The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act ("FERPA") is a Federal law that affords parents and students over 18 years of age ("eligible students") certain rights with respect to the student's educational records. They are:
The right to inspect and review the student's education records within forty-five days of the day the District received a request for access. Thirty days for special education students.
Parents or eligible students may at any time submit to the school principal a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The principal will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.
The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate or misleading.
Parents or eligible students may ask Albert Gallatin Area School District to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the school principal, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the Albert Gallatin Area School District decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the District will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and advise them of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.
The right to consent to disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
FERPA permits the Albert Gallatin Area School District to make disclosures without consent to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the District as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member; a person serving on the School Board; a person, company, or governmental agency whom the District has asked to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, therapist, bus driver or law enforcement agency).
A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the school official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.
The District may also disclose education records without your consent to officials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the District to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The Office that administers FERPA is:
Family Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
600 Independence Ave. SW
Washington , DC 20202-4605