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Barre Town Supervisory District Policy Manual

TITLE: Procedure: Parent/Eligible Student Request to Amend Records     CODE: JRA-R3

Parent or eligible students have the right to ask to have records corrected that they believe are inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of their privacy rights, by following the steps listed below.

1. Parents or the eligible student must ask the school district to amend the record. In so doing, they should identify the part of the record they want changed and specify why they believe it is inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of the student's privacy or other rights. The request should be addressed to the building administrator in writing, who will make a decision, or refer it to an appropriate staff member for decision. The decision whether to comply shall be made within a reasonable time after receipt of the request.

2. If the decision is made to comply with the requested amendment, the request shall be carried out promptly, with notice to the requesting party. If it is decided not to comply in whole or in part, the district shall notify the parent or eligible student of the decision in writing and advise them of their right to request a hearing to challenge the information believed to be inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of the student's rights.

3. Upon request, the school district shall arrange for a hearing, and notify the parent or eligible student, reasonably in advance, of the date, place, and time of the hearing. The hearing shall be held within a reasonable time after receipt of the hearing request.

4. The hearing will be conducted by the Superintendent or designee (the "hearing officer"). The hearing officer may be a school district official, but may not be person with a direct interest in the outcome of the hearing. The parents or eligible student will be afforded a full and fair opportunity to present evidence showing that the record is inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of the student's privacy rights The parents or eligible student may be assisted by one or more individuals, including an attorney, at their own expense.

5. Within a reasonable time after the close of the hearing, the hearing officer shall prepare a written decision based solely on the evidence presented at the hearing. The decision will include a summary of the evidence presented and the reason for the decision.

6. If the hearing officer decides that the challenged information is not inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of the student's right of privacy, the hearing officer shall notify the parents or eligible student that they have a right to place in the record a statement setting forth reasons for disagreeing with the decision, and/or commenting on the disputed information.

7. The statement will be maintained as part of the student's education records as long as the contested portion is maintained. Thereafter, whenever the District discloses the contested portion of the record, it shall also disclose the statement.

8. If the hearing officer decides that the information is inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of the student's right of privacy, the District will amend the record and notify the parents or eligible student, in writing, that the record has been amended.

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1st Reading: 6/7/00
2nd Reading/Date Adopted: 6/21/00
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