The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students over 18 years of age (eligible students) certain rights with respect to the student’s education records. They are:

(1) The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the District receives a written request for access. Parents or eligible students should submit to the school principal (or appropriate school official) form 8330 F5 that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The principal will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and location where the records may be inspected.

(2) The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records. Parents or eligible students may ask the Plymouth-Canton Community School district to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should submit form 8330 F6a to the school principal and clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the school decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the school will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and advise them of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.

(3) The right to obtain a copy of the District Policy and Administrative Guidelines on Student Records, #8330.

(4) The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosures without consent. The district can disclose student’s directory information to military recruiting representatives or institutions of higher learning, unless notified in writing (use form 8330 F13) by the parent or eligible student prior to Oct. 1, to FOIA Coordinator, E.J. McClendon Center, 454 S. Harvey St., Plymouth, MI 48170. Directory information includes: student name, address, phone number, photograph, date and place of birth, major field of study, 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, and the most recent educational agency or institution attended.

One exception that permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the district as an administrator, supervisor, instructor or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel), a person serving on the School Board, a person or company with whom the district has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist), or a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. Upon request, the district discloses education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.

(5) 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 Ave. SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-5901