Student Privacy
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that gives parents certain protections with regard to their children’s education records, such as report cards, transcripts, disciplinary records, contact and family information, and class schedules. As a parent, you have the right to review your child’s education records and to request changes under limited circumstances.
http://goo.gl/b8i2cL
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
Each year, Hawaii public schools are required to notify parents of their rights under FERPA. These rights are generally broken into four sections. Here is a brief description of FERPA rights:
- The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the request.
- The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the parent, guardian, or eligible student believe are inaccurate or misleading.
- The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception that permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests.
- The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the school to comply with the requirements of FERPA.
Directory Information FERPA requires that the Department, with certain exceptions, obtain parent, guardian, or eligible student’s consent prior to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from the student’s education records. However, the Department may disclose appropriately designated “Directory Information” without written consent unless the parent, guardian, or eligible student requested the Department to the contrary in writing, (i.e. “Opt Out”). The primary purpose of directory information is to allow the Department to include this type of information from the student’s education records in certain school publications. Examples include, but are not limited to:
- A playbill, showing the student’s role in a drama production;
- The annual yearbook;
- Honor roll or other recognition lists;
- Graduation programs, and
- Sports activity sheets, such as for wrestling, showing weight and height of team members.
Translations are available on the DOE website (goo.gl/b8i2cL) in 14 non-English languages.
For information on FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, go to http://bit.ly/FERPAHI.