Refusal to Release Directory Information
Federal law (and School Board Policies JO and JO-BR) requires schools, with certain exceptions, obtain written consent from a student’s parent/guardian prior to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from the student’s education records. However, schools may disclose "directory information" without written consent, unless school personnel have been advised to the contrary in accordance with division procedures.
The primary purpose of directory information is to allow the school to include this type of information from a student’s education records in certain school publications. 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, Roanoke Public Libraries and companies that manufacture class rings or publish yearbooks.
Directory information includes the following:
- Student’s name
- Address
- Telephone listing
- Electronic mail address
- Photograph
- Date and place of birth
- Major field of study
- Dates of attendance
- Grade level
- Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
- Student connection to military
- Weight and height of members of athletic teams
- Degrees, honors, and awards received
- Student ID number, user ID, or other unique personal identifier used to communicate in electronic systems that cannot be used to access education records without a PIN, password, etc. (A student’s SSN, in whole or in part, cannot be used for this purpose.)
Questions about these laws should be directed to the school principal.
In addition, there are times when the school division or the media may wish to use a student’s picture or interview a student in public media coverage of school events or activities (for example, in a newspaper article or television news feature, or for school recognition). This information also pertains to auxiliary sites affiliated with the school system, such as the Adolescent Health Centers, the LIFT Center at Fallon Park Elementary, and social media sites. Parents who do not wish the school to release specific types of directory information should indicate and sign the Media Release form from the school and return it to the principal within fifteen days.
Military Directory Sharing
Two federal laws also require schools to provide military recruiters, upon request, with directory information unless parents have advised the school they do not want their student’s information disclosed without their prior written consent. If you do not object in writing, the schools will distribute such information as needed.