Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) Notice of Directory Information

PUBLIC NOTICE

TO: Parents of Students in Shawnee Mission Unified School District No. 512, Eligible Students, and Other Interested Persons

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a Federal law, requires that the Shawnee Mission School District, USD #512, with certain exceptions, obtain your written consent prior to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from your child’s education records. However, the Shawnee Mission School may disclose appropriately designated “directory information” without written consent, unless you have advised the District to the contrary in accordance with District procedures. 

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 without a parent’s prior written consent. Outside organizations include, but are not limited to, companies that manufacture class rings or publish yearbooks. In addition, two federal laws require local educational agencies (LEAs) receiving assistance under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA) to provide military recruiters, upon request, with the following information – names, addresses, e-mail addresses (if available), and telephone listings – unless parents have advised the LEA that they do not want their student’s information disclosed without their prior written consent.1

If you do not want the Shawnee Mission School District to disclose directory information from your child’s education records without your prior written consent, you must notify the District by completing the annual online verification process before the first day of school or upon initial enrollment. The Shawnee Mission School District has designated the following information as directory information: 

  • Student’s Name
  • Parents’ Name 
  • Address
  • Telephone listing 
  • Electronic mail address
  • Date and place of birth
  • School attended 
  • Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
  • Weight and height of members of athletic teams
  • Dates of attendance 
  • Degrees, honors, and awards received
  • The most recent educational agency or institution attended 
  • Grade level 
  • Major field of study 
  • Photographs 

 

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 1These laws are: Section 9528 of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. § 7908) and 10 U.S.C. § 503(c).