FERPA Notice

What is FERPA?

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), 20 U.S.C. § 1232g, is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. FERPA gives parents and eligible students certain rights with respect to the student's education records.

Your Rights Under FERPA

Parents of students and eligible students (generally those age 18 or older) have the right to:

1. Inspect and Review Records

You have the right to inspect and review all of your student's education records maintained by the school. Legends Public Charter School will provide access to education records within 45 days of receipt of a request.

2. Request Amendment of Records

If you believe any information in your student's education record is inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of FERPA, you may request that Legends amend the record. To request an amendment, submit a written request to the school specifying the record to be changed and the reason for the change.

3. Consent to Disclosure

Generally, Legends will not disclose personally identifiable information from your student's education record to third parties without your written consent, with certain exceptions detailed below.

4. File a Complaint with the U.S. Department of Education

If you believe Legends has violated your FERPA rights, you may file a complaint with the Family Policy Compliance Office (FPCO), U.S. Department of Education:

Disclosures Without Consent

FERPA permits Legends to disclose education records without parental consent in the following circumstances:

• To school officials with a legitimate educational interest
• To other schools to which the student seeks to transfer
• To authorized representatives of the Department of Education
• In response to a court order or subpoena (with notice to parents)
• To appropriate parties in a health or safety emergency
• To parent(s) of a dependent student as defined by the Internal Revenue Code (IRS Section 152)
• Concerning disciplinary action taken against the student
• To comply with state or federal law requirements

Directory Information

Legends designates the following information as "directory information," which may be disclosed without parental consent except as noted below:

• Student's name
• Address and phone number
• Grade level and enrollment status
• Participation in school-sponsored activities and athletics
• Honors and awards received
• Dates of attendance

Directory Information Opt-Out

Parents and eligible students have the right to opt out of the disclosure of directory information. If you do not want Legends to disclose directory information about your student, you must submit a written request to the school office. This request must be submitted annually at the beginning of the school year.

How to Request Your Records

To request access to your student's education records, submit a written request to:

Please include your student's name, date of birth, and a description of the records you wish to review. Legends will provide the records within 45 days of receipt of your request.

Fees for Records

Legends may charge a reasonable fee for the cost of copying and mailing education records, unless the fee would effectively prevent parents from accessing the records. The school will provide one copy free of charge upon request.

School Officials with Legitimate Educational Interest

Legends defines a "school official" as a person employed by the school as an administrator, teacher, school counselor, nurse, specialist, or support staff member; a person serving on the school board; a person who contracts with Legends to perform a specific institutional service or function; or parents or students employed by the school.

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 or administrative responsibilities.

Questions About FERPA

If you have questions about Legends' FERPA policies or your rights under FERPA, please contact the school office at 240-455-5900 or hello@legendspcs.org.

This notice is provided in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and is effective for the current and all future school years.