Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

FERPA

Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, a school must annually notify parents of students in attendance of their rights under FERPA. The annual notification must include information regarding a parent's right to inspect and review his or her child's education records, the right to seek to amend the records, the right to consent to disclosure of personally identifiable information from the records (except in certain circumstances), and the right to file a complaint with the Office regarding an alleged failure by a school to comply with FERPA. The school must also inform parents of its definitions of the terms "school official" and "legitimate educational interest."

FERPA does not require a school to notify parents individually of their rights under FERPA. Rather, the school may provide the annual notification by any means likely to inform parents of their rights. Thus, the annual notification may be published by various means, including any of the following: in a student handbook; in a notice to parents; in a calendar of events; on the school's website (though this should not be the exclusive means of notification); in the local newspaper; or posted in a central location at the school or various locations throughout the school. Additionally, some schools include their directory information notice as part of the annual notice of rights under FERPA.

For more information please visit the district’s website at www.harrison.k12.ms.us under the “For Parents” tab or read the United States Department of Education's FERPA Guidelines for Parents.