Harwood Unified Union School District: Annual Notification of Rights and Eligible Students Concerning Education Records

August 23, 2024

TO: All parents of students, and to eligible students* currently attending schools in the Harwood Unified Union School District and its member schools:

1. As the parent of a student enrolled in a school in a member district of the Harwood Unified Union School District, or as an eligible student, you have the following rights with respect to your child’s (or, if an eligible student, your own) education records:

a. To inspect and review the student’s education records;

b. To seek amendment of the student’s education records to ensure that they are not inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights;

c. To provide consent prior to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that the law allows disclosure without your consent;

d. To file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the school district to comply with the requirements of law with respect to your rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). A complaint may be made in writing to the Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 4512 Switzer Building, Washington, DC 20202-4605.

2. The procedure for exercising your right to inspect and review education records is available at the Harwood Unified Union School District office and each member school site.

3. The procedure for seeking amendment of education records is available at the Harwood Unified Union School District office and each member school site.

4. The Harwood Unified Union School District and its member schools have a policy of disclosing educational records to school officials with a legitimate educational interest without prior consent. A “school official with a legitimate educational interest” is defined as follows: any teacher, administrator, other professional or service provider employed by or contracted with the district to provide educationally-related services (including, but not limited to, consultants, attorneys, auditors, insurers, evaluators, support staff, substitutes, assigned student teachers, interns, volunteers, teacher’s aides), or a school board member who needs information relating to a particular student in order to carry out his/her official duties for the district.

5. The Harwood Unified Union School District and its member schools forward education records to other agencies or institutions that have requested records and in which the student seeks or intends to enroll. This Annual Notification of Rights is only a summary of rights. Your rights to inspect and review education records, and the school district’s duty to have your written consent prior to disclosure of personally identifiable information, are subject to limitations. Further details are contained in the school district’s detailed student record policy and procedures, and in State and federal law.

*You are an eligible student if you are at least 18 years of age or are attending an institution of post-secondary education.