Webster Groves School District
Student Privacy Statement and Confidentiality Agreement
Student Privacy and Volunteer Confidentiality:
Students in the Webster Groves School District have the right to expect
that information about them will be kept confidential by all. Additionally, the U.S.
Congress has addressed the privacy-related concerns of educators, parents, and
students by enacting the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (known more
commonly as FERPA). Among other provisions, FERPA allows the government
to withdraw federal funds from any educational institution which disseminates a
student’s education records without his or her parent’s consent.
Each student with whom you work has the right to expect that nothing
that happens to or about him or her will be repeated to anyone other
than authorized school employees, as designated by the administrators
at your school. Even when discussing a student with those who are
directly involved in a student’s education, such as a teacher, principal,
or guidance counselor, you may not share otherwise confidential
information with them unless it is relevant to the student’s educational
growth, safety, or well being.
You may not share information about a student with others who are
genuinely interested in the student’s welfare, such as social workers,
scout leaders, clergy, or nurses/physicians (a medical emergency, in
which confidential information may be necessary for a student’s care, is
the only exception). Thus, you must refer all such questions to the
student’s teacher or principal.
Parents, friends, or community members may in good faith ask you
questions about a student’s problems or progress. Again, you must
refer all such questions to the authorized school employees. You may
not share information about a student even with members of your own
family or the student’s family.
Before you speak, always remember that breaching a student’s privacy
and confidentiality is a FERPA violation and must be avoided.
Agreement:
I as a volunteer for
Webster Groves School District, agree never to disclose information about a
student’s records to anyone other than an authorized school employee. I will
refer all requests for such information from those not directly involved in the
student’s education to authorized school employees.