Alternatives For Children Confidentiality Policy
Parents’ Bill of Rights for Data Privacy and Security
Alternatives For Children is committed to protecting the privacy and security of each and every student’s data. Parents should be aware of the following rights they have concerning their child’s data:
A student’s personally identifiable information cannot be sold or released for any commercial purposes.
Parents have the right to inspect and review the complete contents of their child’s education records.
The confidentiality of a student’s personally identifiable information is protected by existing state and federal laws, and safeguards such as encryption, firewalls, and password protection, must be in place when data is stored or transferred. Third party contractors are required to employ technology, safeguards and practices that align with the National Institute of Standards and Technology Cybersecurity Framework.
A complete list of all student data elements colle4cted by the State Education Department is available for public review at:
https://www.nysed.gov/data-privacy-security/student-data-inventory
or by writing to the Office of Information & Reporting Services, New York State Education Department, Room 863 EBA, 89 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12234.
Parents have the right to file complaints about possible breaches of student data. Parents may submit a complaint regarding a potential breach by Alternatives For Children to Nikki Gins, Administrator of Informational Technology, 14 Research Way, East Setauket, NY 11733. AFC shall promptly acknowledge any complaints received and commence an investigation into the complaint, while taking the necessary precautions to protect personally identifiable information. AFC shall provide a response detailing its findings from the investigation no more than sixty (60) days after receipt of the complaint.
Complaints pertaining to the State Education Department or one of its third party vendors may be submitted to NYSED at:
https://www.nysed.gov/data-privacy-security/report-improper-disclosure
by mail to the Chief Privacy Officer, New York State Education Department, 89 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12234, or email to [email protected] or by telephone at (518) 474-0937.
In the event of a data breach or unauthorized disclosure of students’ personally identifiable information, third party contractors are required by law to notify AFC within seven (7) days of discovery of the breach or unauthorized disclosure.
If AFC enters into a contract with a third party in which student or staff data is shared with a third party, supplemental information for each such contract will be appended to this Parents’ Bill of Rights.
Parents may access the State Education Department’s Parents’ Bill of Rights at:
https://www.nysed.gov/sites/default/files/programs/data-privacy-security/parents-bill-of-rights_2.pdf
Notification of Rights Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
This is to advise you of your rights with respect to the school records relating to (your son/daughter/you) pursuant to the Federal “Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974.”
Parents of a student under 18, or a student 18 or older, have a right to inspect and review any and all official records, files, and data directly related to their children, including all material that is incorporated into each student’s cumulative record folder, and intended for school use or to be available to parties outside the school or school system, and specifically including, but not necessarily limited to, identifying data, academic work completed, level of achievement (grades, standardized achievement test scores), attendance data, scores on standardized intelligence, aptitude, and psychological tests, interest inventory results, health data, family background information, teacher or counselor ratings and observations, and verified reports of serious or recurrent behavior patterns.
A parent of a student under 18 years of age or a student 18 years of age or older, shall make a request for access to a child’s (his/her own) school records, in writing, to the Administrator of the building to which such student is assigned. Upon receipt of such request, arrangements shall be made to provide access to such records within a reasonable period of time, but in no case, no more than forty-five (45) days after the request has been received.
If information contained in the student’s record is believed to be inaccurate or misleading, the parent or eligible student should write the Administrator, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If Alternatives For Children decides not to amend the record as requested, the parent or eligible student will be notified of the decision and advised 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.
Student records and any material contained therein, which is personally identifiable, are confidential and may not be released or made available to persons other than parents or students without the written consent of such parents or student. There are a number of exceptions to this rule, such as other school employees and officials, and certain State and Federal officials, who have a legitimate educational need for access to such records in the course of their employment in addition, Alternatives For Children will disclose, upon request, education records to officials of the child’s respective school district in which a student is or intends to enroll and the municipality of residence.
The Section below ONLY applies to children in kindergarten through grade 12
Objection to Release of Directory Information Designations
The Board of Education of Alternatives For Children has designated certain categories of student information as “directory information.” Directory information includes a student’s name, address, telephone number, and photograph.
A parent/guardian or eligible student will have 14 days to notify the district of any objections they have to any of the “directory information.” Directory information includes a student’s name, address, telephone number and photograph.
A parent/guardian or eligible student will have 14 days to notify the district of any objections they have to any of the “directory information” designations. For your convenience, you may note your objections to the release of directory information on this form and return it to the Building Administrator.
( ) Please do not release directory information without my prior consent.
________________________________________________
Name of Student
________________________________________________
Name of Parent/Person in Parental Relation
Written Notification Regarding Use of Public Benefits or Insurance to Pay for Certain Special Education and Related Services
The following serves as written notification of your rights and protections under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), so that you can make an informed decision about whether you should give your written consent to allow your school district to use your or your child’s public benefits or insurance to pay for special education and related services that your school district is required to provide at no cost to you and your child under IDEA. Funds from a public benefits or insurance program (for example, Medicaid funds) may be used by your school district to help pay for special education and related services, but only if you choose to provide your consent, as explained below.
Before your school district can ask you to provide your consent to access your or your child’s public benefits or insurance for the first time, it must provide you with this notification of the rights and protections available to you under IDEA. This notification is intended to help you understand these rights and protections, including the type of consent your school district will ask you to provide. If you choose not to provide your consent, or later decide to withdraw your consent, your school district has a continuing responsibility to ensure that your child is provided all required special education and related services under IDEA at no charge to you or your child.