Parent Handbook - Harford County Public Schools

eligible students should submit a written request to the school principal or other designee identifying the record(s) they wish to
inspect. The principal or designee will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and
place where the records may be inspected.
If, for any valid reason, a parent cannot personally inspect and review a student’s education record, the school will arrange for
the parent or eligible student to obtain copies of the record. Initial copies of the item(s) contained within the educational record
will be provided at no cost. Requests for additional copies in a given school year will be provided at the rate of 10 cents per
page plus postage as appropriate. Parent requests for a copy of the student’s educational record must be submitted in writing
to the school principal identifying the record(s) they wish to copy. All such requests must be completed within a period of time
not to exceed 45 days after the request has been received. If the educational records of a student contain information on more
than one student, the parents or eligible student may inspect and review, receive copies of, or be informed of only the specific
information which pertains to that student.
Additional Rights Of Parents Of Children With Disabilities
Under federal law parents/guardians/eligible students have the right to inspect and review education records related to the
student that are collected, maintained or used by the school system before any meeting regarding an IEP or due process
hearing, and in no case more than 45 days after the school receives the request.
Copies of a student’s education record will not be provided unless failure to do so would prevent the parent from exercising the
right to inspect and review the records. Initial copies of the item(s) contained within the educational record will be provided at
no cost. Requests for additional copies in a given school year will be provided at the rate of 10 cents per page plus postage as
appropriate. Parent requests for a copy of the student’s educational record must be submitted in writing to the school principal
identifying the record(s) they wish to copy.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (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. Any parent or student (if 18 years or older) who does not wish for the above directory information to be released regarding
their child (or himself or herself if the student is 18 years of age or older) shall so notify the Director of Student Services
in writing at 102 S. Hickory Avenue, Bel Air, MD 21014 within 10 days of receipt of this Calendar/Handbook. The right to
inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the school receives a request for access.
Parents or eligible students should submit to the school principal [or appropriate school official] a written request that
identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The school official 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 or misleading. Parents or eligible students may ask the school to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate
or misleading. They should write the school principal [or appropriate official], clearly identify the part of the record they want
changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the school decides not to amend the record as requested by the
parent or eligible student, the school 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 school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school 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 School discloses education records without consent to officials of another school 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 school 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
Conditions For Disclosure Of Directory Information
The public schools of Harford County may disclose personally identifiable
information from the education records of a student who is enrolled at a
public school in Harford County if that information has been designated as
directory information
The Harford County Public Schools shall give public notice annually of
the categories of personally identifiable information which have been
designated as directory information. Parents or an eligible student have the
right to refuse to permit the designation of any or all of the categories of
personally identifiable information with respect to that student as directory
information. Parents or the eligible student must, in writing, inform the
student’s principal within 10 school days of public notice or personal receipt
of such notice that such personally identifiable information is not to be
designated as directory information with respect to that student.
Harford County Public Schools may disclose directory information from
the education records of an individual who is no longer enrolled without
following the above procedure.
Copies of this policy shall be made available to public libraries in Harford
County, and copies shall be on file in each school’s main office, guidance
office, and library. An annual notice of this policy shall be made available
to parents and eligible students enrolled by the end of September of each
school year.
Promotion And Retention
Promotion for a student in the elementary and middle school grades is
based upon scholastic aptitude, academic progress, and mastery of the
basic skills. Among the other factors which must also be considered in the
provision of the most appropriate education for each student are emotional
and social maturity, physical growth, chronological age, ability to function in
school, and parental concerns and points of view.
The promotion of a student at the high school level is determined by the
number of units accumulated toward graduation. Promotion from grade nine
(9) to 10 will occur at the end of the school year in which the student has
earned six (6) units. Promotion from grade 10 to 11 will occur at the end
of the school year in which the student has earned 12 units, one of which
must be in English. Promotion from grade 11 to 12 will occur at the end of
the school year in which the student has earned eighteen (18) units, two (2)
of which must be in English. Graduation from high school will occur at the
end of the school year or summer school in which the student has met the
minimum requirements of the Maryland State Board of Education and of the
Board of Education of Harford County for graduation.
17