Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) Policy
Introduction: PES School of Nursing Education is committed to protecting the privacy of student education records in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and its implementing regulations. FERPA is a federal law that affords certain rights to students concerning the privacy of their education records and imposes obligations on educational institutions regarding the release and management of these records. This policy outlines the procedures and guidelines that PES School of Nursing Education follows to ensure compliance with FERPA and safeguard the confidentiality of student education records.
Definition of Terms:
Education Records: Education records are defined as those records that are directly related to a student and maintained by PES School of Nursing Education or by a party acting on behalf of the school. These records include, but are not limited to, transcripts, grades, class schedules, disciplinary records, and financial aid information.
Directory Information: Directory information may include a student's name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, email address, photograph, dates of attendance, enrollment status, degrees and awards received, and participation in officially recognized activities and sports. PES School of Nursing Education may disclose directory information without prior consent unless the student has requested in writing that such information not be disclosed.
Personally Identifiable Information (PII): Personally identifiable information includes, but is not limited to, a student's name, student ID number, social security number, and other information that could be used to identify or distinguish an individual student.
Legitimate Educational Interest: A legitimate educational interest exists when a school official requires access to a student's education records in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibilities, such as providing educational services, conducting research, or performing administrative tasks.
Rights of Students:
Access to Records: Students have the right to inspect and review their own education records within a reasonable time after the school receives a written request.
Amendment of Records: Students have the right to request the amendment of their education records if they believe the records are inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of their privacy rights.
Consent for Disclosure: Except in certain specified circumstances, [School Name] must obtain written consent from the student before disclosing personally identifiable information from the student's education records.
Right to File a Complaint: Students have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education if they PES School of Nursing Education has violated their rights under FERPA.
Procedures for Compliance:
Access to Education Records: Requests by students to access their education records should be submitted in writing to the appropriate school official. The school will respond to such requests within a reasonable timeframe and arrange for the student to review the records in the presence of a school official.
Disclosure of Directory Information: PES School of Nursing Education may disclose directory information without prior consent, unless the student has opted out of such disclosures by submitting a written request to the school registrar.
Authorization for Disclosure: Requests for the disclosure of personally identifiable information from education records must be accompanied by a signed and dated consent form from the student, unless the disclosure falls within one of the exceptions outlined in FERPA.
Protection of Records: PES School of Nursing Education will take appropriate measures to safeguard the confidentiality of student education records, including the use of secure electronic systems and limiting access to authorized personnel with a legitimate educational interest.
Training and Awareness: PES School of Nursing Education will provide training and guidance to faculty, staff, and administrators on their responsibilities under FERPA and the importance of protecting student privacy.
Record of Disclosures: PES School of Nursing Education will maintain a record of all disclosures of personally identifiable information from education records, including the purpose of the disclosure and the identity of the party to whom the information was disclosed.
Exceptions to Consent Requirement:
School Officials: PES School of Nursing Education may disclose education records to school officials with a legitimate educational interest.
Emergencies: In emergency situations where the health or safety of the student or others is at risk, PES School of Nursing Education may disclose relevant information from education records to appropriate parties without prior consent.
Compliance with Legal Requirements: PES School of Nursing Education may disclose education records as required by law, including subpoenas, court orders, or other legal processes.
Retention and Destruction of Records: PES School of Nursing Education will adhere to established retention schedules for education records and will ensure the secure destruction of records that are no longer needed in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
Policy Review and Revision: This FERPA policy will be reviewed periodically by [School Name] to ensure compliance with changes in laws, regulations, and best practices. Any revisions to the policy will be communicated to all relevant stakeholders.
Conclusion: PES School of Nursing Education] is committed to upholding the privacy rights of students and ensuring compliance with FERPA. This policy provides guidance and procedures for the management and protection of student education records in accordance with federal law. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this policy, please contact the PES School of Nursing Education administration for assistance.
NOTE: We do not release any information to anyone but our students except with express written permission obtained by the student prior to disclosure. This includes anyone who may have paid for the class for the student.
PES has been in operation since 2020. Since that time, we have served more than 500 students seeking allied health careers. In the past few years, we have expanded our operations, and have added new programs such as medical assisting, and we will soon be able to offer and share more information about our LPN program that will be launching in 2024.
Our owners are registered nurses with many decades of experience and they strive to offer a professional, humbling, and fun learning environment and teach and train healthcare workers of the future.