The federal Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents/guardians and students over 18 years of age (“eligible students”) certain rights with respect to the student’s educational records, including:

1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the school district receives a request for access.

The parent/guardian or eligible student should submit to the principal a written request that identifies the record(s) he/she wishes to inspect. The principal will make arrangements for access and notify the parent/guardian or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.

2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent/guardian or eligible student believes are inaccurate.

Any parent/guardian or eligible student may ask the school district to amend a record that he/she believes is inaccurate. He/she should write to the principal, clearly identify the part of the record he/she wants changed and specify why it is inaccurate. If the school district decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent/guardian or eligible student, the school district will notify the parent/guardian or eligible student of the decision and advise him/her of his/her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent/guardian or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.

3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.

One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests.

A school official is a person employed by the school 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 Board of Education; 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 school district discloses education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.

4. The right not to have directory information disclosed without prior written consent.

The Pocantico Hills Central School District designates the following items as directory information: student’s name, photograph, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, major field of student, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, height and weight, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received.

The school district may disclose any of these items without prior written consent, unless notified to the contrary, in writing, by the parent/ guardian or eligible student by the end of the first 30 days of the school year. The school district’s policy regarding release of directory information shall apply equally to military recruiters, website postings, the media, colleges and universities, and prospective employers.

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.

Family Policy Compliance Office

U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20202-4605

Please see our website for additional information about students’ privacy rights.

POCANTICO HILLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, 599 Bedford Road, Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591

Click here to view Pocantico's Student Records Policy.