We are a private school but doing open enrollment we have a form that is filled that that includes your name, address, phone number and email address (new this year) that is posted in the school directory. Every family gets a directory. None of the emergerncy contact information is listed in the directory office use only...Several parents have suggested using email as they dont' have time to check backpacks every night. The email address are not to be use to forward jokes, etc only school business. The PTO is going to start using the email addresses to cut down on mailing cost.

SJmom - you are right, the appropriate rule is FERPA. Your school probably has to state in writing what information it discloses, what information it considers "directory" information.

Usually this is buried in the handbook, maybe with language like "Certain information about a student is considered public information and may be released by the District..."(and then it explains how to restrict info and what can be released).

So unless you request in writing that your information be withheld, those specific pieces are public information.

Without this flexibility, we couldn't have yearbooks, newsletters, football programs, newspaper writeups on atheletic events and band competitions, etc.

At our school, the staff just sort of "gave" us the info. I checked one time about requesting it from the district (might have to use the words "open records" or "public information". They would release it, but charged an administrative fee ($35) - which they ARE allowed to do.

[ 02-03-2006, 10:40 PM: Message edited by: JHB ]

We use the school's information, and have had not had anyone question it. We send home an opt-out form so those parents who do not wish to be listed won't have their info in it. The worst part about it is that the parent's names aren't listed...just the students. So, if you need to call a parent, you have to ask for "Jimmy Smith's Mom/Dad."

You know--We're doing a directory now...and I have to say that I've thought about the time saving tech issues as well and how easy it would have been to just take the schools information. Regardless, we sent home a flier to ENSURE that parents knew and agreed with their children's names and whatever information THEY felt comfortable with in the directory. It is a painful process but I didn't want to transfer information, publish it as a PTO document and then have someone upset. We are also in NVA where we have a lot of FBI Goverment workers so there was sensitivity to privacy. I think a prudent approach to this, having parents sign up for it purposefully and only if they want it...is the way to go. We will not release the directory to anyone that is not a part of the directory.

Anyway--just my .02

dianna

I've been surfing too, and I think the protesters had the wrong Act--it's the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) --aka the Buckley Amendment--which defines "directory information" as info in students' records that would not be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed, such as name, address, telephone listing, email address, grade level...
A school may disclose this directory info to third parties (geez--is the PTO a third party?!) without parental consent if the school has given public notice that this type of info could be released. Public notice would include a statement that parents have the opportunity to restrict disclosure by writing the school by a certain date. Public notice can be posted (for example) in a newsletter, local paper, or student handbook.

Source: www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/faq.html

I am encouraged! We can work with this.

I applaud your good sense and desire to use technology to make life simpler for everybody! I wish more of the people I work with would be willing to do that instead of being tied to the past.

Anyhow, from a simple google search,and assuming you're from a public school:

The purpose of the Freedom of Information Act, a state law, is to ensure that citizens have "...ready access to records in the custody of public officials and free entry to meetings of public bodies wherein the business of the people is being transacted."

This means that most meetings and official records are subject to public scrutiny with the exception of:

* Scholastic records and personnel records containing information concerning identifiable individuals.
* Writings protected by the attorney-client privilege or the attorney work product doctrine.
* Tests and examinations (subject to certain qualifications).
* Vendor proprietary information software.


It may be a bit of a stretch since you're not asking for "scholastic" records, but nevertheless you are asking for personal information from the school so they probably won't let you do it.