Know your rights when it comes to school. Under FERPA, you have a right to almost everything in your child’s educational file. You have a right to be present at all meetings, or to schedule one for yourself so as not to cause conflict. You have a right to be listed on the emergency contact card. You have a right to school photos and all other papers that are sent or distributed as well as all other communication. The only time this does not apply is when your parental rights are legal removed by the courts.
There is some question as to whether email correspondence is included in this. It may depend on your school districts rules but for the most part if it is in the child’s file, it should be available to you.
Taken from Wendy Archer’s recent Texas PAAO meeting:
1. Go to the
school during registration (before school starts) and ensure that you’re on all
of the school records including the medical emergency contact information. Don’t approach the school with an angry,
defensive, assuming attitude. Present
yourself with a friendly and cooperative demeanor and the person you deal with
will likely respond the same way. (Take
a copy of your divorce decree or custody modification paperwork just in
case. Highlight the areas showing your
rights to school participation and information so you can show them with ease.
Give them the copy for their files if helpful.)
2. Get your child’s school schedule from the
counseling office. Simply go in and say
you need a copy in a friendly, non-argumentative way.
3. Go to
your school’s website to obtain the email addresses of all of your child’s
teachers, assistant principal, principal, coaches, counselor, nurse, etc. Send a short email to all of them introducing
yourself and giving your contact information (email address and phone number)
in a friendly and cooperative manner. Let them know in the email that you
expect them to contact both parents every time parental communication is
made.
4. Go back
a few weeks after school starts to ensure that you’re still on the
school records and emergency contact information as alienators will often
remove the target parent throughout the year.
5. Volunteer and Participate! Volunteer at the school whenever
possible. Participate in and attend as
many events as possible. Attend school
board meetings whenever possible. Show
the teachers, assistant principal, principal, coaches, counselor, nurse, and
other parents that you are a NICE person and want to be a sincerely INVOLVED
parent.
6. It could be helpful to your situation to be
aware that stepparents have NO RIGHTS to any information about your child. Stepparents do not have the right to obtain
any information from teachers, counselors, coaches, nurses, administrators,
etc. nor do they have the right to “meet, counsel or conference” with any
school officials regarding your child.
(Some alienating stepparents will try to represent themselves as the
actual parent of a child.) It may become
necessary for you to inform school employees about this.
7. Periodically
do an “open records request” if you suspect that inappropriate communications
and conduct are happening between school employees and the alienating parent
and/or alienating stepparent.
CT
Law that are important for all parents to know related to education:
FERPA
or the Buckley Amendment:
Check
out the Parent Advocacy Center:
Check
out Delta Bravo
