Release of Student Information (FERPA)

Release of Student Information Change Request Form (FERPA)

What is FERPA?
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the US Department of Education. FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children's education records. Learn more here, http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html

How does FERPA relate to my student?
Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), certain information about district students is considered "directory information" and will be released to anyone who follows the proper procedures for requesting the information, unless the parent or guardian objects to the release of the directory information about the student.

Duncanville ISD has designated the following student information as directory information:

  • name
  • enrollment status
  • grade level
  • honors and awards received
  • most recent educational institution attended
  • participation in officially recognized activities and sports
  • weight and height of members of athletic teams.

If a parent does not want Duncanville ISD to disclose directory information from their child's education records without prior written consent, the parent must notify the district in writing within ten (10) school days after you have been provided this notice. In Duncanville ISD, when the parent or guardian signs the Student Code of Conduct, the parent is given the option to specify to what degree permission is given. Parents have an option of selecting one of three release levels:

  1. Open to all requestors - this option gives Duncanville ISD permission to release student directory information to any person, group, business, organization, etc. who requests the information.
  2. Limited to school-sponsored purposes only - this option gives Duncanville ISD permission to release student directory information for district purposes, including but not limited to yearbooks, newsletters, district website, district social media sites, honor roll lists, and news stories about the district. This release options does not allow the district to release student directory information requested through the open records process.
  3. Closed to all requestors - this option does not give Duncanville ISD permission to release student directory information for any purpose or reason. The student can not be included in yearbooks, district newsletters, etc. This restriction also applies to student directory requests made through the open records process.