School districts are required by federal and state laws to provide certain notices to parents and students. Please note the required notices below:
Access to Student Records
Parents’ rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
Student Information
Also, under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), parents must be provided notice of the types of student information that it releases publicly. Directory information may be released to anyone who requests it unless you object to the release. Directory information includes a student’s name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, dates of attendance, most recent previous school last attended, awards received in school, weight and height of members of athletic teams, and participation of officially recognized activities and sports. Parents are offered the opportunity to opt out of the release of directory information via a parent sign-off form.
Permission to use student photographs for the newspaper and district website is also acknowledged in the parent sign off.
Student Privacy
Please be advised that you have the right to opt your child out of the following activities:
- The collection, disclosure, and use of personal information gathered from students for the purpose of marketing or selling that information. This does not apply to the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information collected from students for the exclusive purposes of developing, evaluating or providing educational products or services for, or to students, such as the following:
– College or other postsecondary education recruitment, or military recruitment
– Book clubs, magazines and programs providing access to low-cost literary products
– Curriculum and instructional materials used in schools
– Tests and assessments used to provide cognitive, evaluative, diagnostic, clinical, aptitude, or achievement information for students or to generate other statistically useful data for the purpose of securing such tests and assessments, and the subsequent analysis and public release of the aggregate data from such tests and assessments
– Student recognition programs
– The sale by students of products or services to raise funds for school-related activities - The administration of any survey revealing information concerning one or more of the following:
– Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or the student’s parent/guardian
– Mental or psychological problems of the student or the student’s family
– Sex behavior or attitudes
– Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating or demeaning behavior
– Critical appraisals of other individuals with whom respondents have close family relationships
– Legally recognized privileged or analogous relationships, such as those of lawyers, physicians and ministers
– Religious practices, affiliations or beliefs of the student or the student’s parent/guardian
– Income (other than that required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under such program) - The administration of any non-emergency, invasive physical examination or screening that is required as a condition of attendance administered by the school, not necessary to protest the immediate health or safety of the student or other students, and not otherwise permitted or required by state law.
The term “invasive physical examination” means any medical examination that involves the exposure of private body parts, or any act during such examination that includes incision, insertion, or injecting into the body, but does not include a hearing, vision, or scoliosis screening. It does not apply to any physical examination or screening required or permitted under state law, including those permitted without parental notification.
If there were to be activities noted above that you wished to “opt out” of on behalf of your child, you would be asked to notify the building principal within 10 days of the date you receive this notice.
Homeless Students
Parents of homeless students and unaccompanied youths must be informed of their rights and provided contact information for the local liaison for homeless children and youth. Additional information can be provided by contacting the CSE office at 866-2230, extension 1002.
Limited English-Proficient Students
Parents are notified, via a letter from the building principal, if their child is participating in, or identified as eligible for, a language instruction program for limited English-proficient students. A copy of this letter is available upon request to the building principal.
Pesticide and Asbestos
Information about asbestos and pesticide use
Staff Qualifications
Please be advised that in compliance with federal statutory and regulatory requirements, you may make written inquiry with respect to the following:
- Access to the composite APPR score for their child’s teacher and/or principal
- Whether your child’s classroom teacher has met state qualification and licensing criteria for the grade and subject areas in which they provide instruction
- Whether your child’s teacher is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which state qualification or licensing criteria have been waived
- The baccalaureate degree major of your child’s teacher and any other graduate certification or degree held by your child’s teacher, and the field of discipline of the certification or degree
- Whether your child is provided services by paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications
Any request for the above stated should be made in writing to the building principal.
Non-Discrimination Notice
Title VI, Title IX, Section 504, the Age Discrimination Act and Title II of the Americans With Disabilities Act protect citizens from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed, religion, marital status, sex, age, sexual orientation, disability, or predisposing genetic characteristics. If a student believes that the district has violated any of these protected rights, a complaint may be filed with the Director of Programs and Curriculum.
Disclosure to the Military
Directory information is provided to military recruiters upon request. If you do NOT wish to have directory information provided to military recruiters, a written request must be filed with the principal.
Dissection
In compliance with New York State Education Law 809, students have the right to “object to the performance or witnessing of the dissection of an animal, either wholly or in part.”
Herkimer Central School district offers students alternatives to animal dissection should their parents wish their child to abstain from these activities. If you wish for your child to abstain from dissection a written request must be submitted to the district.
Special Education
Every parent or person in parental relation maintains rights regarding the referral and evaluation of their child for the purposes of special education services or programs. You may refer to A Parent’s Guide to Special Education on the New York State Education Department’s website for information regarding your rights, or contact the district’s CSE office at 866-2230.