The Canton Local School District follows the guidelines of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) regarding all student records. FERPA, a federal law, limits the disclosure of personally identifiable information from a student’s education record for pupils in public schools. The statute prohibits the disclosure of names for any profit-making activity and imposes restrictions on the disclosure of such information for other purposes. An exception is made in the case of “directory information”, which may be released without prior written consent unless the parent (or pupil, if over the age of eighteen) has informed the school, in writing, that they do not want their student’s information disclosed without their prior written consent. The primary purpose of directory information is to allow the school district to include information from a student’s educational records in certain school publications like yearbooks, Honor Roll or recognition lists, sports activity sheets or programs, drama/choral/music playbills, website, newsletters or other social media properties showcasing student achievements. “Directory information” is released to the military by law and applies to high school students only.
“Directory information” is information that is generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if released and is defined to include the pupil’s name, address, telephone listing, email address, photograph, date and place of birth, major field of study, grade level, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, date of graduation and awards received.
Parents may refuse to allow any information to be released without their written consent by notifying the school in writing no later than August 31 of esch school year.