Student Educational Records & Information (FERPA)
RSU #20 shall comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”) and all other federal and state laws and regulations concerning privacy, confidentiality, and maintenance of student records and student information. More information about FERPA may found on the U.S. Department of Education Protecting Student Privacy website.
RSU #20 maintains policy JRA - STUDENT EDUCATION RECORDS AND INFORMATION, including JRA-R and JRA-E.
Additionally, student record privacy information may be found in the annually Board-approved student handbooks for each of our schools.
Glossary of key terms
(For a complete glossary of terms regarding student privacy, please see Protecting Student Privacy U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION website.)
- Confidentiality
- a person's obligation not to disclose or transmit information to unauthorized parties.
- Directory Information
- information contained in the education records of a student that would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. Typically, "directory information" includes information such as name, address, telephone listing, date and place of birth, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, and dates of attendance.
- Disclosure
- access, release, or transfer of personally identifiable information about an individual.
- Education Agency
- a state or local education agency authorized to direct and control public elementary and secondary, or postsecondary, institutions.
- Education Institution
- an institution or school that provides educational services or instruction, or both, to students.
- Education Record
- records that are directly related to a student and are maintained by an educational agency or institution or by a party acting for the agency or institution. Any information recorded in any way—including, but not limited to, handwriting, print, computer media, videotape or audiotape, electronic files, film, microfilm, and microfiche—maintained by education agencies or institutions, or individuals acting on their behalf. Personal notes by teachers or other staff, kept in the sole possession of the maker, used only as memory aid, and not accessible or revealed to any other person except a temporary substitute are not considered part of the education record.
- Eligible Student
- FERPA defines an eligible student as a student who has reached 18 years of age or is attending a postsecondary institution at any age.
- Informed Consent
- an individual's agreement in the context of a written account of why personal information is requested and how it will be used.
- Legitimate Educational Interest
- information is used within the context of official agency or school business and its use is consistent with the purpose for which it is maintained; access to the information is necessary for school officials to perform tasks related to their position.
- Parent
- a natural or adoptive parent, a legal guardian, or an individual acting as a parent in the absence of a parent or guardian.
- Personally Identifiable Information (PII)
- includes information that can be used to distinguish or trace an individual’s identity either directly or indirectly through linkages with other information. Personally identifiable information for education records is a FERPA term referring to identifiable information that is maintained in education records and includes direct identifiers, such as a student’s name or identification number, indirect identifiers, such as a student’s date of birth, or other information which can be used to distinguish or trace an individual’s identity either directly or indirectly through linkages with other information.
- Privacy
- a uniquely personal right that reflects an individual's freedom from intrusion.
- School Official
- a person employed by the agency or school in an administrative, counseling, supervisory, academic, student support, or research position; or a person under contract to the agency or school to perform a specified task.
- Security
- the process that focuses on the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information systems and data.
- Student
- FERPA regulations define student as any individual who is or has been in attendance at an educational agency or institution and regarding whom the agency or institution maintains education records.