PARENTAL NOTIFICATION Under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) as amended in Dec. 2015 by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) makes it clear that Congress expects local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools receiving federal funds to ensure that parents are actively involved and knowledgeable about their schools and their children’s education. The law requires schools to give parents many different kinds of information and notices in a uniform and understandable format and, to the extent practicable, in a language that the parents can understand. Listed below are some of these required notices that must be made to parents by school districts or individual public schools. Teacher Qualifications and Highly Effective Teachers 1) has met state qualification and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction; 2) is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which state qualification or licensing criteria have been waived; 3) is teaching in the field of discipline not of the certification of the teacher; and 4) is teaching alongside paraprofessionals and, if so, the paraprofessional’s qualifications [ESSA § 1112(e)(1)(A)]. Student Privacy - activities involving the collection, disclosure, or use of personal student information for the purpose of marketing or selling that information; A district must develop and adopt policies regarding the rights of parents to inspect: -third-party surveys before they are administered or distributed to students; Districts must give parents annual notice of an adoption or continued use of such policies and within a reasonable period of time after any substantive change in such policies [20 U.S.C. 1232g]. Public Release of Student Directory Information Additionally, ESSA requires that parents be notified that the school routinely discloses names, addresses, and telephone numbers to military recruiters upon request, subject to a parent’s request not to disclose such information without written consent [§8025]. A single notice provided through a mailing, student handbook, or other method that is reasonably calculated to inform parents of the above information is sufficient to satisfy the parental notification requirements of both FERPA and ESSA. The notification must advise the parent of how to opt out of the public, nonconsensual disclosure of directory information and the method and timeline within which to do so [20 U.S.C. 1232g] [ESEA §8025]. Military Recruiter Access to Student Information Parent and Family Engagement Parents shall be notified of the policy in an understandable and uniform format and, to the extent practicable, provided in a language the parents can understand. Such policy shall be made available to the local community and updated periodically to meet the changing needs of parents and the school [ESEA Title I, Part A, §1116(b)(1)]. Schools must: -hold at least one annual meeting for Title I parents; Report Cards on Statewide Academic Assessment These report cards must be concise and presented in an understandable and uniform format accessible to persons with disabilities and, to the extent practicable, provided in a language that parents can understand. In Tennessee, these requirements are met through the state’s report card [ESEA Title I, Part A, §1111(h)(1) and (h)(2)]. Achievement on State Assessment National Assessment of Education Progress Schoolwide Programs English Learner Programs -the reasons for the identification of the child as an English learner; For a child not identified as an English learner prior to the beginning of the school year, the district must notify parents within the first two weeks of the child being placed in such a program [ESEA Title I, Part A, §1112]. Homeless Children -the choice of schools homeless children are eligible to attend; Each LEA liaison for homeless children and youth shall ensure the parents or guardians of homeless children and youth are informed of the educational and related opportunities available to their children and are provided with meaningful opportunities to participate in the education of their children [ESSA Title IX, Part C, §722(g)(6)(A)(iv)]. Public notice of the educational rights of homeless children and youths is disseminated where such children and youths receive services under the McKinney-Vento Act, such as schools, family shelters, and soup kitchens [ESSA Title X, Part C, §722(g)(6)(A)(v)]. 21st Century Community Learning Centers Waiver Request How does FERPA regulations require that local education agencies provide parents and eligible students with notification of their rights under FERPA?Under FERPA, a school or State educational agency (SEA) must provide a parent with an opportunity to inspect and review their child's education records within a reasonable period of time, but not more than 45 calendar days following receipt of a request.
What are the most common FERPA violations?FERPA violations and consequences. Emailing protected student information to everyone in the class.. Including social security numbers on shared documents.. Posting grades and identifying information in public.. Publicly disclosing a student athlete's academic status.. |