Annual Notices

2010-2011

Notification of Rights Under FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students over 18 years of age ("eligible students") certain rights with respect to the student's education records. These rights are:

1.   The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day the District receives a request for access.  Parents or eligible students should submit to the principal a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The principal will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.

2.   The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate.  Parents or eligible students may ask the District to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate. They should write the Director of Pupil Services clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate. If the District decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the District will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and advise them of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.

3.   The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.  One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to District officials with legitimate educational interests. A District official is a person employed by the District as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the District Board; a person or company with whom the District has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist); or a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another District official in performing his or her tasks.

A District official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.  Upon request, the District discloses education records without consent to officials of another District in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.

4.   The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the District to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA are:

Family Policy Compliance Office

U.S. Department of Education

400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202-5901

Student records shall be available only to students and their parents, eligible students, designated school officials, and designated school personnel, who have a legitimate educational interest in the information, or to other individuals or organizations as permitted by law.  Both parents shall have equal access to student records unless stipulated otherwise by court order or law. In the case of eligible students, parents may be allowed access to the records without the student's consent, provided the student is considered a dependent under section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code. Only "directory information" regarding a student shall be released to any person or party, other than the student or his/her parent, without the written consent of the parent, or, if the student is an eligible student, without the written consent of the student, except to those persons or parties stipulated by the Board's policy and administrative guidelines and/or those specified in the law.

Each year the District provides public notice to students and their parents of the District's intent to make available, upon request, certain information known as "directory information." The Board designates as student "directory information":

1.       student’s name

2.       student’s photograph

3.       student’s extracurricular participation

4.       student’s achievement awards or honors

5.       student’s weight and height, if a member of an athletic team

For information about parent and student rights to inspect, review and request amendments to educational records, or if parents/students believe their rights under Federal law have been violated, please contact Cindy Caudill, Director of Special Pupil Services, 5500 Clement Drive, Maple Heights, 44137 or at 216-587-3200, ext. 1020.

Section 504 Compliance Officer / ADA Compliance Officer

The Board of Education of the Maple Heights does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, or disability in its programs and activities.  Cindy Caudill, Director of Special Pupil Services has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies.  Ms. Caudill can be contacted as follows: Maple Heights, Special Pupil Services, 5500 Clement Drive, Maple Heights, 44137 or at 216-587-3200 ext.1020. Schools City School District

Records Access and Confidentiality

Under the Federal Education and Privacy Act of 1996, parents or adult students (18 years or older) in the Maple Heights City Schools have the right to inspect and review official student records and related information upon written request to the principal of the building to which the student is assigned. An appointment for the review of the records will be made at a mutually convenient time as soon after the receipt of the written request as possible.  A parent or adult student who believes that information contained in the educational records of the student is inaccurate or misleading or violates the privacy or other rights of the student may request in writing that the records be amended.

A student’s records and related information shall not be released to any individual, group, organization or agency, except with the written consent of the student’s parents or an adult student himself/herself. Exception to this rule would be in regard to compliance with judicial order (subpoena) or other situations as defined by law and/or Board of Education Policy.

Individuals with Disabilities

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act mandates that every school district in the country develop a system to identify children with disabilities, birth through age 21, who live in their district.  Additionally, the Rules for the Education of Handicapped Children, adopted by the Ohio Board of Education, direct that school districts conduct an annual in-school effort to identify and provide services to children with disabilities.  Any child who you suspect has a disability should be referred to the child’s building principal. The principal will provide additional information about the differentiated referral system.

The District’s Title IX Coordinator

The Board of Education of the Maple Heights does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its educational programs, activities, or employment policies as required by Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendments.  Bruce Willingham, Assistant Superintendent, has been designated as the district’s Title IX Compliance Coordinator.  Inquires regarding compliance with Title IX may be directed to Mr. Willingham at Maple Heights Board of Education, 14605 Granger Road, Maple Heights, 44137 or at 216-587-6100, ext. 3500. City School District

Americans With Disabilities Act (A.D.A.)

The Maple Heights Board of Education welcomes and encourages any and all comments from individuals interested in the Americans With Disabilities Act (A.D.A) The A.D.A. contains Title I-Employment, Title II-Public Services, and Title III-Public Accommodations. Please contact Cindy Caudill, Director of Special Pupil Services, 5500 Clement Drive, Maple Heights, 44137 or at 216-587-3200, ext. 1020.

Equal Educational Opportunities

All students of the District have equal educational opportunities.  Students have the right to be free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, citizenship status, religion, sex, economic status, marital status, pregnancy, age, disability or military status in all decisions affecting admissions; membership in school-sponsored organizations, clubs or activities; access to facilities; distribution of funds; academic evaluations or any other aspects of school-sponsored activities.  Any limitations with regard to participation in a school-sponsored activity are based on criteria reasonably related to that specific activity.

Anti-Harassment/Intimidation/Bullying Policy

Per Ohio Law, House Bill 276 required all school districts to develop and adopt an Anti-Harassment/Intimidation/Bullying policy. In addition to the adoption and implementation of this policy, district administrators are required to provide semiannual summary reports of verified acts of harassment, intimidation and bullying. The Maple Heights’s summary report for the first semester of the 2009-10 academic year follows. City School District

District Report: Bullying & Harassment

District Policy FCJ: Bullying & Harassment