The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) provides access to records, files, documents, and other materials which contain information directly relating to a student. All parents/guardians of students under 18 years of age and students 18 years of age or older or enrolled in a post-secondary school have the following rights under FERPA:

• To inspect and review the student’s education record.
• To exercise a limited control over other people’s access to the student’s education record.
• To seek to correct the student’s education record, in a hearing if necessary.
• To report violations of the FERPA to the Department of Education.
• To obtain copies of the Student’s Records Policy and Procedures at the office of the District Clerk.

FERPA and Access of Military Recruiters to Student Recruiting Information

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a federal law, requires that Rockland Central School District, with certain exceptions, obtain your written consent prior to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from your child’s education records. However, Rockland Central School district may disclose appropriately designated “ directory” information without written consent, unless you have advised the District to the contrary in accordance with District procedures. The primary purpose of directory information is to allow the Rockland Central School District to include this type of information from your child’s education records in certain school publications. Examples include:

• A playbill, showing your 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.

Directory information, which is information that is generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if released, can also be disclosed to outside organizations without a parent’s prior written consent. Outside organizations without a parent’s prior written consent. Outside organizations include, but are not limited to, companies that manufacture class rings or publish yearbooks. In addition, New York State Education Law § 2-a and two federal laws require the School District receiving assistance under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to provide military recruiters, upon request, with student names, addresses and telephone listings – unless parents have advised the school district that they do not want their student’s information disclosed without their prior written consent, New York State Education Law § 2-a also permits disclosure.

If you do not want Rockland Central School District to disclose some or all directory information from your child’s education records without your prior written consent, you must notify the District in writing by October 1. Rockland Central School District has designated the following information as directory information:

• Student’s name
• Address
• E-mail address
• Telephone listing
• Photograph
• Date and place of birth
• Dates of attendance
• Grade level
• Major field of study
• Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
• Weight and height of members of athletic teams
• Degrees, honors, and awards received
• The most recent educational agency or institution attended

Protection of Pupil Rights

The Board of Education recognizes that student surveys are a valuable tool in determining student’s needs for educational services. Parents have the right to inspect all instructional materials that will be used for a survey analysis or evaluation as part of a U.S. Department of Education – funded program. In addition, no minor student may, without parental consent, take part in a survey analysis or evaluation funded in whole or in part by the United States Department of Education that reveals information concerning:

1. Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or the student’s parents;
2. Mental or psychological problems of the student or the student’s family;
3. Sex behavior or attitudes;
4. Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating or demeaning behavior;
5. Critical appraisals of other individuals with whom respondents have close family relationships;
6. Legally recognized privileged or analogous relationships, such as those of lawyers, physicians and ministers;
7. Religious practices, affiliations or belief of the student or the student’s parents;
8. Income (other than that required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under such program).

Parents have the right to inspect upon their request any instructional material which is used as part of the educational curriculum. Instructional material is defined by the Board of Education as instructional content that is provided to a student regardless of format including printed or representational materials, audiovisual materials, materials in electronic or digital formats (such as materials accessible through the internet). It does not include tests or academic assessments.

A parent who wishes to inspect and review instructional material shall submit a request in writing to the building principal. Upon receipt of such request, arrangements will be made by the building principal to provide the parent access to instructional materials requested within 30 calendar days after the request has been received by the principal.

It is the policy of the Board of Education not to permit the collection, disclosure or use of personal information collected from students for the purpose of marketing or selling that information or providing it to others for that purpose. This does not apply to collection, disclosure or use of personal information collected from students for the exclusive purpose of developing, evaluating or providing educational products or services.

Parents shall also have the option upon provision of written notice to the district to opt the student out of any non-emergency, invasive physical examination or screening of their student which is required as a condition of attendance administered by the school or school personnel. The term invasive physical examination means any medical examination that involves exposure of private body parts or any act during such examination that includes incision, insertion or injecting into the body, but does not include a hearing, vision or scoliosis screening. Further, it does not include any examination necessary to protect the immediate health or safety of the student or other students.
Parents and eligible students shall be notified of the policy at least annually at the beginning of the school year and when enrolling students for the first time in school.