Student Records and Information

Family Education Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA)

Student records are collected and confidentially maintained at the student’s school of attendance to promote the instruction, guidance, and education of the student.  The RSU 64 Board of Directors’ policy, which outlines the manner in which student records are maintained and supervised, can be obtained at any of the RSU 64 school offices or at the Office of the Superintendent of Schools.

Parents of students and eligible students have the following rights with respect to their records:

  • Inspect and review all of their records for accuracy.

  • Seek correction of an educational record through amendment.

  • Provide written consent before the release of any personally identifiable information is made to an unauthorized party.

  • Appeal any records decision by requesting a hearing.

  • File a complaint for failure to comply with policy provisions or with rights guaranteed under FERPA (20 USC, Sec., 1232g).

A full notification of rights under FERPA (enacted November 21, 1996) will be sent home with your child in early September.

Parents May Opt Out of Participation in Surveys and Release of Student Information

Military & College Recruiting Under The No Child Left Behind Law:  All school systems that receive Federal funds must now provide, upon request by military recruiters or institutions of higher education, access to secondary school student names, addresses and telephone listings, unless the parents have told the school not to release the student information except with specific parental consent.  Parents of high school students should complete a form that will allow the school not to release said information if that is their wish.  High school students will bring forms home during the first week of school.

Privacy Rights Expanded:  The No Child Left Behind Act also amends the Hatch amendment to include “religious beliefs” as a topic forbidden in survey questions without parental consent.  Prohibited survey questions:

  1. Political affiliations or beliefs of students or parents;

  2. Mental or psychological problems of student or family;

  3. Sex behavior or attitudes;

  4. Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating or demeaning behavior;

  5. Critical appraisals of any close family relation;

  6. Legally recognized privileged relationships (doctor, lawyer, minister, physician….);

  7. Religious practice, beliefs of self or family; and

  8. Income (other than required by law to determine eligibility for a specific program; i.e., National School Lunch Program).

The law also requires that schools develop and adopt policies.