The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students over the age of 18 years certain rights with respect to the student's educational records. They are:
- The right to inspect and review the student's educational records within 10 days of the day the school receives a request for access. Parents or eligible students should submit a written request to the director of the school that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The principal will make arrangements for access and notify the parents or eligible students of the time and place where the record may be inspected.
- The rights to request the amendment of the student's records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate or misleading. Parents or eligible students may ask Side by Side to amend a record that they believe to be inaccurate or misleading. They should write the director of the school and clearly identify the part of the record that they want changed and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If Side by Side decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent, it will notify the parent in writing of the decision and advise them of the 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 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 school as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support-staff member (including health or medical staff); a person or company with whom the school has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditory or medical consultant, or therapist; or a parent or student serving on a special committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in his or her tasks). A school official has a legitimate interest if the official needs to review an educational record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. Upon request, Side by side will disclose educational records without 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 school to comply with the regulations of FERPA. The name and address of the administration office of FERPA is:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
600 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-4605