Understanding Your Rights Under FERPA in Leon County Schools

• •FERPA protects student records including grades, health records, disciplinary files, and personal identification like social security numbers.
• •Parents and eligible students have the right to inspect, review, and request corrections to their education records.
• •Schools generally require written consent from a parent or eligible student to release personally identifiable information.
• •Schools may release records without consent to school officials with a legitimate interest, other schools, auditors, accreditors, or via judicial subpoena.
• •The district designates 'directory information' (name, photo, sports participation, etc.) that can be released to the public unless a parent opts out.
• •High schools must provide student contact information to military recruiters unless a parent or student opts out.
• •Personal notes kept by teachers for their own use and law enforcement unit records are not considered 'education records' under FERPA.
• •Chapter 39 of Florida Statutes requires districts to provide records to Child Protective Investigators.
• •The district must provide an annual notice to parents regarding their rights under FERPA.
• •Public records requests for non-confidential school board communications are handled through the district's public records portal.

This policy determines how your child's personal school information is stored, who can access it, and how you can formally opt out of the public release of directory information or military recruiter access.

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.