Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) ANNUAL NOTICE

  • Release of Student Directory Information to the Public and/or Military Recruiters

     

    The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents1 certain rights with respect to their student’s education records. A complete list of parent rights afforded through FERPA can be found in student handbooks and online at www.eudoraschools.org.

    For the purposes of FERPA, USD 491 has designated certain information as “directory information,” which may be disclosed for any purpose without prior consent. The primary purpose of this designation is for district use of the information for these types of purposes:

    • School and district newsletters and other printed or electronic official publications
    • News releases to area newspapers
    • School district website and official social media sites
    • A playbill or music program, showing your student’s role in a performance
    • Honor roll or other recognition lists
    • Graduation programs
    • Yearbooks
    • Sports activity programs, such as for wrestling, showing weight and height of team members

     

    According to federal guidelines, directory information can also be disclosed to outside organizations without prior written consent. Outside organizations include, but are not limited to, companies that manufacture class rings or publish yearbooks. In addition, two federal laws2 require local educational agencies (LEA’s) receiving assistance under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to provide military recruiters, upon request, with three directory information categories — names, address and telephone listings — unless parents have asked the LEA not to disclose this information without their prior written consent.

    Eudora Schools has designated the following information as directory information:

    • Student name
    • Parent name(s)
    • Address
    • Telephone listing
    • Electronic mail address
    • Photograph
    • Video images
    • Audio recordings
    • Date and place of birth
    • Dates of attendance
    • Grade level
    • 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

     

    Instructions to request non-release of directory information

    This request for non-release lasts for the current year only; a new request is required each year.

    1. Write a dated letter, typed or printed legibly, that includes all of the following:

    • Full name of student  
    • Grade level for the current school year
    • Specific item(s) listed above that you do not want to be considered as “directory information” for your child for the current school year
    • If applicable, a specific request for non-disclosure of information to military recruiters
    • Parent/guardian name
    • Parent/guardian signature

    2. Send or deliver this letter to:

    Eudora Schools
    Attn: Engagement Specialist
    1310 Winchester Rd., P.O. Box 500
    Eudora, KS 66025

     

    1. Parents, legal guardians and students age 18 or older

    2. These laws are: Section 9528 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 7908) and 10 U.S.C. § 503(c), the legislation that provides funding for the Nation’s armed forces.