Student & Parent Rights
Understanding your rights regarding student records, privacy, surveys, instructional materials, screenings, consent, and access to information.
Avoyelles Parish Schools is committed to protecting student privacy and ensuring that parents, guardians, and eligible students understand their rights. Federal laws, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), provide important protections for students and families.
Your Rights at a Glance
- Request to inspect and review your child's education records.
- Request correction of information you believe is inaccurate or misleading.
- Request that directory information be withheld in accordance with district procedures.
- Inspect certain surveys before your child participates.
- Inspect certain instructional materials used as part of your child's curriculum.
- Provide written consent when federal law requires parental consent.
- Ask questions or submit applicable requests through your child's school.
FERPA: Education Records
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects the privacy of student education records and provides parents and eligible students certain rights concerning those records.
Parents generally have the right to inspect and review education records maintained by the school district that are directly related to their child, subject to applicable federal requirements and exceptions.
PPRA: Student & Parent Rights
The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) provides parents and students certain rights involving surveys, evaluations, instructional materials, marketing activities, and certain physical examinations or screenings.
Parents also have rights to inspect certain materials and surveys as provided under federal law.
Inspecting Education Records
Parents have the right to request access to education records that are directly related to their child and maintained by the district or by a party acting for the district, subject to applicable FERPA provisions.
Families who wish to inspect or review education records should contact their child's school for assistance with the request.
Instructional Materials
PPRA provides parents the opportunity, upon request, to inspect instructional material used by the district as part of their child's educational curriculum, subject to applicable federal requirements.
Academic tests and academic assessments are excluded from this particular PPRA inspection provision.
Student Surveys & Evaluations
Federal law provides parents specific rights when certain surveys, evaluations, or analyses ask students for information concerning protected areas.
Before administering a survey, evaluation, or analysis that solicits information relating to PPRA-protected areas, applicable parental notification, inspection, and consent requirements must be followed.
Mental & Behavioral Health Screenings
Certain mental or behavioral health screening instruments may ask students about emotional well-being, psychological conditions, internalized distress, social interactions, or other protected information.
When a survey, analysis, or evaluation seeks information within a PPRA-protected category, applicable federal parental notification and written-consent requirements must be followed before administration.
PPRA Protected Areas
PPRA provides protections involving surveys, evaluations, or analyses that concern one or more of the following eight areas:
```- Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or the student's parent.
- Mental or psychological problems of the student or the student's family.
- Sex behavior or attitudes.
- Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior.
- Critical appraisals of individuals with whom the student has close family relationships.
- Legally recognized privileged or similar relationships, such as those with lawyers, physicians, or ministers.
- Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or the student's parent.
- Income, other than information required by law to determine eligibility for a program or financial assistance.
Parental Consent for Protected Surveys
Parents must be provided an opportunity to inspect and review applicable surveys, evaluations, or analyses that solicit information relating to PPRA-protected areas. When prior written parental consent is required under PPRA, an opt-out procedure does not replace the requirement to obtain that consent.
Directory Information
FERPA permits school districts to designate certain student information as directory information. Parents and eligible students must be given notice of the information designated as directory information and an opportunity to opt out of disclosure in accordance with FERPA requirements.
Families should review the district's annual FERPA notice and Student Handbook for current information regarding directory information and applicable procedures.
Military Recruiters
Federal law contains requirements concerning military recruiter access to secondary students. Covered school districts must provide military recruiters the same access to secondary students that is provided to postsecondary institutions or prospective employers.
Certain student contact information may be provided to military recruiters upon request unless a parent has opted out in accordance with applicable federal requirements.
Online Educational Services
Schools may use third-party educational services, applications, contractors, or consultants to support educational programs and district operations.
When personally identifiable information from student education records is disclosed to a third party, the disclosure must comply with FERPA and other applicable privacy requirements.
Annual Notification of Rights
Avoyelles Parish Schools provides parents and eligible students information about their rights under FERPA and PPRA. Families are encouraged to review these notices annually and contact the district or their child's school with questions.
Additional information and resources are available from the U.S. Department of Education Student Privacy Policy Office.
Student Privacy Resources
The U.S. Department of Education Student Privacy Policy Office provides additional information for families and schools concerning FERPA, PPRA, annual notices, and student privacy.
Questions About Student or Parent Rights?
Parents and guardians should begin by contacting their child's school for assistance with questions regarding student records, privacy rights, surveys, instructional materials, opt-out requests, or related concerns.
Avoyelles Parish Schools
221 Tunica Drive West
Marksville, LA 71351
318-253-5982