Annual Notification of FERPA Rights and
 Designation of Directory Information

The Francis Howell School District complies fully with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”). FERPA is a federal law that affords parents and students 18 years of age or older (“eligible students”) certain rights with respect to the student’s educational records. These rights are:

RIGHT TO INSPECT:

Parents or eligible students have the right to inspect and review substantially all the student’s educational records within 45 days of the day the District receives a request for access. Parents or eligible students should submit to the School Principal a written request identifying the records to be inspected.

RIGHT TO PREVENT DISCLOSURES:

Parents or eligible students have the right to prevent disclosure of educational records to third parties with certain limited exceptions. It is the intent of this institution to limit the disclosure of information contained in educational records to those instances when prior written consent has been given to the disclosure. However, upon request the District will disclose information to officials of other schools in which a student seeks or intends to enroll. The District may also disclose information under the provisions of FERPA which allow disclosure without prior written consent, or items of directory information of which you have not refused to permit disclosure.

The District will disclose information to school officials who have a legitimate educational interest in the records. School officials include: persons employed by the District, whether paid or unpaid, as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member, including health or medical staff; persons elected to the School Board; person employed by or under contract to the District to perform a special task, such as an attorney, auditor, etc.; or persons who are employed by the District’s law enforcement unit. School officials have a legitimate educational interest if the officials are: performing a task related to a student’s education; performing a task related to the discipline of a student; providing a service or benefit relating to the student or student’s family, such as health care, counseling, job placement, or financial aid; or maintaining the safety and security of the campus.

The Francis Howell School District has designated certain information contained in the educational records of its students as directory information for purposes of FERPA. The following information regarding students is considered directory information: (1) the student’s name, (2) photograph, (3) grade point average, (4) major field of study, (5) dates of attendance, (6) grade level, (7) enrollment status, (8) participation in officially recognized activities and sports, (9) weight and height of members of athletic teams, (10) degree and awards received, and (11) the most recent previous school attended by the student.

The District may disclose directory information for any purpose in its discretion without the consent of a parent of a student or an eligible student. Parents of students and eligible students have the right, however, to refuse to permit the designation of any or all of the above information as directory information. In that case, the information will not be disclosed except with the consent of a parent or student, or as otherwise allowed by FERPA.

Any parent or student refusing to have any or all of the designated directory information disclosed must file written notification to this effect with the principal of the school which the student attends.

In the event a notification of refusal is not filed, the District assumes that neither a parent of a student or an eligible student objects to the release of the directory information designated.

RIGHT TO REQUEST AMENDMENT:

Parents or eligible students have the right to request that the District correct any parts of an educational record which you believe to be inaccurate, misleading or otherwise in violation of your rights. Parents or eligible students should clearly identify, in writing directed to the school principal, the part of the record sought to be corrected and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the District decides not to amend the record, it will notify the parents or eligible student and provide information on the right to a hearing to present evidence that the record should be changed.

RIGHT TO COMPLAIN TO FERPA OFFICE:

Parents or eligible students have the right to file a complaint with the Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C., 20202-4605, concerning any alleged failure by the District to comply with FERPA.

RIGHT TO OBTAIN POLICY:

Parents or eligible students also have the right to obtain a copy of the written policy adopted by the Board of Education of the District in compliance with FERPA. A copy may be obtained in person or by mail from the Superintendent’s office.

MILITARY RECRUITERS:

A recent change in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act requires a change in the release of information to military recruiters. The changes require us to release names, addresses, and telephone numbers to military recruiters upon request, unless the parents notify the school district in writing that such information may be disclosed only with prior written consent. We are also required to permit military recruiters to have the same access to students as is provided to post-secondary institutions and prospective employers. This serves as notification and if you wish to deny release of information to military recruiters, you must notify your high school.

FHSD Regulation 2400