FERPA

THE FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS & PRIVACY ACT (FERPA)

Miles Ahead Charter School acts in accordance with The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) in regards to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of our scholars and their educational records. FERPA affords parents/guardians and scholars over 18 years of age (“eligible students”) certain rights with respect to the scholar’s education records. They are:

1. Accessing Scholar Records: The right to inspect and review the scholars education records within 45 days of the day MACS receives a request for access.
2. Amending Scholar Records: The right to request the amendment of the scholar’s education records that the parent/guardian or eligible scholar believes are inaccurate or misleading. Parents/guardians or eligible scholars may ask MACS to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write to the school Superintendent/Executive Director, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If MACS decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent/guardian or eligible scholar, MACS will notify the parent/guardian or eligible scholar 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/guardian or eligible scholar when notified of the right to a hearing.
3. Disclosing Scholar Records: The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the scholar’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. The following are exceptions which permit disclosure without consent:
   • Disclosures will be made to school administrators, teachers, or other professionals employed or associated with MACS who have some role in evaluating, educating, or providing support services to scholars that necessitates access to scholar information.
   • Scholar records will be forwarded without further notice to parents, guardians or eligible scholars to any school upon request in which a scholar is enrolling or has enrolled.
   • Disclosures will be made to designated contractors, vendors, consultants and external researchers acting on behalf of MACS or with legitimate educational interests in using student information as authorized by the Superintendent or his/her designee.
   • Disclosures will be made to federal or state officials in connection with the audit of educational programs.
   • Disclosures will be made on federal, state, or other school applications of the scholar to determine the eligibility for, and amount of, aid as well as enforcement of the terms and conditions of financial aid.
   • Disclosures will be made to comply with state law, Internal Revenue Service laws and regulations, judicial orders, or lawfully issued subpoenas. A reasonable effort will be made to notify parents or scholars in advance of such disclosures.
   • Disclosures will be made to organizations conducting studies on behalf of, or by, educational institutions as specified in federal regulations to the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act.
   • Disclosures may be made to accrediting institutions to carry out their accrediting function.
   • Disclosures will be made in connection with a health or safety emergency.
   • Disclosures of “directory information” relating to individual students will be made under limited circumstances without the written consent of the parent, legal guardian or eligible student. These circumstances include when posted in schools such as on displayed scholar work, when printed in school or district publications such as graduation programs or school playbills, and when disclosed to the United States military; colleges, universities and other postsecondary institutions; scholarship-granting organizations; and other entities as approved by the superintendent or his/her designee.
4. Complaint Procedure: The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the 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, SW
Washington, DC 20202-5920

5. Directory Information: The District may disclose appropriately designated “directory information” without written consent, unless you have advised the District to the contrary in accordance with District procedures. Directory information is information that is generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if released.

The board designates the following information as directory information:

• Scholar name
• Scholar address
• Scholar telephone listing
• Scholar grade level
• Scholar participation in officially recognized clubs and athletic activities
• Scholar weight and height, if the scholar participates in an athletic activity
• Dates of attendance at Miles Ahead Charter School
• Awards received during the time of enrollment at Miles Ahead Charter School

Parents/Guardians may opt out of having Directory Information released. MACS’ Opt Out of Directory Information can be found via our school website, Prospective/CREW Family Resource Portal and in our CREW Family Handbook. The superintendent shall notify, on an annual basis, students and parents/guardians, including non-English-speaking parents/guardians, of their rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

The board authorizes the superintendent to issue administrative regulations to implement this policy.