Pursuant to the requirements of Independent School District No. 466 Dassel-Cokato School District Policy regarding educational data privacy, the following constitutes the school district’s annual notification to parents and students regarding data privacy practices of the school district. The school district has adopted a Data Privacy and Student Records Policy incorporating state and federal requirements as to data privacy rights. In summary, the policy provides:

A. Privacy Rights
Educational records which identify or could be used to identify a student other than directory information, may not be released to members of the public without the written permission of the student’s parents or guardians or the student if he or she is 18, attends a post-secondary institution, is married or has graduated. This general rule is subject to specific and limited exceptions which cannot be set out here due to limitations of space, but which are set out in district policy.

B. Directory Information
“Directory Information” includes a student’s parents’ names, student’s name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, sex, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, grade levels completed, degrees and awards received, the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student and other similar information. Directory information may be released to the public without prior parent or student consent unless the parent or eligible student has objected in writing to the release of one or more categories of such information. Directory information does not include identifying data that references religion, race, color, social position, or nationality. A parent of a student or an eligible student in the district may refuse to permit the release of any or all categories of directory information by contacting the building principal in which said student attends and completing the form “Objection to Release of Directory Information.” This objection must be given to the district within thirty (30) days of this publication notice.

C. Inspection of Records
Parents of a student or a student may request to inspect and review any of the student’s educational records except those which are, by state or federal law, made confidential. The school district will comply with the request immediately if possible and if not, within five days exclusive of weekends and holidays. In certain special circumstances, an additional five days may be required in order to comply. Copies of records may be obtained at the actual cost of reproduction.

D. Challenge to Accuracy of Records
A parent or eligible student who believes that specific information in the student’s educational records is inaccurate, misleading, incomplete or violates the privacy or other rights of the student, may request that the school district amend or correct the record in question. If the superintendent, within a period of 30 days, declines to amend the record as requested, the parent or student who is 18 or older will be advised in writing of their right to request and obtain a hearing. If either the superintendent or, after hearing, the hearing officer appointed by the school district, determines that the record in question is inaccurate, misleading, incomplete or violates the privacy or other rights of the student, the record will be amended, the parents or student age 18 or older notified of the change, and an attempt will be made to notify past recipients of the data. If, as a result of the hearing, it is determined that the challenged record is not inaccurate, misleading, incomplete or in violation of the privacy or other rights of the student, the parent or student of age 18 or older will be notified of their rights to place a statement with the record commenting upon it and setting out any reason for disagreeing with the decision of the school district. Data in dispute will be disclosed only if the statement of disagreement is included with the disputed data. The decision of the superintendent or hearing officer is the final decision of the school district and may be appealed under the provision of the State Administrative Procedure Act, Minn. Statute C15, relating to contested cases.

E. Transfer of Records to Other Schools
Independent School District No. 466 forwards educational records of students to other schools and school districts in which a student seeks or intends to enroll upon request of that school or school district. A parent or student who is 18 years of age may request and receive a copy of the records which are transferred and may, pursuant to this policy, challenge the accuracy of the records. The district does not, however, notify parents or students of age 18 or older prior to such a transfer.

F. Data Collection Rights
A parent or eligible student when asked to supply private or confidential data, shall be informed of: (a) the purpose and intended use of the requested data; (b) whether he may refuse or is legally required to supply the requested data; (c) any known consequence arising from his supplying or refusing to supply the data and (d) the identity of the persons or entities authorized by state or federal law to receive the data.

G. Complaints for Non-Compliance
Parents and students of age 18 or older may submit written complaints of violation of rights accorded them by the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act to the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act Office, U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C. 20201. This review of the data privacy rights of students and parents in the educational records maintained by Independent School District 466 is intended only to be a summary of the provisions of school district policy and applicable state and federal law.

Requests for copies of the policy and questions should be addressed to: Superintendent of Schools, Independent School District 466, 4852 Reardon Ave. SW, Suite 1700, Cokato, Minn. 55321.