The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education. 

The Uninterrupted Scholars Act (Public Law 112-278) was enacted on January 14, 2013. The Act amends FERPA to permit educational agencies and institutions to disclose a student’s education records, without parental consent, to a caseworker or other representative of a State or local child welfare agency or tribal organization authorized to access a student’s case plan “when such agency or organization is legally responsible, in accordance with State or tribal law, for the care and protection of the student.” 

FERPA gives parents/guardians certain rights with respect to their children’s education records. Education records are defined as all “materials maintained by the school, district, district employee or district agents, which is directly related to a student and maintained by the district or a party acting for the district.” Records include, but are not limited to, documents, tape recordings, and video recordings. These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level. Students to whom the rights have transferred are “eligible students.” Parents/guardians or eligible students have the right to inspect and review the student’s education records maintained by the school. Schools are not required to provide copies of records unless, for reasons such as great distance, it is impossible for parents/guardians or eligible students to review the records. Schools may charge a fee for copies. 

Parents/guardians or eligible students have the right to request that a school correct records which they believe to be inaccurate or misleading. If the school decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student then has the right to a formal hearing. After the hearing, if the school still decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student has the right to place a statement with the record setting forth his or her view about the contested information. 

Generally, schools must have written permission from the parent or eligible student in order to release any information from a student’s education record. However, FERPA allows schools to disclose those records, without consent, to the following parties or under the following conditions (34 CFR § 99.31): 

• School officials with legitimate educational interest; 

• Other schools to which a student is transferring; 

• Specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes; 

• Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student; 

• Organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the school; 

• Accrediting organizations; 

• To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena; 

• Appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies; and 

• State and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system, pursuant to specific State law. 

Schools may disclose, without consent, “DIRECTORY” information, which includes the following in accordance with OKCPS Administrative Regulation F-12-R1:

• The student's name, address, and telephone number;

• The names of the student's parents;

• The student's date and place of birth;

• The student's major field of study and class designation (i.e., first grade, tenth grade, etc.);

• The student's extracurricular participation;

• The student's achievement awards or honors;

• The student's weight and height if a member of an athletic team;

• The student's photograph or video;

• The students dates of attendance; and

• The most recent educational institution the student attended prior to the student enrolling in this school district.

However, schools must tell parents/guardians and eligible students about directory information and allow parents/guardians and eligible students a reasonable amount of time to request that the school not disclose directory information about them. Caregivers enrolling students have the option to mark their requests that family directory information not be disclosed in the Annual Permissions section of the online enrollment forms. If there is a change during the school year, families contact their students’ schools directly. Schools must notify parents/guardians and eligible students annually of their rights under FERPA. OKCPS annually discloses this information in the Student/Parent handbook .

For additional information, you may call 1-800-USA-LEARN (1-800-872-5327) (voice) or TDD may call 1-800-437-0833.

Or you may contact the US Department of Education:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education 
400 Maryland Avenue, SW,
Washington, D.C. 20202-5920   

PPRA (20 U.S.C. § 1232h; 34 CFR Part 98) applies to programs that receive funding from the U.S. Department of Education (ED). PPRA is intended to protect the rights of parents/guardians and students in two ways: 

It seeks to ensure that schools and contractors make instructional materials available for inspection by parents/guardians if those materials will be used in connection with an ED funded survey, analysis, or evaluation in which their children participate; and   

It seeks to ensure that schools and contractors obtain written parental consent before minor students are required to participate in any ED funded survey, analysis, or evaluation that reveals information concerning: 

Political affiliations; 

• Mental and psychological problems potentially embarrassing to the student and his/her family; Sex behavior and attitudes; Illegal, antisocial, self-incriminating and demeaning behavior; 

• Critical appraisals of other individuals with whom respondents have close family relationships; 

• Legally recognized privileged or analogous relationships, such as those of lawyers, physicians, and ministers; or 

• Income (other than that required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under such program). 

Parents/guardians or students who believe their rights under PPRA may have been violated may file a complaint with ED by writing the Family Policy Compliance Office. Complaints must contain specific allegations of fact giving reasonable cause to believe that a violation of PPRA occurred. For additional information or technical assistance, you may call (202) 260-3887 (voice). Individuals who use TDD may call the Federal Information Relay Service at 1-800-877- 8339. 

Or you may contact us at the following address: 

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education 
400 Maryland Avenue, SW,
Washington, D.C. 20202-5920   

(Title VI, Title IX, Title II, Sec 504, Age Act, Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act) 

The Oklahoma City Public School District (OKCPS) does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, alienage, veteran, parental, family and marital status in its programs and activities, or in its employment decisions, and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts of America and other designated youth groups. OKCPS is committed to creating a safe, healthy learning environment for all students that enhances personal safety and encourages respect, dignity, and equality among students. OKCPS complies with the following laws: 

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin. The following individual is designated to as the Title VI Coordinator for OKCPS: 

Ellen Kraft 
Director, English Language Development
(405) 587-0056

Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability. The district also complies with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”). The following person is designated as the Title II/ Section 504 Coordinator for OKCPS: 

Felecia Jenkins-Polk
504 Coordinator 
(405) 587-1448

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex. Title IX also prohibits gender-based harassment, which may include acts of verbal, nonverbal, or physical aggression, intimidation, or hostility based on sex or sex-stereotyping, even if those acts do not involve conduct of a sexual nature. The following person is designated as the Title IX Coordinator for OKCPS: 

Jessica Sherrill  |  General Counsel   |  (405) 587-0350

The Age Discrimination Act of 1975 prohibits discrimination on the basis of age. 

Under the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act, no public elementary school or state or local education agency that provides an opportunity for one or more outside youth or community groups to meet on school premises or in school facilities before or after school hours shall deny equal access or a fair opportunity to meet to, or discriminate against, any group officially affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America, or any other youth group listed in Title 36 of the United States Code as a patriotic society. The following individual has been designated to investigate alleged violations of this act as the Title IX, Age Act and Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act Coordinator: 

Jessica Sherrill  |   General Counsel   |  (405) 587-0350  

Any person who believes that he or she has been the victim of discrimination should report the alleged discrimination within 30 days of the occurrence by: 

• Calling the Safe Schools Hotline at 587-STOP 

• Submitting an online report through the TIPS Incident Report page from the Families tab at the district website. 

• Sending an email, telephone/fax, or letter by mail or filing a complaint in person to: 

Legal Services
Oklahoma City Public Schools
P.O. Box 36609
Oklahoma City, OK 73136
Email: legal@okcps.org
Office: (405) 587-0350  

Clara Luper Center for Educational Services
615 N Classen Blvd
Oklahoma City, OK 73106

Once a complaint has been made, designated personnel will begin an investigation, track progress, and determine whether the alleged conduct constitutes a violation of Title VI, Title IX, Title II, Section 504, the Age Act , or the Boy Scouts Equal Access Act, and take appropriate action. 

Discrimination complaints may be submitted to the following: 

STUDENT AND PERSONNEL COMPLAINTS 

Legal Services
615 N. Classen Blvd., OKC, OK 73106
legal@okcps.org
(405) 587-0350 

For further information about notices of non-discrimination visit the Office of Civil Rights (OCR), website for the address and phone number of the office that serves your area, or call 1-800-421-3481. 

Pursuant to House Bill 1775, passed by the Oklahoma Legislature and signed by the Governor on May 7, 2021, neither the district nor any employee of the district shall teach or include in a course for students or employees the following delineated principles pursuant to House Bill 1775 codified at 70 O.S. § 24-157:

1. One race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex,

2. An individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously,

3. An individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly because of his or her race or sex,    

4. Members of one race or sex cannot and should not attempt to treat others without respect to race or sex,

5. An individual’s moral character is necessarily determined by his or her race or sex,

6. An individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex,

7. Any individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish or any other form of psychological distress on account of his or her race or sex, or

8. Meritocracy or traits such as a hard work ethic are racist or sexist or were created by members of a particular race to oppress members of another race.
   
   

The district hereby designates the OKCPS Legal Department as the employee responsible remfor receiving complaints. The Legal Department may be reached via telephone at (405) 587-0350 and via email at legal@okcps.org.   

Complaints may be submitted via this link to a designated form or by picking up a complaint form from the front desk at the OKCPS Clara Luper Center for Educational Services located at 615 N. Classen Blvd., OKC, OK 73136.

AHERA requires the inspection of all school buildings for asbestos. OKCPS has complied with this act. A management plan documenting these inspections is on file for public review. Upon request, you may view the plan which is located in the main office of each school and the OKCPS Service Center. We will annually notify all PARENTS/GUARDIANS, teachers, and other employees by posting this notice. Additionally, information regarding any asbestos related activities; planned or in progress, will be disseminated by posting a notice or using hand out bulletins, flyers and/or using newspaper public notice statements. 

This annual notification contains important information about meningococcal disease and meningococcal vaccines from the Oklahoma State Department of Education and the Oklahoma State Department of Health. Meningitis is an infection of the tissue lining and fluid that surrounds the spinal cord and the brain. Meningitis is usually caused by a virus or a bacterium. Meningitis caused by a virus is usually less severe and goes away without any special treatment, while meningitis caused by bacteria can be severe and may cause brain damage, hearing loss, amputation of arms or legs, learning disabilities, or death. 

The disease is spread by respiratory droplets produced by a person harboring the bacteria and expelled a short distance by laughing, singing, coughing, or sneezing. The bacteria may also be spread by direct contact with the respiratory fluids of someone who is infected. That includes kissing or sharing a water bottle, food item, cigarettes, lipstick, lip balm, mouth guard or anything an infected person touches with his or her nose or mouth. 

Vaccines can prevent approximately two-thirds of the meningococcal disease cases. There are two types of meningococcal vaccine available in the United States (MCV4 and MPSV4) that protect against four of the five most common disease-causing strains of the meningococcal bacteria. A single dose of MCV4 meningococcal vaccine protects about 90 percent of the people who are immunized against meningococcal disease caused by types A, C, Y, and W-135. These types cause almost two-thirds of all meningococcal disease among teenagers in the United States. It does not prevent type B, which causes about one third of the cases in teenagers. 

Further health questions can be answered through the Oklahoma State Department of Health Immunization Service at 405-271-4073, or website at http://imm.health.ok.gov.

Oklahoma state law at Title 70 O.S. section 24-105 requires annual notification to parents and guardians of clubs and organizations sponsored by or under the direction or supervision of the school.  This annual notification includes the following information about each student club or organization: school name, club/organization name, mission/purpose, and name of faculty advisor, if known.

www.okcps.org/schoolclubs