506.1 Student Records Access
STUDENT PERSONNEL
Series 500
Policy Title: Student Records Access Code No. 506.1
The Board recognizes the importance of maintaining student records and preserving their confidentiality. Student records containing personally identifiable information are kept confidential at collection, storage, disclosure, and destruction stages. The Board Secretary is the custodian of student records. Student records may be maintained in the central administration office or administrative office of the student’s attendance center.
For the purposes of this policy, the defined words have the following meaning:
- “Student Record” means those records that contain information directly related to a student and which are maintained by the school district or by a party acting for the school district.
- “Eligible Student” means a student who has reached eighteen years of age. 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.
Parents and eligible students will have access to the student’s records during the regular business hours of the school district. A representative of the parents or eligible student, who has received written permission from the parents or eligible student, may inspect and review a special education student’s records. 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 may inspect an instrument used for the purpose of collection of student personal information prior to the instrument’s use.
A student 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 and eligible students will have a right to access the student’s records upon request without unnecessary delay and in no instance more than forty-five calendar days after the request is made. Parents, an eligible student or an authorized representative of the parents will have the right to access the student’s records prior to an Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting or hearing.
Copies of student records will be provided if failure to do so would effectively prevent the parents or student from exercising the right to access the student 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 student records.
Upon the request of parents or an eligible student, the school district will provide an explanation and interpretation of the student 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 student records is inaccurate, misleading or violates the privacy or other rights of the student, the parents or an eligible student may request that the school district amend the student records. The school district will decide whether to amend the student records within a reasonable time after receipt of the request. If the school district determines an amendment is made to the student record, the school district will make the amendment and inform the parents or the eligible student of the decision in writing.
If the school district determines that amendment of the student’s 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.
If the parents’ and the eligible student’s request to amend the 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 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 records will become a part of the student record and be maintained like other student records. If the school district discloses the student records, the explanation by the parents will also be disclosed.
Student records may be disclosed in limited circumstances without parental or eligible student’s written permission. This disclosure is made on the condition that the student record will not be disclosed to a third party without the written permission of the parents or the eligible student. This disclosure may be made to the following individuals or under the following circumstances:
- 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 student 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 financial aid for which the student has applied or which the student has received if the information is necessary to receive the financial aid;
- pending board approval, 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;
- in additional instances provided by law.
The superintendent will keep a list of the individual and their positions who are authorized to view a special education student’s records without the permission of the parents or the eligible student. Individuals not listed are not allowed 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 records, the date access was given and their legitimate educational interest or purpose for which they aware 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 records. This list for a student record may be accessed by the parents, the eligible student and the custodian of student records.
Permanent student 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 student 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 student records, no longer needs to be maintained by the school district to provide educational services to a special education student, the parents or eligible student will be 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. Prior to the destruction of the records, the school district will inform the parents or eligible student the records may be needed by the parents or eligible student for social security benefits or other purposes.
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 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.
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. 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. 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 10 business days 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 of their right to inspect and review the student’s records. 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. 20202-4605.
Approved: December 10, 2002
Reviewed: July 14, 2020
Revised: September 11, 2018
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. 1980 Op. Att’y Gen. 720, 825.
Cross Reference: 501 Student Attendance; 505 Student Scholastic Achievement; 506 Student Records; 507 Student Health and Well-Being; 603.3 Special Education; 708 Care, Maintenance and Disposal of School District Records; 901 Public Examination of School District Records
506.1E2 Request of Nonparent for Examination or Copies
See pdf document
506.1E3 Authorization for Release of Student Records
See pdf document
506.1E4 Request for Hearing on Correction of Student Records
See pdf document
506.1E5 Request for Examination of Studen Records
See pdf document
506.1E6 Notification of Transfer of Student Records
See pdf document
506.1E7 Letter to Parent Regarding Receipt of a Subpoena
See pdf document
506.1E8 Juvenile Justice Agency Information Sharing Agreement
See pdf document
506.1R1 Use of Student Records Regulation
STUDENT PERSONNEL
Series 500
Administrative Regulation: Use of Student Records Code No. 506.1R1
Student records are all official records, files, and data directly related to students, including all material incorporated into each student’s cumulative record folder and intended for school use or to be available to parties outside the school or school system specifically including, but 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.
The intent of this regulation is to establish procedures for granting requests from parents for access to their child’s records, use of the data, and procedures for its transmittal within forty-five calendar days.
- Access To Records
- The parent or legal guardian of a student will have access to these records upon written request to the board secretary.
The parent or legal guardian will, upon written request to the board secretary, have the opportunity to receive an interpretation of the records, have the right to question the data, and, if a difference of opinion is noted, is permitted to file a letter in the cumulative folder stating the dissenting person’s position. If further challenge is made to the records, the normal appeal procedures established by school policy will be followed.
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.
- 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.
- Release of Information Outside the School
- To release student records to other school(s) in which the student intends to enroll, the parents, legal guardian, or eligible student must be notified of the transfer and the kinds of information being released unless the school district annually notifies parents that the records will be sent automatically.
- Student records may be released to official education and other government agencies only if allowed by state or federal law.
- To release student records to other persons or agencies, written consent is given by the parent, legal guardian, or a student of majority age. This consent form will state which records are released, to whom they are released, and the reason for the release. A copy of the specific records being released will be made available to the person signing the release form if requested.
- Before furnishing student records in compliance with judicial orders or pursuant to any lawfully issued subpoena, the school district will make a reasonable attempt to notify the parents, legal guardian, or eligible student are notified in advance.
- Student records may be shared with juvenile justice agencies with which the school district has an interagency agreement. This information is shared without prior parental consent. The agreement is a public document available for inspection.
Hearing Procedures
- Upon parental request, the school district will hold a hearing regarding the content of a student’s records which the parent believes to be inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of the privacy rights of students.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- The parents may appeal the hearing officers decision to the superintendent within 5 days if the superintendent does not have a direct interest in the outcome of the hearing.
- The parents may appeal the superintendent’s decision, or the hearing officers decision if the superintendent was unable to hear the appeal, to the board within 10 days. It is within the discretion of the board to hear the appeal.
Approved: March 25, 2003
Reviewed: August 13, 2013
Revised:
Legal Reference: