PVSchools is always exploring better ways to communicate with parents and students how student data is being used. FERPA requires it, yet FERPA itself can be complicated. Both parents and students are better served when they understand how data is used in schools, so PV extends this web site to help in that regard.

Bytes of Life - Helpful Tips for Parents, Students and Employees

Digital Citizen is a site maintained by PV's IT, which has much to use at home, at work and at school.

A parent's guide to student/data privacy

Directory Information

Information regarding FERPA and Directory Information can be found in PVSchool's Student/Parent Handbook. Specifically, and importantly, under FERPA, PV can determine and provide the following student record data, called Directory Information, unless requested in writing by the parent/guardian not to do so. This information can be requested by third-parties, under a "public request".

If you do not want Paradise Valley Unified School District to disclose any or all of the types of information designated below as directory information from your child’s education records without your prior written consent, you must notify your school’s principal in writing by September 10th of each school year. The Paradise Valley Unified School District has designated the following information as Directory Information:

• • Student's name

  • Address

  • Telephone listing

  • Electronic mail address

  • Date and place of birth

  • Major field of study

  • Dates of attendance

  • Participation in officially recognized activities and sports

  • Weight and height of members of athletic teams

  • Awards received

Directory Information on User ID (e.g., username in email address)

FERPA regulations define directory information as information contained in an education record of a student that would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. Directory information includes, but is not limited to, the student's name; address; telephone listing; electronic mail address; photograph; date and place of birth; major field of study; grade level; enrollment status (e.g., undergraduate or graduate, full-time or part-time); dates of attendance; participation in officially recognized activities and sports; weight and height of members of athletic teams; degrees, honors and awards received; and the most recent educational agency or institution attended. Directory information does not include a student's: (1) Social security number; or

(2) Student identification (ID) number, except when a student ID number, user ID, or other unique personal identifier is used by the student for purposes of accessing or communicating in electronic systems, but only if the identifier cannot be used to gain access to education records except when used in conjunction with one or more factors that authenticate the user's identity, such as a personal identification number (PIN), password, or other factor known or possessed only by the authorized user.

For more information, see the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Regulations, 34 CFR §99.3, available at http://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/pdf/ferparegs.pdf.