The LWA Bill of Rights States:

A student’s personal identifiable information (PII) cannot be sold or released for any commercial purposes;
Parents have the right to inspect and review the complete contents of their child’s education record;
State and federal laws protect the confidentiality of 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;
A complete list of all student data elements collected is available for review by writing to the Data Protection Officer and CFO of LWA, Lawrence Woodmere Academy, 336 Woodmere Boulevard, Woodmere, NY 11598; and
Parents have the right to have complaints about possible breaches of student data addressed.

Complaints should be directed in writing to Privacy Complaint, Data Protection Officer, via email accounting@Lawrencewoodmere.org or via mail Lawrence Woodmere Academy 336 Woodmere Boulevard, Woodmere, NY 11598.

Additional References to the Parents Bill of Rights

• Privacy and Student Records:

The School will maintain written records of all suspensions and expulsions including the name of the student, a description of the behavior engaged in, the disciplinary action taken, and a record of the number of days a student has been suspended or removed for disciplinary reasons.  This policy complies with schools being subject to the federal Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) that requires a school to protect a student’s privacy. “The School” will not disclose any information from the student’s permanent records except as authorized pursuant to FERPA, or in response to a subpoena, as required by law. The parent(s) or guardian(s) of a student under 18 years of age, or a student 18 year of age or older, is entitled to access to the student’s school records by submitting a written request to the Principal/Head of School. Further information concerning the disclosure of student information and limitations on such disclosure may be found in FERPA and the school’s FERPA policy.

The Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) 

The Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) is a Federal law designed to protect the privacy of a students’ education records. FERPA gives parents rights with respect to their children’s education records. Those rights include: 

• Parents or eligible students have the right to inspect and review all of the student’s education records maintained by the School. For records including information on more than one student, parents will be limited only to information pertaining to his/her child. Schools are not required to provide copies of materials in education records unless, for reasons such as great distance, it is impossible for parents or eligible students to inspect the records. Schools may charge a fee for copies. 
• Student records or other identifiable information are maintained in a secure location to ensure confidentiality. Records that are no longer required or need to be disposed will be done so in a manner that ensures confidentiality and security. All laws pertaining to retention of documents will be adhered to.
• Parents and eligible students have the right to request that a school correct records believed to be inaccurate or misleading. If the school decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student then has the right to a formal hearing. After the hearing, if the school still decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student has the right to place a statement with the record commenting on the contested information in the record. 
• Generally, schools must have written permission from the parent or eligible student before releasing any information from a student’s record. However, the law allows schools to disclose records, without consent, to the following parties: 

o School officials with legitimate educational interest; 

o Other schools to which a student is transferring; 

o Specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes; 

o Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student; 

o Organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the school; 

o Accrediting organizations; 

o To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena; 

o Appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies; and 

o State and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system, pursuant to a specific State law. 

Schools may also disclose, without consent, “directory” type information such as a student’s name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, honors and awards, and dates of attendance. 

LWA notifies parents of their rights under FERPA in the Comprehensive Parent Handbook, which is updated and shared annually.  Reference to parent opt-outs pertaining to use of images for marketing purposes, etc is included in the Tuition Contract.

• LWA Social Media Policy 

“The School’s” staff members will treat professional social media space and communication like a classroom and/or a professional workplace. The same standards expected in a school setting are expected on the school social media site for all student activity and peer-to-peer interactions. What would be considered inappropriate in the school or classroom is inappropriate online. Students are responsible for their own behavior when communicating with social media and will be held accountable for the content of the communications that they transmit or post. Students are responsible for complying with “The School’s” Code of Conduct requirements. Examples of inappropriate conduct include, but are not limited to: 

. Posting or publishing any insensitive or inappropriate information or content on any social media and viewing any insensitive or inappropriate social media content. 

. Communicating with teachers or administrators via personal social media. The only permissible electronic method of email communication with a teacher is through emailing the teacher or administrator at his or her School email account. 

. Impersonating or assuming the identity of any other individual while using social media. 

. Posting or publishing any information about one’s self or another individual that is confidential or of a private nature. This includes posting contact information or any other information that is private. 

. Using any device capable of capturing video, pictures, or audio to record or take pictures of any other individual without express consent and permission and posting any pictures taken in the school setting, even if taken with permission, unless they are educationally related. 

. Students must immediately comply with any request that offending materials be removed from any social media platform. The use of social media is a privilege, not a right, and the violation of any provision of this policy will result in the restriction of a student’s social media access and/or the imposition of additional appropriate consequences–including both school-based consequences and referrals to law enforcement. This social media policy applies any time students are using school property, under the supervision of school authority, or, when social media is being used away from school premises, in a manner that impacts the school community. Misuse of social media that impacts fellow students will be subject to school-based consequences whether student used it on or off school grounds.

• FERPA:

FAMILY EDUCATION RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT (FERPA) FERPA is a federal law that gives parents certain rights regarding your scholar’s education records. As a parent/guardian, you have the right to review your child’s education records or to request the amendment of records believed to be inaccurate or misleading. Student records are private, and “The School” does not share student information unless parent consent is given. If you have any questions regarding student records or more information about parent/guardian rights to records, please contact the Family Support Coordinator or Manager of Operations (or whomever is responsible at your School).

• LWA LIMITED ACCESS POLICY 

At certain times during the school year, it may become necessary for “The School” to temporarily or permanently limit the access of a visitor to the school building.  Limited access is warranted when a person’s conduct disrupts “The School’s” learning environment and/or places the safety of staff, students and/or other family members at risk. If an incident occurs requiring limited access, notification to the family member involved will be provided in person, when possible, and in writing. The limited access letter will outline the nature of the event, the start and end dates of the limited access and the terms and conditions for continued attendance of the visitor’s scholar.  At the conclusion of the limited access, the visitor will either receive a letter indicating that the limited access has been rescinded or that additional conduct has required an extension of the limited access.