FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a Federal law, requires that the Deer Park School District, with certain exceptions, obtain your written consent prior to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from your child’s education records. However, the School District is permitted to disclose appropriately designated “directory information” without written consent, unless you have advised the District to the contrary in accordance with District procedures.  The primary purpose of directory information is to allow us to include this type of information from your child’s education records in certain school publications. Examples include:

- A playbill, showing your student’s role in a drama production
- The annual/yearbook
- Honor roll or other recognition lists
- Graduation programs
- Sports activity programs, such as for wrestling

Directory information, which is information generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if released, can also be disclosed to outside organizations without a parent’s prior written consent. Outside organizations include, but are not limited to, companies that manufacture class rings or publish yearbooks or organizations that submit a public records request. In addition, two federal laws require local educational agencies (LEAs) receiving assistance under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to provide military recruiters, upon request, with three directory information categories—names, addresses and telephone listings—unless parents have advised the School District that they do not want their student’s information disclosed without their prior written consent.

Parents or guardians can choose to “opt out,” directory information by contacting the main office at (509) 468-3500 if you would like to “opt out” your child from any directory information disclosures.