Privacy Policy

PRIVACY RIGHTS OF PARENT/GUARDIAN AND STUDENTS (FERPA)

The Eatonville School District, in compliance with federal laws 93-308 and 93-568, presents these facts for the information of parent/guardian and students.

In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. 1232g, student records are open for review and inspection by parent/guardian or students eighteen (18) years of age or older. Students sixteen (16) years of age or older, or who are emancipated have the right to give informed consent regarding their records, with some exceptions. Under state law, information regarding students with HIV or sexually transmitted diseases (STD), fourteen (14) years of age or older, may be released by the student only.

A student's records are open under the guidance of a school staff member for inspection and review to the parent/guardian of the student or the student himself/herself if eighteen (18) years of age or older. Appointments must be pre-scheduled for viewing cumulative records of grades, achievement test scores, or health records. Psychological records may be reviewed at the Special Services Office. Appointments may be made for viewing psychological records at (253) 841-8700. (Psychological testing is administered only with prior parent/guardian approval.) A parent/guardian or student eighteen (18) years of age or older may view his/her records, attach written comments, or request a hearing to remove a part of the records. Records may be reproduced at a cost of $.15 (cents) per page, paid by the person requesting the information. For a certified transcript the first five are free any additional are $1.00 each.

Eatonville School District, in conformance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) permits parent/guardian or students to:

Inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day the District receives a request for access. Under state public disclosure law, the request must be acknowledged in writing by the District within five (5) working days, and unless the documents are presented at that time, an estimate will be provided as to when they will be available within the 45 day response period. A parent/guardian or eligible student should submit to the school principal/designee a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The principal/designee will make arrangements for access and notify the parent/guardian or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.


Request an amendment of the student's education records that the parent/guardian or eligible student believes are inaccurate, misleading or in violation of the student’s rights to privacy. A parent/guardian or eligible students may ask the District to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. A parent/guardian should write to the school principal/designee, clearly identifying the part of the record they want changed, and specifying why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the District decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent/guardian or eligible student, 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 as provided in District Policy 3231.

Consent as provided in District Policy 3231, to the disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s educational records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.

One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials who have legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the District such as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit 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 attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist; or a parent/guardian 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. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.

The Eatonville School District will forward elementary and secondary student's educational records on request to the school in which the student seeks or intends to enroll without further parent/guardian notification. A parent/guardian may receive a copy of the records at their expense, if requested. Similarly, transcripts or other information requested by students will be forwarded to colleges and educational institutions to which students are applying, provided there are no unpaid fees or fines.

The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education under Section 99.64 concerning alleged failures by the District to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The Family Policy Compliance office can be contacted if you have any questions or need further information:


Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
4000 Maryland Avenue S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20202-5901


Unless a parent/guardian files a written objection as provided below, the District may release a student’s “directory information” to the public without prior parental/guardian consent. Directory information includes the following information relating to a student: the student's name, photograph, activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, graduation lists, scholarship and award winners, and schools attended.

A parent/guardian who does not wish to disclose this information should notify the school principal in writing within ten calendar days following notice of these rights to students. Under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, a parent or a student may also request that their directory information not be released to military recruiters. Such a request must be filed in writing with the school principal.