New York State Education Law gives you the right to information about how the York Central School District is safeguarding student and staff data.

• Read the Parents’ Bill of Rights for Data Privacy and Security

• Learn more about the vendors we work with

• Review our Data Security and Privacy Policy (Board Policy 5676)

• Review our Student Privacy Policy (Board Policy 7250)

If at any time district officials learn that student and/or teacher/principal data has been compromised, parents and guardians will be notified and the data breach will be reported to the New York State Education Department.

Parents/guardians and others who have concerns or wish to file a complaint about possible breach or improper disclosure of data may do so using this form.

Contact Data Protection Officer Christine LaGeorge (585) 243-1730 Ext. 2239 with any questions or concerns about data privacy or security.

The York Central School District is committed to ensuring student privacy in accordance with local, state and federal regulations and district policies. To this end and pursuant to U.S. Department of Education (DOE) regulations (Education Law §2-d), the district is providing the following Parents’ Bill of Rights for Data Privacy and Security. Parents and eligible students1 can expect the following:

1. A student’s personally identifiable information (PII)2 cannot be sold or released for any commercial purpose.

2. The right to inspect and review the complete contents of the student’s education record stored or maintained by an educational agency.

3. State and federal laws,3 such as NYS Education Law §2-d and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, that protect the confidentiality of a student’s PII, and safeguards associated with industry standards and best practices, including but not limited to, encryption, firewalls, and password protection, must be in place when data is stored or transferred.

4. A complete list of all student data elements collected by NYSED is available for public review at www.nysed.gov/data-privacy-security, and by writing to: Chief Privacy Officer, New York State Education Department, 89 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12234.

5. The right to have complaints about possible breaches and unauthorized disclosures of student data addressed. Complaints should be directed to: Data Protection Officer Christine LaGeorge, 2578 Genesee Street, Retsof, NY 14539, (585) 243-1730, ext. 2239 or clageorge@yorkcsd.org. Complaints may be submitted to NYSED online at www.nysed.gov/data-privacy-security, by mail to: Chief Privacy Officer, New York State Education Department, 89 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12234, by email to privacy@nysed.gov, or by telephone at 518-474-0937.

6. To be notified in accordance with applicable laws and regulations if a breach or unauthorized release of their student’s PII occurs.

7. The York Central School District staff that handle PII will receive training on applicable state and federal laws, the District’s policies, and safeguards associated with industry standards and best practices that protect PII.

8. The York Central School District contracts with vendors that receive PII will address statutory and regulatory data privacy and security requirements.

Information about other state and federal laws that protect student data such as the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment, and NY’s Personal Privacy Protection Law can be found at http://www.nysed.gov/student-data-privacy/federal-laws-protect-student-data.

More information is also available on the following websites:

• NYSED Data Privacy Resources

• Student Privacy Pledge

• New York State Education Department Parents Bill of Rights

• Education Law 2-D

• NYSED:  Data Privacy FAQs

• U.S. Department of Education press release: Guidance for Schools Issued on How to Keep Parents Better Informed on the Data They Collect on Students

• Privacy Technical Assistance Center (PTAC): newly established one-stop resource for education stakeholders to learn about data privacy.

The district complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Parents and 18-year-old students may inspect official records relating to them including progress reports, grades, aptitude and achievement test scores, psychological tests, and teacher evaluations. A record may be challenged by parents or 18 year old's when they believe it to be inaccurate or misleading. The principal may remove designated material if in agreement with the challenge. Definitions of school official and additional procedures under FERPA can be found in the Board of Education Policy Manual.

Individual student records are confidential and are not released to colleges, employers, or elsewhere without written permission, subject to the following exceptions. District schools may forward educational records to other schools that have requested them and in which a student seeks or intends to enroll. What the law refers to as directory information may be made public for school purposes unless a parent informs us in writing that they do not want this information made public. Directory information that we may make public includes: a student’s name, address, telephone listing, grade level, honors, degrees, or awards received, photograph, and (for athletes only) height and weight. Directory information is primarily made public so that students’ accomplishments can be included in various publications such as a concert program, yearbook, or honor roll.

As required by federal law, the high school provides a list of senior class member names, addresses and phone numbers to the military services—unless parents inform the high school principal in writing by September 15 that they do not want their child included in such lists.

Parents and 18-year-old students have the right to opt out of the disclosure of directory information by contacting their school principal. Parents should also inform the Superintendent if they do not wish their child’s likeness to be included on the district website, Facebook page or in occasional photos or videos taken by the media or district staff for school-related purposes.

Also, in accordance with the federal Protection of Pupil Rights amendment, the district hereby notifies parents that our schools may occasionally conduct student surveys that touch on topics such as political affiliation, income, or beliefs or religious practices of the student. In such cases, a letter will be sent home explaining parent rights to opt a child out from such a survey before it is conducted.

Questions about school policies in connection with family rights and privacy laws can be addressed to the District Data Privacy Officer, Christine LaGeorge, clageorge@yorkcsd.org.