(PUBLISHED IN THE MCALESTER NE...

(Published in the McAlester News-Capital on October 2nd, 2016.) McAlester Public Schools Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) afford parents and students eighteen (18) years of age (“eligible students”) certain rights with respect to the student’s education records. They are: 1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days from the day the District receives a request for access. Parents or eligible students should submit to the school principal (or appropriate school official) 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. 2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes are 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 and misleading. 3. 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 which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure 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 (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the Board of Education, a person or company with whom the District has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist); or a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. Upon request, the District discloses education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll. According to the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, and the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002, requests for secondary students’ names, addresses, and telephone numbers will be provided to military recruiters unless a parent or eligible students opts out of providing such information. Enrollment packets include written documentation of the choice made by parents or eligible students regarding release of personally identifiable information. Directory Information In compliance with 10 U.S.C. Section 503 as amended by The National Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 107-107), McAlester Public Schools will maintain and release “directory information” without the parent’s or guardian’s prior written consent, unless the parent or guardian informs the district that any or all of the following information should not be released without prior consent. “Directory information” is defined as: a. Student’s name b. Student’s address, email address, and telephone listing c. The names of the student’s parents d. The student’s plac4e and date of birth e. The student’s class designation (i.e., first grade, tenth grade, etc.) f. The student’s extracurricular participation g. The student’s achievement awards or honors h. The student’s weight and height if a member of an athletic team i. The student’s photograph j. The school or school district the student attended before he or she enrolled in the McAlester School District k. The dates of student attendance in the McAlester School District 4. 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 name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is: Family Policy Compliance Officer, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20202-4065. The District will effectively notify parents who have a primary or home language other than English of the rights stated above.