UPDATE: FERPA changes proposed to student records including disability

[ninjaroll]

Hold onto your hats.  I think this one is self-explanatory so I won't cut and paste sections.  Do take a look at what the District posted including an ascribed "cooperativeness rating" indexing parents of children with disabilities engaging in 504 and IDEA negotiations.

http://homenewshere.com/tewksbury_town_crier/news/article_6222c6dc-da0d-11e4-972f-bf171ca1b609.html

[Macabre]

Just wow.  Unbelievable. 

[CMdeux]

 


That. is. incredible.


And, um-- not in a good way.

Just when you think you've seen everything...

[ninjaroll]

Both of you rabble-rousers get a "3".   

I'm joking.  It's laugh or cry, but perhaps a link or two is in order for us 3's. That should be a new code around here. 

By the way, District... thank you for making it so glaringly obvious what you did without prying it out of your hands with FOIA.  I'd recommend to the Powers That Be at FAS to FB post and tweet the link to that original article and then the link to PTAC and FPCO.   Federal protections like these are complaint-driven systems.  I'd suggest anyone having an issue just file a complaint even if the resolution phase is impractical in the near term.

http://ptac.ed.gov/
http://familypolicy.ed.gov/

[CMdeux]

Yeah, let's just file this under...


reasons why we still need to wish ADA a very happy birthday.   

[Macabre]

Oh, def a cry situation. Or rather a spitting nails one.  It's unconscionable and horrific.  I'm just a bit gobsmacked. speechless. (and on a number of phone calls this afternoon) It's difficult to believe this kind of thing would happen.  Except we know districts where this kind of attitude  does exist.

"This is one of the lowest forms of demagoguery I've witnessed in my many years as a special education attorney."

[daisy madness]

I'd wear my 3 as a badge of honor.  Unreal. 

[ThreeforMe]

This is disturbing. 

I am also still trying to figure out WHAT "people" consider personally identifiable. I've heard one thing from a lawyer and another from the people who manage FERPA. 

[ninjaroll]

An update.  The state tells District to get "sensitivity training" and nothing else.

http://www.lowellsun.com/todaysheadlines/ci_28520985/state-tewksbury-schools-must-train-after-data-release

[ThreeforMe]

So they basically want the district to have its people roll their eyes and watch a video and sign off on "all's well".   

[CMdeux]

NO, no-- I'm sure that they'll pass a clipboard around so that everyone signs in first.     They might even have someone live come to conduct the training.  It might even have a quiz at the end. 

[ninjaroll]

A new DCL in the works.  Proposed medical records changes under FERPA at higher ed.  May extend to K12 special education disputes.

As the draft explains, you may forward your comments to: FERPA.Comments@ed.gov. We will welcome and accept your input for 45 days, until October 2nd. General questions about FERPA should be directed to the Family Policy Compliance Office, at 202-260-3887 or FERPA@ed.gov.

Sincerely,

Kathleen M. Styles

Chief Privacy Officer

I know a couple of attorneys sending in some strongly worded comments.  A cited issue is the lack of true enforcement from FPCO or resolution through private right of action.