NOTIFICATION OF RIGHTS UNDER FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act [“FERPA”] affords parents and students over 18 years of age [“eligible students”] certain rights with respect to the student’s education records.  They are:

1.                  The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day of the Annette Island School District receives a request for access.

Parents or eligible students 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.

2.                  The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate or misleading.

Parents or eligible students may ask the Annette Island School District to amend a record they believe is inaccurate or misleading.  They should write the school principal, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading.

If the Annette Island School District decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the Annette Island 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 the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.

3.                  The right to consent to disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.

One exception that permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests.  A school official is a person employed by the school unit 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 who the school unit has contracted to perform a special task (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/her tasks.

A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his/her professional responsibility.

Upon request, the Annette Island School District discloses education records, including special education records, without consent to officials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.  A copy of all the student’s education records must be sent to any school administrative unit to which a student applies for transfer.

4.                  The right to file a complaint with the U. S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the Annette Island School District to comply with the requirements of FERPA.  The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is:

Family Policy Compliance Office

U. S. Department of Education

400 Maryland Avenue, S. W.

Washington, DC  20202-4605

5.                  The Annette Island School District may make public at its discretion personally identifiable information from the education records of a student without parental consent if that information has been designated as directory information by the school.  This school unit has designated the following information as directory information:  student’s name, the student’s participation in officially recognized activities and sports, height and weight of student athletes, grade level in school of participants in extracurricular activities, date of attendance at school department schools, and honors and awards.

Such information will not be disclosed if the parent of the student informs the school unit in writing by July 1 for the upcoming school year or within 30 days after enrollment, whichever is later, that such information is not to be designated as directory information with respect to that student.  Any such notice should be sent to the Superintendent of Schools at the following address:

                        Superintendent of Schools

                        Annette Island School District

                        P. O. Box 7

                        Metlakatla, Alaska  99926

Under Alaska Law, Annette Island School District shall not publish on the Internet without written parental consent any information, whether directory or otherwise, that identifies a student, including but not limited to the student’s full name, photograph, personal biography, e-mail address, home address, date of birth, social security number, and parents’ name.

References:  34 C.F.R. ss 99.7; Federal Register, Vol. 61, No 226, at 59297 (Nov. 21, 1996); 20-A M.R.S.A.  ss 6601.

ANNUAL PUBLIC NOTICES

Students With Disabilities

In Non-Public Schools Receive Services

The Special Education Department of the Annette Island School District is again providing service to eligible students with disabilities who are enrolled in non-public school during the 2003-2004 school year.  Students with disabilities who are enrolled in non-public schools or home schooled are entitled to services comparable to those provided for students in public schools with limited exceptions.

Services provided include diagnostic assessment and evaluation.  If the student is determined to have a qualifying disability and to be in need of special education instruction, appropriate instructional services for eligible students are provided on a shared-time basis and are offered in the public school setting or at a neutral site.

Various public school facilities throughout the District have been designated as teaching stations and the District is responsible for arranging special transportation, if needed between the home school and the special teaching station. Non-public school principals are familiar with the procedures for initiating all referrals and will provide assistance to any parents who may have concerns.

Any parents of students enrolled in non-public schools having questions or concerns regarding potential learning problems of their children can contact their building principal to ask about procedures for initiating a request for service.  Parents may also contact the Director of Special Education at 886-6020 for further information.

Public Law 105-17

IDEA-Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

The Annette Island School District submitted an application on May 15, 2003, to the Alaska Division of Health & Social Services specifying its plan for the expenditure of Public Law 105-17 (IDEA-individuals with Disabilities Education Act) dollars for fiscal year 2003-2004 Federal funds received by the school district must be expended on students with disabilities in keeping specific Federal priorities.  Please be informed that the content of this application for funds as well as any ensuing reports and evaluations are public information and available for your inspection.  If any parent or member of the general public would like to review and/or comment on this application, please contact the Director of Special Education at 886-6020 to make the necessary arrangements.

The above notice has to be given in compliance with Section 300.242 of the Federal regulations applying to Public Law 105-17.

Title IX – Notification Statement

It is the policy of the Annette Island School District not to discriminate on the basis of sex, in its educational policies as required by Title IX of the 972 Education Amendments .  Inquiries regarding compliance with Title IX may be directed to the Superintendents Office, P. O. Box 7, Metlakatla, Alaska  99926, telephone 907/886-6332 or to the Director of the Civil Rights Office, Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Washington, D. C.

Public Notice to Parents and Eligible Students of Their Rights

Regarding Pupil Records

Annette Island School District gives notice to parents of students currently in attendance in the District, and eligible students currently in attendance in the District, of their rights regarding pupil records.

1.                  Parents and eligible students are hereby informed that they have the following rights:

a.      That a parent or eligible student has a right to inspect and review the student’s

education records.  A parent or eligible student should submit to the school district a written request to inspect education records which identify as precisely as possible the record or records he or she wishes to inspect.  The parent or eligible student will be notified of the time and place where the records may be inspected;

b.      That the parent or eligible student has a right to seek amendment of the student’s education records to ensure that those records are not inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy or other rights.  A parent or eligible student may ask the school district to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading.  The request shall be in writing, identify the item the parent or eligible student believes to be inaccurate, misleading or in violation of the privacy or other rights of the student, shall state the reason for this believe, and shall specify the correction the parent or eligible student wishes the school district make.  The request shall be signed by the parent or eligible student.  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 him or her of the right