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Annual Notification to Parents Regarding Confidentiality of Student Education Records Annual Notification to Parents Section 504 is an Act which prohibits discrimination against persons with a disability in any program receiving Federal financial assistance. The Act defines a person with a disability as anyone who: 1. Has a mental or physical impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities (major life activities include activities such as caring for one’s self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, breathing, learning and working): 2. 2. Has a record of such impairment; or 3. 3. Is regarded as having such an impairment. In order to fulfill its obligation under Section 504, the Queen Creek Unified School district recognizes a responsibility to avoid discrimination in policies and practices regarding its personnel and students. No discrimination against any person with a disability will knowingly be permitted in any of the programs and practices in the school system. The school district has specific responsibilities under the Act, which include the responsibility to identify, evaluate, and if the child is determined to be eligible under Section 504, to afford access to appropriate educational services. If the parent or guardian disagrees with the determination made by the professional staff of the school district, he/she has a right to hearing with an impartial hearing officer. Complaints regarding school facilities may be directed to the principal on your child’s campus or the District 504 Coordinator, Michelle Bailey, at 987-5990. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children's education records. These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level. Students to whom the rights have transferred are "eligible students." Parents or eligible students have the right to inspect and review the student's education records maintained by the school within 45 days of a request made to the school administrator. Schools are not required to provide copies of records unless it is impossible for parents or eligible students to review the records without copies. Schools may charge a fee for copies. Parents or eligible students have the right to request in writing that a school correct records that they believe to be inaccurate or misleading. If the school decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student then has the right to a formal hearing. After the hearing, if the school still decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student has the right to place a statement with the record setting forth his or her view about the contested information. Generally, schools must have written permission from the parent or eligible student in order to release any information from a student's education record. However, FERPA allows schools to disclose those records, without consent, to the following parties or under the following conditions: ◦ School officials with legitimate educational interest A school official is a person employed or contracted by the school to serve as an administrator, supervisor, teacher, or support staff member (including health staff, law enforcement personnel, attorney, auditor, or other similar roles); a person serving on the school board; or a parent or student serving on an official committee or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks; A legitimate educational interest means the review of records is necessary to fulfill a professional responsibility for the school; ◦ Other schools to which a student is seeking to enroll; ◦ Specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes; ◦ Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student; ◦ Organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the school; ◦ Accrediting organizations; ◦ To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena; ◦ Appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies; and ◦ State and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system, pursuant to specific State law. Schools may disclose, without consent, "directory" information such as a student's name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, honors and awards, sports participation (including height and weight of athletes) and dates of attendance unless notified by the parents or eligible student that the school is not to disclose the information without consent. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law that protects the rights of students with disabilities. In addition to standard school records, for children with disabilities education records could include evaluation and testing materials, medical and health information, Individualized Education Programs and related notices and consents, progress reports, materials related to disciplinary actions, and mediation agreements. Such information is gathered from a number of sources, including the student's parents and staff of the school of attendance. Also, with parental permission, information may be gathered from additional pertinent sources, such as doctors and other health care providers. This information is collected to assure the child is identified, evaluated, and provided a Free Appropriate Public Education in accordance with state and federal special education laws. Each agency participating under Part B of IDEA must assure that at all stages of gathering, storing, retaining and disclosing education records to third parties that it complies with the federal confidentiality laws. In addition, the destruction of any education records of a child with a disability must be in accordance with IDEA regulatory requirements. For additional information or to file a complaint, you may call the federal government at (202) 260-3887 (voice) or 1-800-877-8339 (TDD) OR the Arizona Department of Education (ADE/ESS) at (602) 542-4013. Or you may contact:
*This notice is available in English and Spanish on the ADE website at www.ade.az.gov/ess/resources under forms. For assistance in obtaining this notice in other languages, contact the ADE/ESS at the above phone/address. No Child Left Behind Act Under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, you, as the parent, may request information about the professional qualifications of your child’s classroom teachers. We will provide the following information at your request. 1. Whether the teacher has met State qualifications and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction. 2. Whether the teacher is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which State qualification or licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction. 3. The baccalaureate degree major of the teacher and any other graduate certification of degree held by the teacher, and the field of discipline of the certification or degree. 4. Whether the child is provided services by paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications. Queen Creek Schools will also be providing you with the following additional information: 1. The level of achievement of your child in each of the required State Academic Assessments. 2. Notice, should your child be assigned to or taught for four or more consecutive weeks by a teacher who does not meet the highly qualified criteria set by the federal legislation. A highly qualified teacher is a person who is fully State certified or licensed, has a bachelor’s degree, and shows competence in subject knowledge and teaching skills. Please direct your requests about this information to your child’s principal. Federal Funds Queen Creek Unified School District receives additional funds from the following grants: Title IA, Title ID, Title IIA & IID, III, IV, V, VI B, Early Childhood, Migrant, Family Literacy, Even Start, Emergency Immigrant, Civics, Adult Education, Vocational Education, VAC Priority, State Chemical Abuse, English Learner Material, Pre-School Special Education, and Gifted. These grants are funded through state and federal grants. If you have any questions, you may contact Steve Chambers (Director of State & Federal Grants) at 480-987-5984. Child Find It is the Queen Creek School Districts’ responsibility to inform the general public and all parents within our boundaries of our responsibility to make available special education services for students with disabilities aged 3 through 21 years and how to access those services. We are responsible for identifying, locating, and evaluating all children with disabilities including children aged 3 through 21. In addition we have a responsibility to provide information regarding early intervention services for children birth through 2 years. We are responsible for referring children from birth through 2 years of age to Arizona Early Intervention Program (AzEIP) for evaluation and appropriate services. Our school nurses are Queen Creek School Districts’ contact for children birth through 2 years. Children birth through 2 years of age who are receiving early intervention services and will be participating in preschool programs for children with disabilities will be assured of a smooth transition into that program. We will ensure that: · Transition conferences for children aged 2 years, 6 months to 2 years, 9 months will be held; By the child’s 3rd birthday an Individual Education Program (IEP) or Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) will be developed and implemented; and for the child who turns 3 during the summer, the IEP team will determine the date for services to begin including eligibility for Extended School Year (ESY) services. We are also responsible for providing a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) which includes special education and related services to children with disabilities at public expense, under public supervision and direction and without charge to the parents. For all new students to the district, the classroom teacher will complete screening activities within 45 days of enrollment. The teacher will look at the child’s ability in the areas of academics, vision, hearing, adaptive, communication, social/emotional and motor skills. If any concerns are noted the child may be referred for additional help. If you have any concerns about a child you know, please contact your individual school site for more information. Special Needs If you know of a child residing within the Queen Creek Unified School District who is disabled, regardless of the severity of the disability and who is in need of special education and/or related services, contact our Special Services Office at 480-987-5990. Special Education Policies and Procedures Notice to Parents Special Education policies and procedures are located in the front office of your child’s school. You may come in at any time to review this information. Please check with the office. |