnel, file for |
| to work to prevent the behavior, rather than | | | | a FERPA complaint. This complaint can be filed with |
| continuously punishing the child for it. | | | | the Family Policy Compliance Office (FPCO) at: U.S. |
| Ask for a copy of any item that you have not seen, or | | | | Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave SW, |
| supports your case. Special education personnel may | | | | Washington DC 20202. |
| charge a reasonable copying fee, though you should | | | | Your child has the right to confidentiality in their |
| ask for the school policy on parents receiving free | | | | educational records. You have the right as their parent |
| records. | | | | to access their school records. Good luck in your fight |
| Benefit 2: Use FERPA to have removed anything in | | | | for an appropriate education for your child with a |
| your child's school record that is inaccurate, misleading | | | | disability, the fight is worth it! |
| or violates your child's right to privacy. Once again, it is | | | | |