Annual Notices

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students who are 18 years of age or older ("eligible students") certain rights with respect to the student's education records. These rights are:

 

1. The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days after the day the school receives a request for access. Parents or eligible students who wish to inspect their child’s or their education records should submit to the school principal a written request that identifies the records they wish to inspect. The school official will make arrangements for access and notify the parent 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 or eligible student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA. Parents or eligible students who wish to ask the school to amend their child’s or their education record should write the school principal, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it should be changed. 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 of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.

 

3. The right to provide written consent before the school discloses personally identifiable information (PII) from 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 typically includes a person employed by the school or school district as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel) or a person serving on the school board. A school official also may include a volunteer, contractor, or consultant who, while not employed by the school, performs an institutional service or function for which the school would otherwise use its own employees and who is under the direct control of the school with respect to the use and maintenance of PII from education records, such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist; a parent or student volunteering to serve on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee; or a parent, student, or other volunteer assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official typically 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 discloses education records without consent to officials of another school or school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll, or is already enrolled if the disclosure is for purposes of the student’s enrollment or transfer.

 

4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the school to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The address of the Office that administers FERPA is: Student Privacy Policy Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202.

The primary purpose of directory information is to allow your child’s school to include information about students in certain school publications.  Examples include: a playbill showing your student's role in a drama production; the annual yearbook; honor roll list; graduation program; and sports activity sheets, such as for wrestling, showing weight and height of team members. Directory information, which is information that is generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if released, can also be disclosed to outside organizations. (Outside organizations include, but are not limited to, companies that manufacture class rings or publish yearbooks.) The following information about a student is defined as directory information: name, telephone listing and address (except students participating in the address confidentiality program act); telephone number for inclusion in school or PTO directories; date and place of birth; major field of study; participation in officially recognized activities and sports; height and weight, if member of an athletic team; dates of attendance and date of graduation; awards, honor rolls and scholarships; and school photographs or videos of students participating in school activities, events or programs. Each student’s parent or legal guardian is provided with an opt-out form at enrollment, or you may notify your child's school principal in writing no later than 30 days after the start of the school year if you would like to opt out of publishing directory information. Learn more under "Student Records" in the student handbook.

 

State and federal laws require public schools to make available to Armed Forces recruiters and service academies the names, addresses and phone numbers of high school students. However, if a student or parent or legal guardian submits a signed, written request that he or she does not want the student’s directory information to be accessible to official recruiting representatives, then school officials shall not release it. Signed requests should be sent to the high school guidance office no later than 30 days after the start of the school year. Annually, the high school will notify male students age 18 or older that they are required to register for the Selective Service. 

 

As part of our pest management program, pesticides are occasionally applied. Most of the applications to outside grounds are done during the summer. Ground pesticides are never applied when children are in school. You have the right to be informed prior to any pesticide application made to the grounds and buildings. In certain emergencies, pesticides may be applied without prior notice, but you will be provided notice afterward. Notification of pesticide applications will be posted 48 hours beforehand at gpsbulldogs.org and at the school’s main entrance. If you would like to request prior notification, write to Mr. Arlyn Cribley, 4100 Kenowa SW, Grandville, MI 49418 or call (616) 254-6530.

 

Student Privacy & Parental Access to Information