Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) Notice for Directory Information 

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a Federal law, requires that Paducah Independent School District, with certain exceptions, obtain your written consent prior to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from your child’s education records.  However, Paducah Independent School District may disclose appropriately designated “directory information” without written consent, unless you have advised the Paducah Independent School District to the contrary in accordance with Paducah Independent School District procedures.  The primary purpose of directory information is to allow the Paducah Independent School District to include information from your child’s education records in certain school publications.  Examples include:

•         A playbill, showing your student’s role in a drama production;

•         The annual yearbook;

•         Honor roll or other recognition lists;

•         Graduation programs; and

•         Sports activity sheets, such as for wrestling, showing weight and height of team members.

Directory information, which is information that is generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if released, can also be disclosed to outside organizations without a parent’s prior written consent.  Outside organizations include, but are not limited to, companies that manufacture class rings or publish yearbooks.  In addition, two federal laws require local educational agencies (LEAs) receiving assistance under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA) to provide military recruiters, upon request, with the following information – names, addresses and telephone listings – unless parents have advised the LEA that they do not want their student’s information disclosed without their prior written consent.

If you do not want Paducah Independent School District to disclose any or all of the types of information designated below as directory information from your child’s education records without your prior written consent, you must notify the Paducah Independent School District in writing within 30 days after the student’s initial enrollment start date for the current school year.  Paducah Independent School District has designated the following information as directory information:

·      Student's name

·      Address

·      Telephone listing

·      Electronic mail address

·      Photograph

·      Grade level

·      Participation in officially recognized activities and sports

·      Weight and height of members of athletic teams

·      Degrees, honors, and awards received

·      Student ID number, user ID, or other unique personal identifier used to communicate in electronic systems but only if the identifier cannot be used to gain access to education records.

·      A student ID number or other unique personal identifier that is displayed on a student ID badge, but only if the identifier cannot be used to gain access to education records.

Notification of Rights Under the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA)

PPRA affords parents of elementary and secondary students certain rights regarding the conduct of surveys, collection and use of information for marketing purposes, and certain physical exams.  These include, but are not limited to, the right to:

· Consent before students are required to submit to a survey that concerns one or more of the following protected areas (“protected information survey”) if the survey is funded in whole or in part by a program of the U.S. Department of Education (ED)–

1.  Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent;

2.  Mental or psychological problems of the student or student’s family;

3.  Sex behavior or attitudes;

4.  Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior;

5.  Critical appraisals of others with whom respondents have close family relationships;

6.  Legally recognized privileged relationships, such as with lawyers, doctors, or ministers;

7.  Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or student’s parent; or

8.  Income, other than as required by law to determine program eligibility.

·Receive notice and an opportunity to opt a student out of –

1.    Any other protected information survey, regardless of funding;

2.    Any non-emergency, invasive physical exam or screening required as a condition of attendance, administered by the school or its agent, and not necessary to protect the immediate health and safety of a student, except for hearing, vision, or scoliosis screenings, or any physical exam or screening permitted or required under State law; and

3.    Activities involving collection, disclosure, or use of personal information collected from students for marketing or to sell or otherwise distribute the information to others. (This does not apply to the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information collected from students for the exclusive purpose of developing, evaluating, or providing educational products or services for, or to, students or educational institutions.)

·Inspect, upon request and before administration or use –

1.    Protected information surveys of students and surveys created by a third party;

2.    Instruments used to collect personal information from students for any of the above marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes; and

3.    Instructional material used as part of the educational curriculum.

These rights transfer from the parents to a student who is 18 years old or an emancipated minor under State law.

Paducah Independent Schools has developed and adopted policies, in consultation with parents, regarding these rights, as well as arrangements to protect student privacy in the administration of protected information surveys and the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information for marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes.  Paducah Independent Schools will directly notify parents of these policies at least annually at the start of each school year and after any substantive changes.  Paducah Independent Schools will also directly notify, such as through U.S. Mail or email, parents of students who are scheduled to participate in the specific activities or surveys noted below and will provide an opportunity for the parent to opt his or her child out of participation of the specific activity or survey.  Paducah Independent Schools will make this notification to parents at the beginning of the school year if the District has identified the specific or approximate dates of the activities or surveys at that time.  For surveys and activities scheduled after the school year starts, parents will be provided reasonable notification of the planned activities and surveys listed below and be provided an opportunity to opt their child out of such activities and surveys.  Parents will also be provided an opportunity to review any pertinent surveys.  Following is a list of the specific activities and surveys covered under this direct notification requirement:

• Collection, disclosure, or use of personal information collected from students for marketing, sales, or other distribution.

• Administration of any protected information survey not funded in whole or in part by ED.

• Any non-emergency, invasive physical examination or screening as described above.

Parents who believe their rights have been violated may file a complaint with:    

                                                            Student Privacy Policy Office

                                                            U.S. Department of Education

                                                            400 Maryland Avenue, SW

                                                            Washington, D.C.  20202

Notice of Non-Discrimination

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights

regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions

participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race,

color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any

program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information

(e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State

or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech

disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally,

program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination

Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at:

http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter

addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request

a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA

by:

(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or

(3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.