Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) the Carlisle Area School District affords parents and students over eighteen (18) years of age certain rights with respect to student’s education records. 

These rights are as follows:

1. To inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the date the district receives a request for access.
 
Parent or eligible student should submit to the school principal a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect.  The principal will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.  Parent or eligible student may make notes from the record or may request copies for a fee per page.

2. To request the amendment of the student’s education record that the parent or eligible student believes is inaccurate or misleading.

Parent or eligible student may request in writing the Carlisle Area School District to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading.  The letter should be written to the school principal clearly identifying the part of the education record in question and specify why it should be changed.  If the school district decides not to amend the record, as requested by the parent or eligible student, the school 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 hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when this notification is made. 

3. 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 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 as its agent to provide a service instead of using its own employees or officials (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant or therapist); or a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her task.

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.  Upon request, the school district discloses education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll. 

4. To file a complaint with the United States Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the school district to comply with the requirements of FERPA.
 
Correspondence should be directed to:
Family Policy Compliance Office
US Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C.  20202-5920