File: KBBA
(General Laws Chapter 71,
Section 34H)
As
required by MGL, Chapter 71, Section 34H, a non-custodial parent may have
access to the student record in accordance with law and Department of Education
Regulations. The school district will
follow the law and the regulations developed by the Massachusetts
Department of Education to standardize the process by which public schools
provide student records to parents who do not have physical custody of their
children (“non-custodial parents”).
As required by M.G.L. C. 71, §34H, a non-custodial parent may have access to the student record in accordance with the following provisions:
(a) A non-custodial parent is
eligible to obtain access to the student record unless the school or district
has been given documentation that:
1. The parent has been denied
legal custody or has been ordered to supervised visitation based on a
threat to the safety of the student and the threat is specifically noted in the
order pertaining to custody or supervised visitation, or
2. The parent has been denied
visitation, or
3. The parent’s access to the
student has been restricted by a temporary or permanent protective order,
unless the protective order (or any subsequent order modifying the protective
order) specifically allows access to the information contained in the student
record.
4. There is an order of a
probate and family court judge which prohibits the distribution of student
records to the parent.
(b) The school shall place in the student’s record documents indicating that a non-custodial parent’s access to the student’s records is limited or restricted pursuant to 603 CMR 23.07(5)(a).
(c) In order to obtain access, the non-custodial parent must submit a written request for the student record to the school principal.
(d) Upon receipt of the request the school must
immediately notify the custodial parent by the certified and first class
mail, in English and the primary language of the custodial parent, that it will
provide the non-custodial parent with access after 21 days, unless the
custodial parent provides the principal with documentation that the
non-custodial parent is not eligible to obtain access as set forth in 603 CMR
23.07 (5)(a).
(e) The school must delete all electronic and postal address and telephone number information relating to either work or home locations of the custodial parent from student records provided to non-custodial parents. In addition, such records must be marked to indicate that they shall not be used to enroll the student in another school.
(f) Upon
receipt of a court order, which prohibits the distribution of information
pursuant to G.L. C. 71, §34H, the school shall notify the non-custodial parent
that it shall cease to provide access to the student record to the non-custodial
parent.
[Adopted:
March 2003]
[Revised:
May 2006]
[Revised:
May 2008]
Legal
Ref: MGL 71:34H
603 CMR 23.07(5) Access
Procedures for Non-Custodial Parents
603 SMR23.07: Access to
Student Records