Dear Parent/Guardian:
As we all know, student safety is our highest priority, and we have an obligation to protect our students’ identity and keep information about our students confidential.
The Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), as amended, requires schools to keep a student’s education records confidential and, except for a limited number of circumstances listed in that law, prevents the disclosure of a student’s education record to a third party without the parent/student’s prior written consent. However, the law allows schools to disclose appropriately designated directory information without written parental consent unless the parents have advised the school district to the contrary. Examples of directory information that can be disclosed without written parental consent include:
- Student’s name
- Address
- Telephone listing
- Electronic mail address
- Photograph
- 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
- 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 except when used in conjunction with one or more factors that authenticate the user’s identity, such as a PIN, password, or other factor known or possessed only by the authorized user
- 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 except when used in conjunction with one or more factors that authenticate the user’s identity, such as a PIN, password, or other factor known or possessed only by the authorized user.
From time to time, the Fonda-Fultonville Central School District publishes student directory information on the district website, in school publications or in media releases in order to recognize student achievement or depict activities of the district.
Parents who do not want their child(ren)’s directory information or picture released should complete the form below and return it no later than September 8th to your child’s principal. Examples of items where your child’s name would not be included are:
- A school playbill
- Yearbooks
- Honor roll or other recognition lists
- Graduation programs
- Sports stories in newspapers including photos of athletes and/or team statistics showing weight and height of team members
- A photo of your child in the district newsletter depicting him or her at work in the classroom or during some other school activity
- The school website
Thank you for your understanding and again, please complete the form below and return it to your eldest child’s principal, if you prefer that your child’s directory information not be used or publicized. If you have any questions, please contact me at 853-4415, ext. 4230.
Sincerely,
Mr. Thomas Ciaccio
Superintendent of Schools