Per policy JO, the procedures for the amendment of records that a parent or eligible student believes to be inaccurate are as follows.
Parents or the eligible student must request in writing that the Goochland County Public Schools amend a record. In so doing, they should identify the part of the record they want changed and specify why they believe it is inaccurate, misleading or in violation of the student's privacy or other rights.
Goochland County Public Schools shall decide whether to amend the record in accordance with the request within a reasonable period of time. If it decides not to comply, the school division shall notify the parents or eligible student of the decision and advise them of their right to a hearing to challenge the information believed to be inaccurate, misleading or in violation of the student's rights.
Upon request, Goochland County Public Schools shall arrange for a hearing, and notify the parents or eligible student, reasonably in advance, of the date, place and time of the hearing. The hearing shall be held within a reasonable period of time after the request.
The parent or eligible student may, at the parent’s or student’s own expense, be assisted or represented by one or more individuals of the parent’s or student’s own choice, including an attorney.
The hearing shall be conducted by a hearing officer who is a disinterested party; however, the hearing officer may be an official of the school division. The parents or eligible student shall be afforded a full and fair opportunity to present evidence relevant to the issues raised in the original request to amend the student's education records in accordance with FERPA.
Goochland County Public Schools shall prepare a written decision which will include a summary of the evidence presented and the reasons for the decision within a reasonable period of time after the hearing. The decision will be based solely on the evidence presented at the hearing.
If Goochland County Public Schools decides that the information is inaccurate, misleading or in violation of the student's right of privacy, it shall amend (including expungement) the record and notify the parents or eligible student, in writing, that the record has been amended.
If Goochland County Public Schools decides that the challenged information is not inaccurate, misleading or in violation of the student's right of privacy, it will notify the parents or eligible student that they have a right to place in the record a statement commenting on the challenged information and/or a statement setting forth reasons for disagreeing with the decision. The statement will be maintained as part of the student's education records as long as the contested portion is maintained and disclosed whenever the school division discloses the portion of the record to which the statement relates.