• The
right to the best education possible with opportunities for
continuous progress intellectually and emotionally
• The
right to an educational environment that is stable, healthy and
safe
• The
right to ask questions and express opinions at the appropriate
time and place
• The
right to input decisions affecting the student population
through elected or selected representatives
• The
right to counseling and confidentiality of records
• The
right to freedom from discrimination based on actual or
perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group,
religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation,
gender, or sex
• The
right to equal educational opportunities for students with
disabilities
• The
right to participate in extracurricular activities
• The
right to due process as it applies to enforcement of school
rules and regulations
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
HFM BOCES PARENTS: The federal
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) allows schools
to disclose, without parental consent, certain “directory
information” such as a student’s name, address, telephone
number, date and place of birth, participation in athletics,
honors and awards, photograph and dates of attendance, unless
parents have advised the district to the contrary.
The primary purpose of directory
information is to allow HFM BOCES to include this type of
information in school publications (district publications and
the district website, social media outlets including HFM BOCES
Facebook) and for publicity of student accomplishments or
specific educational programs to the electronic (television) and
print (newspaper) media.
In practice, HFM BOCES has
historically released a student’s name, grade, honor, awards and
photographs in publications and to the media. Other directory
information is not routinely released. A similar procedure
regarding the release of information on the BOCES website is in
place.
Parents not wishing information
about their child to be used in BOCES publications, releases to
the media or on the BOCES web site or social media should write
a letter to the principal/director of their child’s HFM BOCES
program. The signed and dated letter should state that directory
information about (name of student) should not be released under
FERPA. You do not have to give a reason. This letter must be
sent annually by September 30.
HFM BOCES is committed to equal
opportunity in educational programs, admissions and employment.
HFM BOCES does not discriminate on the basis of race, color,
weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious
practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender, or sex in
providing student access to educational programs, courses and
activities.
This policy is in compliance with
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, The Education
Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973 and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975.
Inquiries concerning this policy of
equal opportunity should be directed to the Title IX and Section
504 Coordinator, 2755 State Highway 67, Johnstown, NY 12095, or
by calling (518) 736-4305.
Any alleged grievances should be
reported to the office of the District Superintendent at (518)
736-4300, Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery BOCES, 2755 State Highway
67, Johnstown, NY 12095.
BOCES facilities may be used by
district residents with approval of the Board of Education. Fees
are charged for certain kinds of activities and/or for extra
services, which BOCES may have to provide. If you wish to use
school facilities, contact the district superintendent’s office.
Insurance coverage is required.
In accordance with federal and
state laws and regulations regarding the maintenance of student
records, the HFM BOCES Board of Education recognizes the legal
requirement to protect the confidentiality of student records.
The District Superintendent shall ensure that the procedures for
the confidentiality of student records shall be consistent with
federal and state law pursuant to the authority of the
Commissioner of Education. It is the intent of HFM BOCES to
limit the disclosure of information contained in a student’s
education records except by prior consent of the student’s
parent(s) or guardian(s) or the eligible student, unless
otherwise provided by law.
Parent(s) or guardian(s) and
eligible students have the following rights under the Family
Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA):
• The right to inspect and review
the student’s record
• The right to be provided, on
request, with a copy of all or part of the student’s education
record
• The right to exercise a limited
control over other people’s access to the student’s education
record
• The right to designate a
representative who will inspect, review, or copy such records
• The right to request and receive
from the district a reasonable explanation of information
contained in the education record of the student
• The right to seek to correct the student’s education record,
at a hearing if necessary
• The right to report violations of FERPA to the Department of Education
• The right to be informed about FERPA rights
All rights and protections held by
a student’s parent(s) or guardian(s) under FERPA shall vest with
the student when he or she reaches the age of 18, or enrolls in
a post-secondary school. For purposes of federal law, the
student shall then become an “eligible student.” Additionally,
on application of the parent(s) or guardian(s), a school record
shall be issued promptly to a minor who presents a certificate
of physical fitness and meets the specified age requirement.
The Dignity Act states that NO
student shall be subjected to harassment or discrimination by
employees or students on school property or at a school function
based on their actual or perceived race, color, weight, national
origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability,
sexual orientation, gender, or sex.
HFM BOCES School Dignity Act
Coordinators
At least one employee in every
school shall be designated as a School Dignity Act Coordinator (DAC)
and thoroughly trained in methods to respond to human relations
in the areas of race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic
group, religion, religious practices, disability, sexual
orientation, gender, or sex.
Pursuant
to the No Child Left Behind Act, parents may request information
regarding the professional qualifications of their child’s
classroom teachers including:
• Whether state requirements and
licensing criteria have been met for the grade level and subject
area being taught.
• If the teacher is working under
emergency or other provisional status for state qualifications
and licensing criteria have been waived.
• The teacher’s college major and
subsequent advanced degrees.
If an uncertified teacher will be working in a classroom for
four or more weeks.
Requests for this
information may be directed to the District Superintendent’s
Office, HFM BOCES, 2755 State Highway 67, Johnstown, NY 12095.
Each November, HFM BOCES sends
its students home 15 minutes early to test its Emergency
Management Plan. The “Go Home Early Drill” is required once
a year by the New York State Education Department. The drill
date is published each year in the BOCES calendar. The
purpose of the early dismissal drill is to test the
effectiveness of the transportation and communications
systems in the event of an emergency. Copies of the
Emergency Management Plan are located in the Operations
office of HFM BOCES, 2755 State Highway 67, Johnstown, NY
12095.
Parent
Resources - Annual
notifications
