The Superintendent shall develop and maintain a comprehensive system of student records and reports dealing with all facets of the school program operation and shall ensure through reasonable procedures that records are accessed by authorized persons only, as allowed by this policy. These data and records shall be stored in a safe and secure manner and shall be conveniently retrievable for use by authorized school officials.

 

A cumulative record shall be maintained for each student from entrance into HGA schools until withdrawal or graduation from HGA.

This record shall move with the student from school to school and be maintained at the school where currently enrolled until graduation or withdrawal. Records for non-enrolled students shall be retained for the period of time required by law. No permanent records may be destroyed without explicit permission from the Superintendent.

The principal is custodian of all records for currently enrolled students. The principal is the custodian of records for students who have withdrawn or graduated. The student handbook made available to all students and parents shall contain a listing of the addresses of HGA schools, as well as the Superintendent's business address.

The record custodian shall be responsible for the education records of HGA. These records may include but are not limited to:

HGA shall make a student's records available to the student's parents, as permitted by law. The records custodian or designee shall use reasonable procedures to verify the requester's identity before disclosing student records containing personally identifiable information.

Records may be reviewed in person during regular school hours without charge upon written request to the records custodian. For in-person viewing, the records custodian or designee shall be available to explain the record and to answer questions. The confidential nature of the student's records shall be maintained at all times, and records to be viewed shall be restricted to use only in the Superintendent's, principal's, or school counselor's office, or other restricted area designated by the records custodian. The original copy of the record or any document contained in the cumulative record shall not be removed from the school.

Copies of records are available at a per copy cost, payable in advance. Copies of records must be requested in writing. Parents may be denied copies of records if they fail to follow proper procedures or pay the copying charge. If the student qualifies for free or reduced-price lunches and the parents are unable to view the records during regular school hours, upon written request of a parent, one copy of the record shall be provided at no charge.

A parent may continue to have access to his or her child's records under specific circumstances after the student has attained 18 years of age or is attending an institution of postsecondary education.

A school official shall be allowed access to student records if he or she has a legitimate educational interest in the records.

For the purposes of this policy, "school officials" shall include:

 

All contractors provided with student records shall follow the same rules as employees concerning privacy of the records and shall return the records upon completion of the assignment.

A school official has a "legitimate educational interest" in a student's records when he or she is:

HGA may request transcripts from previously attended schools for students transferring into HGA schools; however, the ultimate responsibility for obtaining transcripts from sending schools rests with the parent or student, if 18 or older.

For purposes of a student's enrollment or transfer, HGA shall promptly forward in accordance with the timeline provided in law education records upon request to officials of other schools or school systems in which the student intends to enroll or enrolls. HGA may return an education record to the school identified as the source of the record.

 

The director of special services shall be responsible for ensuring the confidentiality of any personally identifiable information in records of students in special education.

A current listing of names and positions of persons who have access to records of students in special education is maintained at each school office.

Within 15 HGA business days of the record custodian's receipt of a request to amend records, HGA shall notify the parents in writing of its decision on the request and, if the request is denied, of their right to a hearing. If a hearing is requested, it shall be held within 10 HGA business days after the request is received.

Parents shall be notified in advance of the date, time, and place of the hearing. An administrator who is not responsible for the contested records and who does not have a direct interest in the outcome of the hearing shall conduct the hearing. The parents shall be given a full and fair opportunity to present evidence and, at their own expense, may be assisted or represented at the hearing.

The parents shall be notified of the decision in writing within 10 HGA business days of the hearing. The decision shall be based solely on the evidence presented at the hearing and shall include a summary of the evidence and reasons for the decision. If the decision is to deny the request, the parents shall be informed that they have 30 HGA business days within which to exercise their right to place in the record a statement commenting on the contested information and/or stating any reason for disagreeing with HGA's decision.

Directory information for HGA students has been classified into two separate categories:

 

For the following school-sponsored purposes—student directory, student yearbook, and other HGA publications or media—directory information may include student name; address; telephone listing; electronic mail address; photograph; date and place of birth; major field of study; degrees, honors, and awards received; dates of attendance; grade level; most recent educational institution attended; participation in officially recognized activities and sports; and weight and height of members of athletic teams.

HGA shall not release any directory information to third-party requesters unless required by law and with parent permission.