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Board approves first reading of student-records policy after FOIA guidance prompts updates
Summary
The Middlesex County School Board approved on first reading policy updates aimed at clarifying how student records requests are handled after FOIA-council guidance may make some requests subject to FOIA timelines rather than FERPA.
The Middlesex County School Board approved on first reading proposed revisions to several student-records policies after administrators said new FOIA-council guidance can shift some requests historically handled under FERPA into FOIA, with a tighter response timeline.
Dr. Seitz (title not specified) told the board there are four policy updates: the key change affects the JOA student education-records policy to reflect the FOIA timeline for certain records requests previously considered FERPA-protected. "That request for student records, which which typically have fallen under FERPA, now also can fall under FOIA, which is a much tighter time line," Dr. Seitz said. He described the other three revisions (student transcripts, release of student data and a consent form) as largely legal-reference updates or minor edits.
Board members moved and seconded a motion to approve the revisions on first reading; the board approved the motion and the board will hold a second reading in September. The administration said the policy language was recommended through the Virginia School Boards Association and that changes aim to help staff comply with state records requirements.
