STUDENT RECORDS


DISTRICT 203 PROCEDURE REGARDING  STUDENT RECORDS

Outlined below is a brief description of the Student Records Policy of District 203. This communication shall also serve as the Annual Notification to parents of students or eligible students (ages eighteen or over) of their tight to review or challenge information contained in their educational record.

I.      Classification of Students' School Records: Permanent and Temporary

The student permanent record shall include the following: basic identifying information, including students'and parents'names and addresses, birth date and place, and gender; academic transcript, includes grades, class rank, graduation date, grade level achieved and scores on college entrance examinations; attendance record; accident reports, health record and record of Releasing Permanent Record Information.

The student permanent record may also include honors and awards received, information concerning participation in school sponsored activities or athletics, or offices held in school sponsored organizations, but no other information shall be placed in a student permanent record.

Student temporary record information shall consist of a information not required to be in the student permanent record and may include: family background information; intelligence test scores, group and individual-, aptitude test scores; reports of psychological evaluations, including information on intelligence, personality and academic information obtained through test administration, observation or interviews; elementary and secondary achievement level test results; participation in extra-curricular activities including any offices held in school sponsored clubs or organizations; honors and awards received; teacher anecdotal records; disciplinary information; special education files, including the report of the multidisciplinary staffing in which placement or non-placement was based and all records and tape recordings related to special education placement hearings and appeals; any verified reports or information froin'tion-educational persons, agencies or organizations; other vetified information of clear relevance to the education of the student.

 No person may require securing information from the student's temporary file as a condition in the granting or withholding of any right, privilege or benefits-, or require it as a condition of employment, credit or insurance.

II. Inspection and Review of Educational Records

District 203 shall comply with a request from the parent of a student or an eligible student to inspect and review his/her educational records. The school shall comply within a reasonable period of time and in no case later than 15 days after the request has been made.

1 .    District 203 shall reserve the right to have an administrator, counselor,
psychologist, social worker, and/or speech therapist present when a parent of a student or eligible student inspects and/or reviews his/her educational records.

2. A parent or any person specifically designated as a representative by a
parent shall have the right to inspect and copy all school student permanent and temporary records.

3. School administrators may presume that either parents or the student has
authority to inspect and review the education records of the student unless notified to the contrary.

4. The right to copy permanent or temporary student record data shall be
permitted at a cost of 35 cents per page for the first 10 pages; 25 cents per page for 11-25 pages; and 10 cents per page for 26 and over. (No parent of a student or eligible students shall be denied a requested copy due to inability to pay the service charge.)

III. The Right to Control Access of Student Records

District 203 will release student records to an official of another school in which the student intends to enroll. The official must make a written request, at which time District 203 will forward the student's education records. Unofficial records are to be sent within 10 days of the request. Each school shall forward written information relative to the grade levels, subjects and record of academic grades achieved, current mathematics and language arts placement levels, health records and the current set of standardized test reports. If requested, the district within 10 days after the student has paid his/her outstanding fines and fees, shall forward an official transcript of the scholastic records of each student transferring. The District will provide the parent, upon request, with a copy of the educational records transferred. Parents have the right to inspect and challenge the information contained in a school record prior to transfer of the record to another school district.

Challenge Procedure

A parent of a student or an eligible student may request a District 203 school official to amend his/her educational records when it is believed that the information contained in the records of the students is inaccurate, misleading or violates the privacy of the student. Parents have a right to challenge any entry exclusive of academic grades in the school student records on the basis of: (1) accuracy, (2) propriety, and (3) relevance.

1.     Within a reasonable period of time, District 203 shall decide whether to amend the education records in accordance with the request.

2.     If the school district decides to refuse to amend the education records of the student, it shall notify the parent or eligible students and advise them of the right to a hearing.

3.     The request for a hearing shall be submitted in writing to the school and
shall contain the specific entry or entries to be challenged and the basis of the challenge.

V.  Access to Records Without Parental Consent

Prior consent for disclosure of personally identifiable information is not required in the following situations:

1 .    To other school officials within the district.

2.     To officials of another school system in which the student intends to enroll.

3.     To comply with a judicial order.

4.     To parents of a dependent student.

5.     To appropriate parties in health or safety emergency.

6.     To organizations (Federal, State or Local) conducting studies for or on behalf of the district.

7.     To accrediting organization

 VI.     Maintenance and Disposal of School Records

A student's permanent record shall be maintained for a period of not less than
60 years after the student has graduated or permanently withdrawn. A student's temporary record shall be maintained for a period of up to five years after the student has graduated or permanently withdrawn. Prior to graduation temporary records and copies of the school health record (Certificate of Child Health Examination) which include the student's immunization history, will be made available to seniors.

A parent or student has the right to copy any school student record or information contained therein that is proposed to be destroyed.

1.    Upon graduation, transfer or permanent withdrawal of a student from a
school, the school shall notify the parents and/or the eligible student of the destruction schedule for the student permanent record and the student temporary record and the right to request a copy of such records at any time prior to their destruction.

2.     Upon graduation or permanent withdrawal of a handicapped student,
psychological evaluations, special education files and other information contained in the student temporary record which may be of continued assistance to the student may, after three years, be transferred to the custody of the parent of the student if the student has succeeded to the fights of the parents.

VII.     Directory Information

District 203 may disclose information from the education record of a student who is attending school if that information is designated as directory information. Information that has been designated as directory information includes identifying information, academic awards, major field of study, dates of school attendance, the most recent previous school attended, information related to school sponsored activities, and other similar information. The parent has the fight to refuse to permit the designation of any or all categories of information to be designated as directory information. The parent must inform the school, in writing, stating which information is not to be designated as directory information.
 
 

 SURVEY OF STUDENTS

Parents are entitled to inspect all instructional materials used in conjunction with any survey, analysis or evaluation which is funded, wholly or in part, by United States Department of Education sources. In addition, no student may be required to subn-dt to any survey, analysis or evaluation which is funded, wholly or in part, by the United States Department of Education sources and which reveals the information specified in 20 USC 1232h, without prior written consent of the student's parent or, if the student is eighteen (18) years of age or emancipated, prior written consent of the student. Thus, this law prohibits a survey, analysis or evaluation funded, wholly or in part, by the Department of Education which reveals information concerning political affiliations; mental and psychological problems potentially embarrassing to the student or his/her family; sexual behavior and attitudes; illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating and demeaning behavior, critical appraisals of other individuals with whom respondents have close family relationships; legally recognized privileged or analogous relationships, such as those with lawyers, physicians and ministers; or income (other than that required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under such program).