Student Records

The permanent record includes:

1. Basic identifying information, including the student’s name and address, birth date and place, gender, and the names and addresses of the student’s parents/guardians.

2. Evidence required under the Missing Children Records Act. 325 ILCS 50/5(b)(1).

3. Academic transcripts, including: grades, graduation date, and grade level achieved; the unique student identifier assigned and used by the Ill. State Board of Education Student Information System (SIS); as applicable, designation of an Advanced Placement computer science course as a mathematics-based, quantitative course for purposes of meeting State graduation requirements set forth in 105 ILCS 5/27-22; as applicable, designation of the student’s achievement of the State Seal of Biliteracy, awarded in accordance with 105 ILCS 5/2-159; as applicable, designation of the student’s achievement of the State Commendation Toward Biliteracy; and as applicable, designation of the student’s achievement of the Global Scholar Certification, awarded in accordance with 105 ILCS 5/2-3.169.

4. Attendance record.

5. Health record defined by the Ill. State Board of Education (ISBE) as “medical documentation necessary for enrollment and proof of dental examinations, as may be required under Section 27-8.1 of the School Code.”

6. Record of release of permanent record information that includes each of the following:

   1. The nature and substance of the information released;

   2. The name and signature of the official records custodian releasing such information; 

   3. The name and capacity of the requesting person and the purpose for the request;

   4. The date of release; and

   5. A copy of any consent to a release.
       

7. Scores received on all State assessment tests administered at the high school level (that is, grades 9 through 12). 105 ILCS 5/2-3.64a-5.

If not maintained in the temporary record, the permanent record may include:

1. Honors and awards received.

2. Information concerning participation in school-sponsored activities or athletics, or offices held in school-sponsored organizations.

All information not required to be kept in the student permanent record is kept in the student temporary record and must include:

1. Record of release of temporary record information that includes the same information as listed above for the record of release of permanent records.

2. Scores received on the State assessment tests administered in the elementary grade levels (that is, kindergarten through grade 8).

3. Completed home language survey.

4. Information regarding serious disciplinary infractions (that is, those involving drugs, weapons, or bodily harm to another) that resulted in expulsion, suspension, or the imposition of punishment or sanction.

5. Any final finding report received from a Child Protective Service Unit provided to the school under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act; no report other than what is required under Section 8.6 of that Act (325 ILCS 5/8.6) shall be placed in the student record.

6. Health-related information, defined by the ISBE as “current documentation of a student's health information, not otherwise governed by the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act or other privacy laws, that includes identifying information, health history, results of mandated testing and screenings, medication dispensation records and logs, e.g., glucose readings, long-term medications administered during school hours, documentation regarding a student athlete and his or her parent/guardian's acknowledgement of the District's concussion policy adopted under 105 ILCS 5/22-80 and other health-related information that is relevant to school participation, e.g., nursing services plan, failed screenings, yearly sports physical exams, interim health histories for sports.”

7. Accident report, defined by the ISBE as “documentation of any reportable student accident that results in an injury to a student, occurring on the way to or from school or on school grounds, at a school athletic event or when a student is participating in a school program or school-sponsored activity or on a school bus and that is severe enough to cause the student not to be in attendance for one-half day or more or requires medical treatment other than first aid. The accident report shall include identifying information, nature of injury, days lost, cause of injury, location of accident, medical treatment given to the student at the time of the accident, or if the school nurse has referred the student for a medical evaluation, regardless of whether the parent or guardian, student (if 18 years or older), or an unaccompanied homeless youth … has followed through on that request.”

8. Any documentation of a student’s transfer, including records indicating the school or school district to which the student transferred.

9. Completed course substitution form for any student who, when under the age of 18, is enrolled in vocational and technical course as a substitute for a high school or graduation requirement.

10. Information contained in related service logs maintained by the District for a student with an individualized education program under 105 ILCS 5/14-8.02f(d), amended by P.A. 101-643, including for speech and language services, occupational therapy services, physical therapy services, school social work services, school counseling services, school psychology services, and school nursing services. 

The temporary record may include:

1. Family background information

2. Intelligence test scores, group and individual

3. Aptitude test scores

4. Reports of psychological evaluations, including information on intelligence, personality, and academic information obtained through test administration, observation, or interviews

5. Elementary and secondary achievement level test results

6. Participation in extracurricular activities, including any offices held in school-sponsored clubs or organizations

7. Honors and awards received

8. Teacher anecdotal records

9. Other disciplinary information

10. Special education records

11. Records associated with plans developed under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

12. Verified reports or information from non-educational persons, agencies, or organizations of clear relevance to the student’s education

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Ill. School Student Records Act (ISSRA) afford parents/guardians and students over 18 years of age (eligible students) certain rights with respect to the student’s school records. They are:

1. The right to inspect and copy the student’s education records within 10 business days after the date the District receives a request for access.
   
   The degree of access a student has to his or her records depends on the student’s age. Students less than 18 years of age have the right to inspect and copy only their permanent record. Students 18 years of age or older have access and copy rights to both permanent and temporary records. Parents/guardians or students should submit to the Building Principal (or appropriate school official) a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The Principal will make arrangements for access and notify the parent(s)/guardian(s) or student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. The District shall make the records available to inspect and copy within 10 business days, unless the District extends the response timeline to 15 business days in accordance with ISSRA. The District charges $.35 per page for copying but no one will be denied their right to copies of their records for inability to pay this cost.
   
   These rights are denied to any person against whom an order of protection has been entered concerning a student. 105 ILCS 5/10-22.3c and 10/5(a); 750 ILCS 60/214(b)(15).
    

2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent(s)/ guardian(s) or eligible student believes are inaccurate, irrelevant, or improper.
   
   Parents/guardians or eligible students may ask the District to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate, irrelevant, or improper. They should write the Building Principal or the Official Records Custodian, clearly identify the record they want changed, and specify the reason.
   
   If the District decides not to amend the record as requested by the parents/guardians or eligible student, the District will notify the parents/guardians or eligible student of the decision and advise him or her of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent(s)/guardian(s) or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.
    

3. The right to permit disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that the FERPA or ISSRA authorizes disclosure without consent.
   
   Disclosure without consent is permitted to school officials with legitimate educational or administrative interests. A school official is a person employed by the District as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the School Board. A school official may also include a volunteer, contractor, or consultant who, while not employed by the school, performs an institutional service or function for which the school would otherwise use its own employees and who is under the direct control of the school with respect to the use and maintenance of personally identifiable information from education records (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, therapist, or educational technology vendor); or any parents/guardians or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. Individual board members do not have a right to see student records merely by virtue of their office unless they have a current demonstrable educational or administrative interest in the student and seeing his or her record(s) would be in furtherance of the interest.
   
   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 or contractual obligations with the District.
   
   Upon request, the District discloses education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student has enrolled or intends to enroll, as well as to any person as specifically required by State or federal law. Before information is released to these individuals, the parents/guardians will receive prior written notice of the nature and substance of the information, and an opportunity to inspect, copy, and challenge such records.
   
   When a challenge is made at the time the student’s records are being forwarded to another school to which the student is transferring, there is no right to challenge: (1) academic grades, or (2) references to expulsions or out-of-school suspensions.
   
   Disclosure is also permitted without consent to: any person for research, statistical reporting or planning, provided that no student or parent(s)/guardian(s) can be identified; to another school district that overlaps attendance boundaries with the District, if the District has entered into an intergovernmental agreement that allows for sharing of student records and information with the other district; any person named in a court order; appropriate persons if the knowledge of such information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other persons; and juvenile authorities when necessary for the discharge of their official duties who request information before adjudication of the student.
    

4. The right to a copy of any school student record proposed to be destroyed or deleted.
   
   The permanent record is maintained for at least 60 years after the student transfers, graduates, or permanently withdraws. The temporary record is maintained for at least five years after the student transfers, graduates, or permanently withdraws. Temporary records that may be of assistance to a student with a disability who graduates or permanently withdraws, may, after five years, be transferred to the parent(s)/guardian(s) or to the student, if the student has succeeded to the rights of the parent(s)/guardian(s). Student temporary records are reviewed every four years or upon a student’s change in attendance centers, whichever occurs first.
    

5. The right to prohibit the release of directory information concerning the parent’s/ guardian’s child. 
   
   Throughout the school year, the District may release directory information regarding its students, limited to:

• Name

• Address

• Grade level

• Birth date and place

• Parent(s)’/guardian(s)’ names, addresses, electronic mail addresses, and telephone numbers

• Photographs, videos, or digital images used for informational or news-related purposes (whether by a media outlet or by the school) of a student participating in school or school-sponsored activities, organizations, and athletics that have appeared in school publications, such as yearbooks, newspapers, or sporting or fine arts programs

• Academic awards, degrees, and honors

• Information in relation to school‑sponsored activities, organizations, and athletics

• Major field of study

• Period of attendance in school

Any parent/guardian or eligible student may prohibit the release of any or all of the above information by delivering a written objection to the Building Principal within 30 days of the date of this notice. No directory information will be released within this time period, unless the parent/guardian or eligible student is specifically informed otherwise.

No photograph highlighting individual faces is allowed for commercial purposes, including solicitation, advertising, promotion or fundraising without the prior, specific, dated and written consent of the parent or student, as applicable; and no image on a school security video recording shall be designated as directory information.

6. The right to request that military recruiters or institutions of higher learning not be granted access to your secondary school student’s name, address, and telephone numbers without your prior written consent.
   
   Federal law requires a secondary school to grant military recruiters and institutions of higher learning, upon their request, access to secondary school students’ names, addresses, and telephone numbers, unless the student’s parent/guardian, or a student who is 18 years of age or older, submits a written request that the information not be released without the prior written consent of the parent/guardian or eligible student. If you wish to exercise this option, notify the Building Principal where your student is enrolled for further instructions.
    

7. The right contained in this statement: No person may condition the granting or withholding of any right, privilege or benefits or make as a condition of employment, credit, or insurance the securing by any individual of any information from a student’s temporary record which such individual may obtain through the exercise of any right secured under State law.
    

8. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Dept. of Education concerning alleged failures by the District to comply with the requirements of FERPA.
   
   The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is:
   
   U.S. Department of Education
   Student Privacy Policy Office
   400 Maryland Avenue, SW
   Washington DC 20202-8520

Request for Student Records (English form)    Request for Student Records (Spanish form)

In fall 2007, the U.S. Department of Education issued new guidance on the collection and reporting of race and ethnicity data for public school students and staff. The guidance implements new federal race and ethnicity categories that were developed to obtain a more accurate picture of the nation's diversity. The new data collection process requires respondents to answer a two-part question, indicating ethnicity first and then one or more of five races. (In the past, individuals were allowed to choose only one race or ethnicity category.)

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) will use the new categories starting with data to be reported for the 2010-11 school year. This requires school districts to re-identify race and ethnicity for all students—and the identification is to be done by parents or guardians. If a student's parents or guardians decline to indicate race and/or ethnicity, observer identification by school district staff is required.

The new race and ethnicity data will be used in the same manner as previously collected data, e.g., in reporting and analyzing test results by race and ethnicity. The information will not be used to check immigration status, and the confidentiality of individual student information will be protected.

The following document is the form that parents or guardians need to complete to identify race and ethnicity for their children:

• ISBE U.S. Dept. of Education Race and Ethnicity Data Standards (English)
• ISBE U.S. Dept. of Education Race and Ethnicity Data Standards (Spanish)

Please complete one form per child, and be sure to answer both parts of the two-part question. (Remember that school district staff is required to provide any missing information by observer identification.)