FERPA

Review the notice to parents and students regarding board policies below or download the notice at this link.

Student Records

Under the Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”) and the Illinois School Student Records Act (“ISSRA”), students and their parents have certain rights with respect to the student’s educational records. These rights transfer solely to the student who has reached the age of 18, graduated from secondary school, married or entered into military service, whichever comes first.

Notice of Student Record Retention and Disposal

The law requires the Board of Education of the City of Chicago (the “Board”) to maintain educational records, which includes both “permanent records” and “temporary records.” A student’s permanent record contains the student’s name, place and date of birth, address, transcript, parent(s) name(s) and address(es), attendance records, and other information mandated by the Illinois State Board of Education. The student’s temporary records include all school-related student information not contained in the permanent record. Student records may include both paper and electronic records. According to Board policy, the retention periods for student records are as follows:


The Board will follow the above retention schedule and will destroy these student records in the natural course of business when the records are eligible for disposal. Notice of the record disposal schedule is provided through annual newspaper publication. To review student records after the student has transferred, graduated or withdrawn from school, parents and students may contact the student’s former school or Former Student Records (773-535-4110). For additional information, refer to the Board’s Policy on Student Records Retention at http://policy.cps.edu/download.aspx?ID=84.

Right to Review and Challenge Student Records

Parents and students, whether emancipated or not, have the right to inspect and copy all of the student’s educational records maintained by the school or the Board unless the parent is prohibited by an order of protection from obtaining those records within 10 business days after the day the school receives a request for access. Parents of eligible students should submit to
the school principal a written request that identifies the records 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.

When a student is transferring to a school outside the Chicago Public Schools district, parents have the right to inspect and copy and to challenge their children’s temporary and permanent student records prior to the time records are transferred to the out-of-district school.

Schools may not charge to search for or retrieve information, though schools may charge a reasonable fee to copy records. No parent or student shall be denied a copy of the student records due to their inability to pay.

Parents have the right to request that a school corrects recorded information (with the exception of academic grades) that they believe is inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA and ISSRA. Parents or eligible students who wish to ask the school to amend a record should write the school principal, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it should be changed. 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 of their right to a formal hearing by submitting a written request to the Board. Parents should contact the Office of Diverse Learner Supports and Services, Chicago Public Schools, 42 West Madison Street, 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60602, for a formal hearing. After the hearing, if the Board decides not to amend the record, the parent has the right to place a statement with the records commenting on the contested information in the record. The parent may appeal the Board’s decision by contacting the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), Division Division of Accountability, 100 W. Randolph St., Suite 14-300, Chicago, IL 60601. For more information on how to review and/or challenge a student’s record, review the Board’s policy on “Parent and Student Rights of Access to and Confidentiality of Student Records” (http://policy.cps.edu/download.aspx?ID=122).

Release of Student Records

Parents and eligible students have the right to provide written consent before the school discloses personally identifiable information from the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. Generally, schools may not release student records information without written permission from the parent. However, the law allows the disclosure of records, without consent, to select parties, including:

  • School district employees or officials who have legitimate educational interest in the student;
  • Officials, upon request, of another school district or institutions of post- secondary education in which a student seeks or intends to enroll, or is already enrolled if the disclosure is for purposes of the student’s enrollment or transfer;
  • Certain government officials as required by State or Federal law;
  • Persons conducting studies, pursuant to a written agreement with the Board;
  • Individuals who have obtained a court order regarding the records, provided the parents are notified;
  • Persons who need the information in light of a health or safety emergency; and
  • State and local authorities in the juvenile justice system.

A school may also disclose, without consent, certain “Directory Information” such as a student’s name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, and awards and dates of attendance, provided that prior to the release of the Directory Information the parents are given the opportunity to opt out of the release of this information, in which case the information will not be released.

Please note that no person may condition the granting or withholding of any right, privilege or benefit or make as a condition of employment, credit or insurance the securing by any individual of any information from a student’s temporary record that the individual may obtain through the exercise of any right secured under ISSRA.

Release of Directory Information

The Chicago Public Schools may disclose directory information about students to specific parties though written requests. Directory information is information that is generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if released. CPS has designated the following as directory information: student’s name; home address; home telephone number; date of birth; grade level; and most recent CPS school attended. Specific parties who may request this information include, but are not limited to external organizations delivering services to students such as Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA, PTA, City sister agencies, and providers of programming that enriches a student’s academic and/or social and emotional learning.

If a parent or student does not wish to have the student’s directory information released, they must submit a written request to the school main office. The request to opt out must include the student’s name, ID and school. For convenience, the Board has developed an opt-out form which is available at all Chicago Public Schools and on-line at cps.edu. Parent and students must submit their opt-out request by October 1st annually if they wish to opt out of the releasing directory information. For more information on opting out of the release of directory information, please review the Board’s “Parent and Student Rights of Access to and Confidentiality of Student Records Policy” (http://policy.cps.edu/download.aspx?ID=122).

Release of Records to Recruiters and Institutions of Higher Learning

Chicago Public Schools provides the names, addresses and telephone numbers of all 11th and 12th grade students to military recruiters or institutions of higher learning upon their request. Parents and students, regardless of whether the student is emancipated or not, may request that their contact information not be disclosed as described below.

If a parent or student does not wish to have the student’s contact information released to military recruiters or institutions of higher education, they must submit a written request to the school main office. The request to opt out must include the student’s name, ID number and school. For convenience, the Board has developed an opt-out form which is available at all Chicago Public Schools high schools. Parents and students must submit their opt-out request by December 1st if they wish to opt out of releasing student records to recruiters and/or institutions of higher learning. For more information on opting out of the release of contact information to recruiters, please review the Board’s “Recruiter Access” Policy (http://policy.cps.edu/download.aspx?ID=151) and the Board’s “Parent and Student Rights of Access to and Confidentiality of StudentRecords Policy” (http://policy.cps.edu/download.aspx?ID=122).

Release of Records for FAFSA Completion Project and National
Student Clearinghouse

The Board releases student Directory Information on all 12th grade students to:

  1. The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) to assist students with college financing opportunities by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and to determine eligibility for ISAC-related scholarships. The FAFSA is required for students to receive many forms of college financial aid; ISAC and CPS collaborate to support family FAFSA completion; and
  2. The National Student Clearinghouse, an organization which provides data to CPS on students’ postsecondary enrollment and retention. The National Student Clearinghouse helps CPS to understand and improve the college readiness and success of CPS graduates.

The Directory Information to be released is: the student’s name, date of birth and high school name. If a parent or student does not wish to have the student’s Directory Information released to ISAC for the FAFSA Completion Project and scholarships or the National Student Clearinghouse for the above mentioned purposes, they must submit a written request to the attention of the Office of School Counseling and Postsecondary Advising, Chicago Public Schools, 42 West Madison Street, 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60602, 773/553-2108. The request to opt out must include the student’s name, ID number and school. For convenience, the Board has developed an opt-out form which is available at all Chicago Public Schools high schools. Parents and students must submit their opt out request to the Office of School Counseling and Postsecondary Advising by October 1st if they wish to opt out of releasing student Directory Information for the FAFSA Completion Project and/or the National Student Clearinghouse.

Filing of Complaints

Parents or students who are at least 18 years of age have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education if they believe the school district has failed to comply with the requirements of FERPA by contacting the Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20202-5901.

Student Interventions

Division of Accountability, 100 W. Randolph St., Suite 14-300, Chicago, IL 60601. For more information on how to review and/or challenge a student’s record, review the Board’s policy on “Parent and Student Rights of Access to and Confidentiality of Student Records” (http://policy.cps.edu/download.aspx?ID=122).

Notice of Search and Seizure Policy

Any Person who enters onto the property of the Board of Education of the City of Chicago may be subject to a search in accordance with the Board’s Search and Seizure Policy, (http://policy.cps.edu/download.aspx?ID=190).

Student Research Surveys

The District maintains a Research Study and Data Policy to address how individuals may conduct student research activities including surveys in the Chicago Public Schools (http://policy.cps.edu/download.aspx?ID=178). This policy has been established to comply with the requirements of the Federal Pupil Protection Rights Act (“PPRA”). Parents or guardians or students who are at least 18 years of age who believe their rights under the PPRA may have been violated may file a complaint with: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20202.

Administration of Medications Policy

The District maintains a policy on the requirements for the administration of medication to a student during school hours (http://policy.cps.edu/download.aspx?ID=5). A written request must be made by a licensed physician and submitted on the CPS medication request form. The parent/guardian must submit a signed Parent’s Authorization to Release Medical Information form. Medication will not be administered unless these forms are properly completed and received. This policy addresses administration of both prescription drugs and non-prescription (over the counter) drugs. Students shall not bring medication to school without authorization.

Consent to Bill Medicaid Notice

CPS provides health evaluations and related health services to students at no cost to parents. CPS is able to receive federal Medicaid reimbursement to offset the costs of providing some health services. In order to receive the payments, a parent/guardian must consent to allow CPS to share his/her child’s health information with the State of Illinois for billing purposes. The
State must keep each student’s information confidential and may only use it for the purpose of determining payments to CPS. When an IEP is finalized, CPS asks parents/guardians if they consent to allow CPS to seek Medicaid reimbursement for eligible health services – at no cost to the family. Whether or not CPS is reimbursed has no impact on the family’s insurance or benefits programs. Further, students will continue to receive the health services described in their IEPs regardless of whether their parents/guardians provide consent to bill Medicaid. The parents/guardians’ consent is only required once while the child continues to receive IEP services, including health services. This Notice is to inform the parents/guardians that CPS will continue to follow their decision regarding consent to bill Medicaid until the parents/guardians notify CPS of a change.

Title IX

It is the policy of the Board of Education of the City of Chicago not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability or sex. Any student or other in terested party, such as a coach or parent, may inquire about the possibility of adding a new sport, or adding a new level (e.g. varsity, junior varsity, sophomore, freshman) to an existing sport at a CPS high school. Inquiries concerning the application of Title IX, and the regulations promulgated thereunder regarding sports/athletics should be referred to the Office of Student Protections and Title IX at (773) 535-4400 or ospcompliance@cps.edu.

CPS Policy Website

Copies of all Board Policies can be obtained on the CPS Website at (http://policy.cps.edu/Policies.aspx) or by writing to the Board Secretary, Chicago Board of Education, 1 North Dearborn Street, 9th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60602.