Student Records

Federal and state laws govern school districts’ release, retention and transfer of student education records. These laws require school districts to have policies regarding student education records that address parents’ and students’ rights, define the district’s responsibilities and define the information included in student education records. (ORS 326.565 and 336.187 and OAR 581-021-0220 and 581-021-0440)

Directory information means those items of personally identifiable information contained in a student’s education record that would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. Directory information may include and is not limited to, the student’s name, address, telephone listing, photograph, date and place of birth, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of athletic team members, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, and the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended.

Each district defines directory information in its school board policies. Parents are told, in writing, at the beginning of each school year, what information the district considers directory information available to the general public. Parents are told directory information is released unless the parent notifies the district by a certain date not to do so.

The news media has access to directory information through procedures set up in school district policies. In addition, once a school or school district gives media representatives access to students, it cannot then require the media to obtain parental permission to use any of the information gathered from students.

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