Student Information Privacy

FERPA defines Directory Information as “student data that is not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed.” BVSD’s Board Policy JO-R specifies Directory Information as:

• student's name, birth date, and grade 
• participation in officially recognized sports and activities 
• height and weight of athletic team members
• dates of attendance
• degrees, awards, honors, and other distinctions received

BVSD may also release:

• Photography, audio or video recording of a student, including interviews, captured by school or district personnel or the news media. 
• Student-created content developed in the classroom environment with the stated objective of sharing publicly (e.g. artwork, voice recordings, video demonstrations, etc.).

BVSD may release Directory Information upon request without consent unless parents/guardians or eligible students have opted out. FERPA does not limit who may request Directory Information about a student.

Secondary Students: As required by law, BVSD will disclose a student’s name, address, school-based email, home telephone number, school of enrollment, grade level, and graduating class year to military recruiters, higher education recruiters, and employers who request such information unless parents/guardians or eligible students have opted out.

Parents/guardians or eligible students may opt out during the Intent to Return period each year or at any point during the school year using the Opt Out Form. 

If the Opt Out Form is submitted after the start of the school year, all previous published information cannot be rescinded. If an Opt Out Form is not submitted, all students are considered automatically opted-in.

Detailed description of the opt out agreements and examples of how these agreements apply:

A parent or guardian may not opt out of their student’s information being used for educational purposes as defined by FERPA.

 

By default, students are “opted in,” i.e., allow sharing of their Directory Information. Families must update their preferences annually during the Intent to Return window or complete this form for each student and submit it to the student(s)’ school outside of the Intent to Return window.

Opt out does not apply to participation in athletics, activities or or clubs. After school activities are not protected under FERPA, and BVSD cannot guarantee that a student who has opted out of sharing Directory Information will not appear in photographs taken at athletic events, activities, club events, or performances

BVSD may release student data without parent consent under several circumstances as stated in law and policy, including health or safety emergencies, when a student is enrolled or plans to enroll in another school or higher education institution, or when the data is Directory Information. Notification of disclosures may be made if student data that is not Directory Information is disclosed to a third party, generally this occurs as a result of a lawfully issued subpoena or other applicable exception under FERPA and Board Policy JO

BVSD’s policies on student records (JO and JO-R) and student privacy practices (JRCB and JRCB-R) can be found on our website

FERPA affords parents the opportunity to review student records. Parents/guardians may submit a Request for Records to their student's school.

Parent and fundraising organizations are considered third parties; they are organizations that may partner with BVSD schools but are not governed by BVSD policies or procedures. BVSD is not able to provide student and family information to PTAs/PTOs, Booster Clubs, or other fundraising organizations. Organizations wishing to obtain contact information are encouraged to partner with schools to create opt-in options for families/students.

Protection of student privacy is limited to the confines of the academic day and the school building. There is no expectation of privacy during school assemblies or other large school gatherings, sporting events, off-campus field trips or extra-curricular activities. Privacy cannot be guaranteed in public locations.