Confidentiality

All student information should be treated confidentially. Both state and federal laws protect the privacy of student information, including the Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (“FERPA”). FERPA is a federal law that governs the disclosure of school and personal records for students. As a volunteer, you may find yourself having access to protected student information during the course of your service. We must keep all student data and information confidential pursuant to FERPA. Sharing student information with others may be a violation of the law. Confidential information includes any personally identifiable information regarding a student, including, but not limited to:

• The student’s name

• The name(s) of the parent(s)/guardian(s)

• The name of another family member

• The parent’s address

• A personal identifier (like a social security number)

• Characteristics that would make it possible to identify the student with reasonable certainty

• Academic and health records

• Test scores and grades

• Family information 

• Discipline or behavioral incident information

• Status or accommodations given to a student when there is an academic or developmental special need 

Volunteers must maintain the confidentiality of any information they learn about students' academic performance, behavior, and personal details. Any concerns should be discussed directly with the teacher, rather than with other volunteers, parents, family members, or acquaintances.

As a volunteer, you are required to keep confidential information secure and only disclose it as permitted or required by law or AISD policy. You must take care to protect against any inadvertent disclosure by ensuring that confidential information is not left unattended or unsecured in either paper or digital form. If you have any doubts about whether certain information is confidential or about the rules for disclosing student information, please consult campus administration for clarification.

For additional information about FERPA and to read the FERPA regulations visit the Department of Education's Protecting Student Privacy website.