FERPA (Family Education Rights and Privacy Act) - Under FERPA, school districts may disclose directory information if they have given public notice to parents/guardians and eligible students of what information has been designated as directory information, and when and how parents/guardians and eligible students may opt out of allowing the district to disclose their directory information.  Please see the FERPA form (or FERPA form in Spanish)  for opting out of several categories of “directory Information’, including the annual “Student Directory” phone book published by the San Juan Island Public Schools Foundation. 

 The Family and Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students over 18 years of age ("eligible students") certain rights with respect to the student's education records. They are:

(1) The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day the District receives a request for access. Parents, guardians or eligible students should submit to the school principal a written request that identifies the records they wish to inspect. The principal will make arrangements for access and notify the parents, guardian or eligible student of the time and place the records may be inspected.

(2) The right to request an amendment of student's education records that the parent, guardian or eligible student believes is inaccurate or misleading. Parents, guardians or eligible students may ask the District to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the school principal or program director, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the District decides not to amend the record as requested, the District will notify the parent, guardian or eligible student of the decision and advise them of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent, guardian or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.

(3) The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student's educational records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. Exceptions which permit disclosure without consent are: disclosure deemed by the district as necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other individuals and disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the District as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement personnel); a person serving on the school board; a person or company with whom the District has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, hearing officer, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist); or a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. If district officials determine there is a specific threat to the health or safety of a student or any other individual, it may disclose otherwise confidential student information to appropriate parties, as allowed by FERPA.

​Upon request, the District discloses education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll or is already enrolled if the disclosure is for purposes of the student’s enrollment or transfer.

​(4) The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the District to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is: Student Privacy Policy Office U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, DC  20202.