Student Records (FERPA)

Statement of Understanding Regarding the Release of Information Contained in Student Records (FERPA)

Please read the statement below and fill out the form at the bottom of the page:

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. FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children’s education records. These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends school beyond the high school level. Students to whom the rights have transferred are “eligible students”.

Understanding my privacy rights under FERPA, I consent to giving my access to my education records as listed below. I understand that the records to be disclosed include my social security number and other personally identifiable information from my education records.

I give my permission for the Cowley County Adult Education and College Preparation to release or obtain information such as Social Security Number, assessment results an/or scores of the General Education Development Exam (GED) for purposes of education or employment research/reporting, disability information or any other records that pertain to my educational studies. I understand that any information provided by or to another agency or entity will be treated pursuant to Kansas and Federal laws as confidential and shared only with those professionals responsible for my educational program.

I understand that information on the learner registration forms may be shared with the Kansas Board of Regents or other adult education personnel for the purpose of compiling and reporting information as required by the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act. I understand that after I have finished my program of study I may be contacted by telephone, regular mail, or e-mail about completion of my goals.

I understand that information regarding the completion of the following goals may be verified by another private or governmental agency:

1. Getting or keeping a job and rate of pay
2. Enrolling in a college, university, or other training program
3. Passing the GED exam or getting a high school diploma

Directory Information

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act requires that Cowley College, with certain exceptions, obtain your written consent prior to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from your education records. However, Cowley College may disclose appropriately designated “directory information” with written consent, unless you have advised the college to the contrary in accordance with college procedures. The primary purpose of directory information is to allow the college to include this type of information from your educational records in certain school publications. Examples include:

1. Honor roll or other recognition lists; and
2. Graduation programs

Directory information, which is information that is generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if released, can also be disclosed to outside organizations without prior written consent. In addition, federal law requires local educational agencies (LEAs) to provide military recruiters, upon request, with the following information - names, addresses and telephone listings - unless you do not want your information disclosed without their prior written consent. ¹

If you do not want Cowley College to disclose directory information from your education records without your prior written consent, you must notify the college in writing by the end of your orientation week. Cowley College has designated the following information as directory information:

[Note: an LEA may, but does not have to, include all of the information listed below.]

1. Student’s name
2. Address
3. Telephone listing
4. Electronic mail address
5. Photograph
6. Date and place of birth
7. The most recent educational agency or institution attended
8. Dates of attendance
9. Grade level
10. Degrees, honors, and awards received
11. Student ID number, user ID, or other unique personal identifier used to communicate in electronic systems that cannot be used to access education records without a PIN, password, etc. (A student’s SSN, in whole or in part, cannot be used for this purpose.)

¹These laws are: Section 9528 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 7980) and 10 U.S.C. § 5039(c).