By law, schools must share with families the following notices on an annual basis:
- Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) annual notice, which informs parents of their rights to inspect and review education records, seek amendment of records, consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information, and file complaints about privacy rights violations.
- Notification of the release of "directory information" (such as names, addresses, and phone numbers) with an option for parents to opt out.
- Notices related to student privacy rights, including rights under the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment.
- Information about teacher qualifications in Title I schools.
- Notices about the release of information to military and college recruiters.
- Annual reports on restraint and seclusion practices in schools.
- Notices related to reading readiness assessment results, dyslexia information, and personal reading plans if applicable to the student.
- Safety-related notices, such as information about the risks of sudden cardiac arrest and concussion in youth athletic activities.
- Other state and federal required notices about student rights and educational policies, often including family and parent engagement policies under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
These notices must be provided in a clear manner, often in the native language of the pupil's parent, and can be shared by mail, email, or school website postings. Schools typically distribute these notices at the start of the school year or annually as part of ongoing communications to families.
