506.1 EDUCATION RECORDS ACCESS

The board recognizes the importance of maintaining education records and preserving their confidentiality as provided by law.  Education records are kept confidential at collection, storage, disclosure and destruction stages.  The board secretary is the custodian of education records.  Education records may be maintained in the central administration office or administrative office of the student's attendance center. 

Definitions

For the purposes of this policy, the defined words have the following meaning:

  • “Education Record” means those records that contain information directly related to a student and which are maintained by an education agency or institution or by a party acting for the agency or institution.
  • “Eligible Student” means a student who has reached eighteen years or attends a postsecondary institution. Parents of an eligible student are provided access to education records only with the written permission of the eligible student unless the eligible student is defined as a dependent by the Internal Revenue Code. In that case, the parents may be provided access without the written permission of the student. 

An education record may contain information on more than one student.  Parents will have the right to access the information relating to their student or to be informed of the information.  Eligible students will also have the right to access the information relating to themselves, or be informed of the information.

Parents, eligible students, and other individuals authorized in accordance with law will have a right to access the student's education records upon request without unnecessary delay and in no instance more than forty-five calendar days after the request is made.  Parents, other than parents of an eligible student, may be denied access to a student's records if the school district has a court order stating such or when the district has been advised under the appropriate laws that the parents may not access the student records.  Parents, an eligible student or an authorized representative of the parents will have the right to access the student's education records prior to an Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting or hearing.

Copies of education records will be provided if failure to do so would effectively prevent the parents or student from exercising the right to access the education records.  Fees for copies of the records are waived if it would prevent the parents or student from accessing the records.  A fee may not be charged to search or retrieve information from education records. 

Upon the request of parents or an eligible student, the school district will provide an explanation and interpretation of the education records and a list of the types and locations of education records collected, maintained or used by the school district.

If the parents or an eligible student believes the information in the education records is inaccurate, misleading or violates the privacy of the student, the parents or an eligible student may request that the school district amend the education records. 

Education records may be disclosed in limited circumstances without parental or eligible student's written permission.  This disclosure is made on the condition that the education record will not be disclosed to a third party without the written permission of the parents or the eligible student.  This disclosure may be:

  • To school officials within the school district and AEA personnel whom the superintendent has determined to have a legitimate educational interest, including, but not limited to, board members, employees, school attorney, auditor, health professionals, and individuals serving on official school committees;
  • To officials of another school district in which the student wishes to enroll, provided the other school district notifies the parents the education records are being sent and the parents have an opportunity to receive a copy of the records and challenge the contents of the records unless the annual notification includes a provision that records will automatically be transferred to new school districts;
  • To the U.S. Comptroller General, the U.S. Attorney General, the U.S. Secretary of Education or state and local educational authorities;
  • In connection with a student’s application for, or receipt of, financial aid;
  • To organizations conducting studies for, or on behalf of, educational agencies or institutions for the purpose of developing, validating, or administering predictive tests, administering student aid programs, and improving instruction, if such studies are conducted in such a manner as will not permit the personal identification of students and their parents by persons other than representatives of such organizations and such information will be destroyed when no longer needed for the purpose for which it was conducted;
  • To accrediting organizations;
  • To parents of a dependent student as defined in the Internal Revenue Code;
  • To comply with a court order or judicially issued subpoena;
  • [Consistent with an interagency agreement between the school district and juvenile justice agencies]
  • In connection with a health or safety emergency;
  • As directory information; or
  • In additional instances as provided by law.

The superintendent will keep a list of the individuals and their positions who are authorized to view a special education student's education records without the permission of the parents or the eligible student.  Individuals not listed are not allowed access without parental or an eligible student's written permission.  This list must be current and available for public inspection and updated as changes occur.

The superintendent will also keep a list of individuals, agencies and organizations which have requested or obtained access to a student's education records, the date access was given and their legitimate educational interest or purpose for which they were authorized to view the records.  The superintendent, however, does not need to keep a list of the parents, authorized educational employees, officers and agencies of the school district who have accessed the student’s education records.  This list for an education record may be accessed by the parents, the eligible student and the custodian of education records. 

Permanent education records, including a student's name, address, phone number, grades, attendance record, classes attended, grade level completed and year completed may be maintained without time limitation.  Permanent education records will be kept in a fire-safe vault or they may be maintained electronically with a secure backup file.

When personally identifiable information, other than permanent education records, is no longer needed to provide educational services to a special education student, the parents or eligible student are notified.  This notice is normally given after a student graduates or otherwise leaves the school district.  If the parents or eligible student request that the personally identifiable information be destroyed, the school district will destroy the records, except for permanent records.  Prior to the destruction of the records, the school district must inform the parents or eligible student the records may be needed by the parents or eligible student for social security benefits or other purposes.  For purposes of policy, “no longer needed to provide educational services” means that a record is no longer relevant to the provision of instruction, support, or related services and it is no longer needed for accountability and audit purposes. At a minimum, a record needed for accountability and audit purposes must be retained for five years after completion of the activity for which funds were used.

[The school district will cooperate with the juvenile justice system in sharing information contained in permanent student records regarding students who have become involved with the juvenile justice system.  The school district will enter into an interagency agreement with the juvenile justice agencies (agencies) involved.

The purpose of the agreement is to allow for the sharing of information prior to a student's adjudication in order to promote and collaborate between the school district and the agencies to improve school safety, reduce alcohol and illegal drug use, reduce truancy, reduce in-school and out-of-school suspensions, and to support alternatives to in-school and out-of-school suspensions and expulsions which provide structured and well supervised educational programs supplemented by coordinated and appropriate services designed to correct behaviors that lead to truancy, suspension, and expulsions and to support students in successfully completing their education.

The school district may share any information with the agencies contained in a student's permanent record, which is directly related to the juvenile justice system's ability to effectively serve the student.  Prior to adjudication information contained in the permanent record may be disclosed by the school district to the parties without parental consent or court order.  Information contained in a student's permanent record may be disclosed by the school district to the agencies after adjudication only with parental consent or a court order.  Information shared pursuant to the agreement is used solely for determining the programs and services appropriate to the needs of the student or student's family or coordinating the delivery of programs and services to the student or student's family. 

Information shared under the agreement is not admissible in any court proceedings, which take place prior to a disposition hearing, unless written consent is obtained from a student's parent, guardian, or legal or actual custodian.

Confidential information shared between the school district and the agencies will remain confidential and will not be shared with any other person, unless otherwise provided by law.  The school district may discontinue information sharing with an agency if the school district determines that the agency has violated the intent or letter of the agreement.

 

Agencies will contact the principal of the attendance center where the student is currently or was enrolled.  The principal will then forward copies of the records within a reasonable time following receipt of the request.

The school district will provide training or instruction to employees about parents' and eligible students' rights under this policy.  Employees will also be informed about the procedures for carrying out this policy. 

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to annually notify parents and eligible students that they have the right to:

  1. Inspect and review the student's education records;
  2. Seek amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes to be inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights;
  3. Consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that the law authorizes disclosure without consent; and
  4. File a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the district to comply with the law.

The notice is given in a parents' or eligible student's native language.  Should the school district collect personal information from students for the purposes of marketing or selling that information, the school district will annually notify parents of such activity.

The notice will include a statement that the parents have a right to file a complaint alleging the school district failed to comply with this policy.  Complaints are forwarded to Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, Washington, DC. 20202-8520.

 

 

 

 

Legal Reference:          20 U.S.C. § 1232g, 1415.

                                    34 C.F.R. Pt. 99, 300, .610 et seq.

                                    Iowa Code §§ 22; 279.9B, 280.24, .25, 622.10.

                                    281 I.A.C. 12.3(4); 41

                                              

Cross Reference:  

102
Equal Educational Opportunity

102-R(1)
Equal Educational Opportunity - Grievance Procedure

102-E(1)
Equal Educational Opportunity - Annual Notice of Nondiscrimination

102-E(2)
Equal Educational Opportunity - Continuous Notice of Nondiscrimination

102-E(3)
Equal Educational Opportunity - Notice of Section 504 Student and Parental Rights

102-E(4)
Equal Educational Opportunity - Discrimination Complaint Form

102-E(5)
Equal Educational Opportunity - Witness Disclosure Form

603.03
Special Education

604.11
Appropriate Use of Online Learning Platforms

605.08
Artificial Intelligence int the Educational Environment

605.08-R(1)
Artificial Intelligence int the Educational Environment - Regulation

708
Care, Maintenance and Disposal of School District Records

712
Technology and Data Security

712-R(1)
Technology and Data Security - Security Requirements of Third-Party Vendors Regulation

804.06
Use of Recording Devices on School Property

804.06-R(1)
Use of Recording Devices on School Property - Use of District Owned Recording Devices Regulation

901
Public Examination of School District Records

      

Approved   July 1999                   

Reviewed   January 2025   

Revised

506.1E1 REQUEST OF NONPARENT FOR EXAMINATION OR COPIES OF EDUCATION RECORDS

The undersigned hereby requests permission to examine the Winfield Mt. Union Community School District's official education records of:

 

_____________________________________________        ___________________________

                           (Legal name of student)                                                (Date of Birth)

 

 

The undersigned requests copies of the following official education records of the above student:

 

The undersigned certifies that they are (circle one):

            a. An official of another school system in which the student intends to enroll. 

            b. An authorized representative of the Comptroller General of the United States.

            c. An authorized representative of the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education or             U.S. Attorney General

            d. A state or local official to whom such is specifically allowed to be reported or disclosed.

            e. A person connected with the student's application for, or receipt of, financial aid (SPECIFY DETAILS ABOVE).

            f.  Otherwise authorized by law.  (SPECIFY DETAILS ABOVE).

            g. A representative of a juvenile justice agency with which the school district has an interagency agreement. ]

 

The undersigned agrees that the information obtained will only be redisclosed consistent with state or federal law without the written permission of the parents of the student, or the student if the student is of majority age.

 

__________________________________________

                                                                            Signature

__________________________________________

                                                                            Title

__________________________________________

                                                                              Agency

 

 

 

Approved: __________________________________        Date:_________________________

 

Signiture____________________________________          City:________________________

 

Title:_______________________________________          State:_____________ Zip:_______

 

Dated:______________________________________          Phone:_______________________

 

506.1E2 AUTHORIZATION FOR RELEASE OF EDUCATION RECORDS

The undersigned hereby authorizes Winfield Mt. Union School District to release copies of the following official education records:

 

Concerning:

 

__________________________________________            ____________________________

   (Full Legal Name of Student)                                                      (Date of Birth)

 

 

__________________________________________                     from 20_____  to 20______   

             (Name of Last School Attended)                                                 (Years Attended)

 

 

The reason for this request is:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My relationship to the child is:

 

 

 

 

Copies of the records to be released are to be furnished to:

 

            ( ) the undersigned

            ( ) the student

            ( ) other (please specify)

 

____________________________________

Signature

____________________________________

Date:

____________________________________

Address

____________________________________

City

___________________ ________________

                     State                         Zip

____________________________________

Phone Number

UPLOAD FORM

506.1E3 REQUEST FOR HEARING ON CORRECTION OF EDUCATION RECORDS

 

To: ___________________________________        __________________________________

                Board Secretary (Custodian)                                                Address

 

I believe certain official education records of my child,___________________________ , (full legal name of student), Winfield Mt. Union School District, are inaccurate, misleading or in violation of privacy rights of my child.

 

The official education records which I believe are inaccurate, misleading or in violation of the privacy or other rights of my child are: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

The reason I believe such records are inaccurate, misleading or in violation of the privacy or other rights of my child is:

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

My relationship to the child is:__________________________

 

I understand that I will be notified in writing of the time and place of the hearing; that I will be notified in writing of the decision; and I have the right to appeal the decision by so notifying the hearing officer in writing within ten days after my receipt of the decision or a right to place a statement in my child's record stating I disagree with the decision and why.

 

 

 

____________________________________

Signature

 

____________________________________

Date

 

____________________________________

Address

 

____________________________________

City

 

___________________ ________________

                     State                         Zip

 

____________________________________

Phone Number

 

UPLOAD FORM

506.1E4 REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION OF EDUCATION RECORDS

To: ___________________________________        __________________________________

                Board Secretary (Custodian)                                                Address

 

 

The undersigned desires to examine the following official education records.

 

 

Of: ___________________________________     ________________________    __________

                (Full Legal Name of Student)                                   (Date of Birth)                  (Grade)

 

 

Name of School: ___________________________________

 

My relationship to the student is:____________________________________

 

Please check one:

           

                        ( ) I Do

                        ( ) I Do Not

 

desire a copy of such records.  I understand that a reasonable charge may be made for the copies.

 

________________________________________

                                                                            Parent’s Signature

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Approved: __________________________________        Date:_________________________

 

Signiture____________________________________          City:________________________

 

Title:_______________________________________          State:_____________ Zip:_______

 

Dated:______________________________________          Phone:_______________________

 

UPLOAD FORM

506.1E5 NOTIFICATION OF TRANSFER OF EDUCATION RECORDS

To:___________________________________                                 Date:__________________

                        Parent/or Guardian

 

Street Address:_________________________________________________________________

 

City:____________________________     State:__________________       Zip:_____________

 

 

Please be notified that copies of the Winfield-Mt. Union Community School District's official education records concerning                                         , (full legal name of student) have been transferred to:

 

District Name:__________________________________________________________     

 

Address:______________________________________________________________

 

 

 

upon the written statement that the student intends to enroll in said school system.

 

If you desire a copy of such records furnished, please check here            and return this form to the undersigned.  A reasonable charge will be made for the copies.

 

If you believe such records transferred are inaccurate, misleading or otherwise in violation of the privacy or other rights of the student, you have the right to a hearing to challenge the contents of such records.

 

 

________________________________________

                                                                                    Name

 

________________________________________

                                                                                                                   Title

UPLOAD FORM

506.1E6 LETTER TO PARENT REGARDING RECEIPT OF A SUBPOENA

Date:_______________________

 

 

 

Dear     (Parent)    :

 

This letter is to notify you that the Winfield-Mt. Union Community School District has received a      (subpoena or court order)     requesting copies of your child's education records.  The specific records requested are                                                     .

 

The school district has until   (date on subpoena or court order)   to deliver the documents to   (requesting party on subpoena or court order).  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at   (phone #)    .

 

Sincerely,

 

 

_________________________________________

 

(Principal or Superintendent)

UPLOAD FORM

506.1E7 JUVENILE JUSTICE AGENCY INFORMATION SHARING AGREEMENT

Statement of Purpose:  The purpose of this Agreement is to allow for the sharing of information among the School District and the Agencies prior to a student's adjudication in order to promote and collaborate to improve school safety, reduce alcohol and illegal drug use, reduce truancy, reduce in-school and out-of-school suspensions, and to support alternatives to in-school and out-of-school suspensions and expulsions which provide structured and well supervised educational programs supplemented by coordinated and appropriate services designed to correct behaviors that lead to truancy, suspension, and expulsions and to support students in successfully completing their education.

 

Identification of Agencies:  This agreement is between the Winfield-Mt. Union Community School District (hereinafter "School District") and   (agencies listed) (hereinafter "Agencies")   .

 

Statutory Authority:  This agreement implements Iowa Code § 280.25 and is consistent with 34 C.F.R. 99.38 (1997).

 

Parameters of Information Exchange:

                  1.   The School District may share any information with the Agencies contained in a student's permanent record which is directly related to the juvenile justice system's ability to effectively serve the student.

                  2.   Prior to adjudication information contained in the permanent record may be disclosed by the school district to the Agencies without parental consent or court order.

                  3.   Information contained in a student's permanent record may be disclosed by the School District to the Agencies after adjudication only with parental consent or a court order.

                  4.   Information shared pursuant to the agreement is used solely for determining the programs and services appropriate to the needs of the student or student's family or coordinating the delivery of programs and services to the student or student's family.

                  5.   Information shared under the agreement is not admissible in any court proceedings which take place prior to a disposition hearing, unless written consent is obtained from a student's parent, guardian, or legal or actual custodian.

                  6.   This agreement only governs a school district's ability to share information and the purposes for which that information can be used.  Other agencies are bound by their own respective confidentiality policies.

 

Records' Transmission:  The individual requesting the information should contact the principal of the building in which the student is currently enrolled or was enrolled.  The principal will forward the records within a reasonable time following receipt of the request.

 

Confidentiality:  Confidential information shared between the Agencies and the school district will remain confidential and will not be shared with any other person, unless otherwise provided by law.  Information shared under the agreement is not admissible in any court proceedings which take place prior to a disposition hearing, unless written consent is obtained from a student's parent.  Agencies or individuals violating the terms of this agreement subject their entity represented and themselves personally to legal action pursuant to federal and state law. 

 

Amendments:  This agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the agencies with respect to information sharing.  Agencies may be added to this agreement at the discretion of the school district.

 

Term:  This agreement is effective from   (September 1  or other date)  .

 

Termination:  The School District may discontinue information sharing with an Agency if the School District determines that the Agency has violated the intent or letter of this Agreement.

 

APPROVED:

 

Approved: __________________________________        Date:_________________________

 

Signiture____________________________________          City:________________________

 

Title:_______________________________________          State:_____________ Zip:_______

 

Dated:______________________________________          Phone:_______________________

 

Approved: __________________________________        Date:_________________________

 

Signiture____________________________________          City:________________________

 

Title:_______________________________________          State:_____________ Zip:_______

 

Dated:______________________________________          Phone:_______________________

 

Approved: __________________________________        Date:_________________________

 

Signiture____________________________________          City:________________________

 

Title:_______________________________________          State:_____________ Zip:_______

 

Dated:______________________________________          Phone:_______________________

UPLOAD FORM

506.1E8 ANNUAL NOTICE

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students over 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 of 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 (or appropriate school official) 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 or in violation of the student's privacy rights under FERPA.

Parents or eligible students who wish to ask school district to amend a record should write the school principal, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it should be changed.

If the 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.

(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 school board.  A school official also may include a volunteer or contractor outside of the school who performs an institutional service of function for which the school would otherwise use its own employees and who is under the direct control of the school with respect to the use and maintenance of PII from education records, such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist, a or a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee or student assistance team, 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.

 (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 Office, U.S. Department of Education,

400 Maryland Ave., SW, Washington, DC, 20202-4605.

506.1R1 USE OF EDUCATION RECORDS REGULATION

Parents and eligible students will have a right to access a student's education records upon request without unnecessary delay and in no instance more than forty-five calendar days after the request is made. The intent of this regulation is to establish procedures for granting requests from eligible students and parents to access a student’s education records. 

Education records mean those records that contain information directly related to a student and which are maintained by an education agency or institution or by a party acting for the agency or institution. These may include, but are not necessarily limited to: dates of attendance; academic work completed; level of achievement (grades, standardized test scores); attendance data; scores on standardized intelligence, aptitude, and psychological tests; interest inventory results; health data; family background information; teacher or counselor ratings and observations; and verified reports of serious or recurrent behavior patterns.

A.Access to Records

  1. Parents, eligible students, and other individuals authorized in accordance with law will have access to the student's education records during the regular business hours of the school district. Parents and eligible students will have a right to access the student's education records upon request without unnecessary delay and in no instance more than forty-five calendar days after the request is made. An eligible student or parent, upon written request to the board secretary, shall receive an explanation and interpretation of the education records. A student, eighteen years or older, has the right to determine who, outside the school system, has access to the records.  Parents of students who are 18 years or older but still dependents for income tax purposes may access the student's records without prior permission of the student.
  2. School officials having access to student records are defined as having a legitimate educational interest. A school official is a person employed by the school 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 school board; a person or company with whom the school district has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, AEA employee, medical consultant, or therapist); or a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as disciplinary or grievance committee or student assistance team, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. 

B.   Release of Information Outside the School – Information from education records may be disclosed to outside parties as outlined in board policy and otherwise provided by law.

C.  Procedures for Requesting a Record Amendment

  1. If the eligible student, parent, or legal guardian believe the information in the education records is inaccurate, misleading, or violates the privacy of the student, the parents or an eligible student may request that the school district amend the education student records. 
  2. The school district will decide whether to amend the education student records within a reasonable time after receipt of the request.
  3. If the school district determines an amendment is made to the education student record, the school district will make the amendment and inform the parents or the eligible student of the decision in writing.
  4. If the school district determines that amendment of the student's education record is not appropriate, it will inform the parents or the eligible student of their right to a hearing before the hearing officer provided by the school district. The hearing officer may be an employee of the school district, so long as the employee does not have a direct interest in the outcome of the hearing.
  5. Upon parental request, the school district will hold a hearing regarding the content of a student’s education records which the parent believes to be inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of the privacy rights of students.
  6. The hearing will be held within a reasonable time after receipt of the parent or eligible student’s request. The parent or eligible student will receive reasonable advance notice of date, time and place of the hearing.
  7. The parents or eligible student will be given a full and fair opportunity to present evidence relevant to the issues. The parent or eligible student may be represented by an individual at their choice at their own expense.
  8. The hearing officer will render a written decision within a reasonable period after the hearing.  The decision will be based upon evidence presented at the hearing and must include a summary of the evidence and the reasons for the decision.
  9. The parents may appeal the hearing officer’s decision to the superintendent within five days if the superintendent does not have a direct interest in the outcome of the hearing.
  10. The parents may appeal the superintendent’s decision or the hearing officer’s decision if the superintendent was unable to hear the appeal, to the board within five days.  It is within the discretion of the board to hear the appeal.
  11. If the parents' and the eligible student's request to amend the education student record is further denied following the hearing, the parents or the eligible student are informed that they have a right to place an explanatory letter in the education student record commenting on the school district's decision or setting forth the reasoning for disagreeing with the school district. Additions to the student's education records will become a part of the education student record and be maintained like other education student records. If the school district discloses the education student records, the explanation by the parents will also be disclosed or the eligible student of the decision in writing