Steps for processing parent requests for opt-out of information release.
DATE: August 18, 2022
TO: School Administrators, Elementary Administrative Assistants, Secondary Attendance Secretaries, Secondary Registrars
FROM: Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent, Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services, Caleb Olson, Consultant, Planning & Enrollment
SUBJECT: Third Party Information Release Opt-Out
Parents (and students over the age of 18) have the right to opt-out of the release of their student’s directory information to third parties. This right is communicated to parents annually in the FERPA, PPRA, and Directory Information notices in the online “Registration for Schools” process.
To opt-out, parents must provide a written request to the school principal within the first ten school days of the year. Once received, the request is entered in Skyward on the Profile screen. The fields are located at the bottom of the screen (as shown below):
The field meanings are as follows:
- Military: Allow release of information to military recruiters
- Higher Ed: Allow release of information to post-secondary institutions
- Public: Allow release of information to local media or public source (schools must still obtain permission before posting student images or information on social media, websites, or before participation in media interviews and stories)
- District: This field is not used and can remain “YES”. It will be removed from Skyward in the future.
- Local: Allows use of information in items such as yearbooks, performance programs, and sports rosters.
Once received, requests for opt-out must be processed promptly, as various agencies and entities are already submitting requests for information. The written request can be filed in the student’s cumulative folder. When entered in Skyward, the opt-out will remain from year-to-year until the parent submits a request reauthorizing the release of information.
If an individual wants to opt out of the release of “directory information”, staff will need to clarify which specific recipients the parent wants to op-out for and ask the parent to list them in the written request.
Parents may opt-out after the first ten days of the school year but should be informed that information may already have been released prior to their request.