LEGAL NOTIFICATIONS

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA)

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015 amended the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) to require that the Department of Education (department) notify annually each state educational agency (SEA) and each local educational agency (LEA) of their obligations under PPRA and FERPA. The general requirements placed on the LEA (in effect, the LSSD) are that FERPA provides that an LEA that receives department funds may not have a policy or practice of denying parents the right to:

1.     inspect and review education records

2.     seek to amend education records

3.     consent to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from education records except as specified by law

4.     file a complaint with the Family Policy Compliance Office (FPCO) in the department

The above items are intended to give general information about ESSA, FERPA, and PPRA and how they pertain to LSHS. The information contained within is spelled out more specifically and is available for public viewing at the LSSD main office. Copies of these policies and laws are also available at the LSSD main office upon request. Please call (425) 335-1500. 

LSSD and LSPD Memorandum of Understanding

A memorandum of understanding exists between the Lake Stevens School District and the Lake Stevens Police Department. The following incidents will be reported to the police: Fights, arson, assault, bomb threats, burglary, dangerous weapons violations, disturbances, explosives, extortion, harassment, blackmail, coercion, forgery, tampering with fire apparatus or alarms, theft, destruction of property, robbery, sale, use or possession of tobacco, alcohol, drug and/or criminal trespass. This list is not limited in scope 

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

ESSA requires school districts that receive federal funds to disclose names, addresses, and telephone numbers of secondary students to military recruiters and institutions of higher education, upon request, unless the student, guardian, or parent, requests that information not be released without prior written consent. The district must annually notify parents at the beginning of the year about the same access to students generally provided to post-secondary education institutions and prospective employers. (Revised LSSD board policy #1420) In addition, districts are required to notify parents prior to administering student surveys, analyses, or evaluation in eight protected areas. In order to be in compliance with federal guidelines and the ESSA, LSSD board policy must include consent provisions, tools, and instructional materials when used with surveys/evaluations in a program supported by federal funds. No student will be required as part of any project or program supported by federal funds to submit to survey, analysis, or evaluation that reveals information concerning:

1.     political affiliations

2.     potentially embarrassing mental or psychological problems

3.     sexual behavior and attitudes

4.     illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating or demeaning behavior

5.     critical appraisals of close family members

6.     privileged or similar relationships

7.     religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or student’s parent

8.     income other than information necessary to establish eligibility for a program without the prior consent of adult or students, or written permission of parents (revised LSSD board policy # 6010.5)