ESEA Act Information

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"On December 10, 2015, President Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). This act reauthorized and amended federal education programs established under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965. The major focus of Every Student Succeeds (also known as ESEA) is to provide all children with a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education.

For the most up-to-date information visit the U.S. Department of Education website.

McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act

The McKinney-Vento Education of Homeless Children and Youth Act of 1987, provisions have been made to ensure that homeless students have no barriers to getting an education comparable with any other students. Education is the key to students being able to change their lives, and certainly for homeless students, we want to work to see that they have an equal chance at obtaining their education.

Additional information is available by clicking on the links below or contacting one of the liaisons listed.

Homeless Information

District Homeless Policy 3115

District Dispute Process

LeeAnn Parker, District Liason   360-748-0362

Lisa Werner, Middle/High School Liason   360-748-8552

Pam Beaulieu, Elementary School Liason  360-748-7029

Student Records

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 a school beyond the high school level. Students to whom the rights have transferred are "eligible students."

   - Parents or eligible students have the right to inspect and review the student's education records maintained by the school. School are not required to provide copies of records unless, for reasons such as great distance, it is impossible for parents or eligible students to review the records. Schools may charge a fee for copies.
  - Parents or eligible students have the right to request that a school correct records which they believe to be inaccurate or misleading. If the school decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student then has the right to a formal hearing. After the hearing, if the school still decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student has the right to place a statement with the record setting forth his or her view about the contested information.
  - Generally, schools must have written permission from the parent or eligible student in order to release any information from a student's education record. However, FERPA allows schools to disclose those records, without consent, to the following parties or under the following conditions (34 CFR § 99.31):

  - School officials with legitimate educational interest;
   - Other schools to which a student is transferring; 
   - Specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes;
   - Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student;
   - Organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the school;
   - Accrediting organizations;
   - To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena; 
   - Appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies;
   - and State and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system, pursuant to specific State law.

Schools may disclose, without consent, "directory" information such as a student's name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, honors and awards, and dates of attendance. However, schools must tell parents and eligible students about directory information and allow parents and eligible students a reasonable amount of time to request that the school not disclose directory information about them. Schools must notify parents and eligible students annually of their rights under FERPA. The actual means of notification (special letter, inclusion in a PTA bulletin, student handbook, or newspaper article) is left to the discretion of each school.

For additional information please click on the link provided for the U.S. Department of Education.

U.S. Department of Education