File: JRA-R-2
RELEASE OF STUDENT INFORMATION
Occasionally, faculty and staff members have been asked by parents/guardians, their attorneys, and/or investigators or other professionals hired by parents/guardians, to complete affidavits and to provide written or oral statements or other documentation beyond normal school communication regarding the teacher’s observations of a student’s performance, well-being, etc., for use by those individuals outside of the school setting and/or within various legal proceedings.
The School Committee has adopted the following policy to govern the manner in which the district will respond to such requests:
1. No affidavits, written or oral statements, or documentation beyond normal school communication shall be issued directly to a parent/attorney/investigator or other non Leverett Elementary School professionals without the prior approval of the Central Office Administration. This includes requests by parents/guardians for school staff to complete questionnaires or other forms asking for information regarding a student’s performance and/or behavior. An attorney for the Leverett Elementary School may be consulted by Central Office staff before responding to a request.
2. Leverett Elementary School’s student records shall not be produced nor shall information be provided verbally in response to a subpoena or other request without obtaining a release from the student’s parents/guardians. Generally, if a subpoena is issued by a court or administrative agency, the individual subpoenaed must comply unless otherwise ordered by the court or agreed-upon by the parties. Prior to responding, however, all staff shall consult with the Principal, and/or a Central Officer Administrator. In the event that a release cannot be obtained, a letter will be sent to the parents/guardians that a subpoena has been served for the student records and the date, time and place where the documents have been ordered to be delivered. The written notice shall also state that it is the obligation of the student’s parents/guardians to file any objections to the introduction of the documents with the court or administrative organization which authorized the subpoena.
First Reading: 04/04/06
Second reading, first vote: 05/02/06
Final vote: 06/06/06