Legal Notices

ANNUAL NOTIFICATIONS

As required by law, the Knox County Board of Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, sex (including sexual orientation or gender identity), genetic information, disability, or limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions in its programs and activities and provides equal access to its facilities to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.

NOTIFICATION OF FERPA RIGHTS AND CHILD FIND

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and “eligible students” (students 18 years of age or older or students who are attending a postsecondary institution) certain rights with respect to the student’s education records. They are:

1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within forty-five (45) days of the day the District receives a request for access.

Parents or eligible students should submit to the school Principal/designee a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The Principal will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the record(s) may be inspected.

2. The right to inspect and review logs documenting disclosures of the student’s education records.

Except for disclosure to school officials, disclosures related to some judicial orders or lawfully issued subpoenas, disclosures of directory information, and disclosure to the parent or eligible student, FERPA regulations require the District to record the disclosure.

3. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of the student’s privacy or other rights.

Parents or eligible students may ask the District to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of privacy or other rights. They should write the school Principal, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of their privacy or other rights.

If the District decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the District will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and advise him\her of the right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.

4. The right to provide written consent prior to disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.

Exceptions that permit disclosure without consent include:

a. Disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A “school official” is a person employed by the District as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the school Board; a volunteer, or an outside person or company with whom the District has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist); or a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his/her tasks.

A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his/her professional responsibility to the District.

This may include contractors, consultants, volunteers, and other parties to whom the District has outsourced services or functions.

b. Upon request, disclosure of education records without parent/eligible student notice or consent to officials of another school district or post-secondary institution in which a student seeks or intends to enroll or is already enrolled or to other entities authorized by law so long as the disclosure is for purposes related to the student’s enrollment or transfer.

c. Disclosure of information to those whose knowledge of such information is necessary to respond to an actual, impending, or imminent articulable and significant health/safety threat.

d. Disclosure to state and local educational authorities and accrediting organizations, subject to requirements of FERPA regulations.

Designated Kentucky State agencies may be permitted access to student record information, which will depend on the authority granted to their particular agency.

5. The right to notify the District in writing to withhold information the Board has designated as directory information as listed in the annual directory information notice the District provides to parents/eligible students.

To exercise this right, parents/eligible students shall notify the District by the deadline designated by the District.

6. The right to prohibit the disclosure of personally identifiable information concerning the student to recruiting representatives of the U. S. Armed Forces and its service academies, the Kentucky Air National Guard, the Kentucky Army National Guard and institutions of higher education.

Unless the parent or student who has reached age 18 requests in writing that the District not release information, the student’s name, address, and telephone number (if listed) shall be released to Armed Forces recruiters and institutions of higher education upon their request.

7. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the District to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is:

Family Policy Compliance Office

U.S. Department of Education

400 Maryland Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20202-4605

Child Find for Children with Disabilities in Need of Special Education or 504 Services

The Knox County School District keeps educational records in a secure location in each school and Board office.

The Knox County School District obtains written consent from a parent or eligible student (age 18 or who is attending a postsecondary institution), before disclosing personally identifiable information to an entity or individual not authorized to receive it under FERPA.

For students who have been determined eligible for Special Education, educational records will be destroyed at the request of the parents when they are no longer needed to provide educational programs or services. The Knox County School District may destroy the educational records of a child without parent request three (3) years after they are no longer needed to provide educational programs or services. Parents are advised that data contained in the records may later be needed for Social Security benefits or other purposes. The Knox County School District may retain, for an indefinite period of time, a record of the student’s name, address, telephone number, grades, attendance records, classes attended, grade level completed, and year completed.

Children eligible for Special Education include those children with disabilities who have autism, deaf-blindness, developmental delay, emotional-behavior disability, hearing impairment, mental disability, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, specific learning disability, speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury, or visual impairment and who because of such an impairment need Special Education services.

Children eligible for 504 services include those children in a public elementary and secondary education program who have a current physical or mental impairment that currently substantially limits some major life activity which causes the student’s ability to access the school environment or school activities to be substantially limited.

Children eligible for the State-Funded Preschool program include three- and four-year-old children identified with disabilities and four-year-old children who are at-risk, as defined by federal poverty levels up to 150%. Preschool children eligible for special education must have an Individual Education Plan (IEP) instead of a 504 plan to receive State-Funded Preschool program services.

The Knox County School District has an ongoing “Child Find” system, which is designed to locate, identify and evaluate any child residing in a home, facility, or residence within its geographical boundaries, age three (3) to twenty-one (21) years, who may have a disability and be in need of Special Education or 504 services. This includes children who are not in school; those who are in public, private, or home school; those who are highly mobile such as children who are migrant or homeless; and those who are advancing from grade to grade, who may need but are not receiving Special Education or 504 services.

The district’s “Child Find” system includes children with disabilities attending private or home schools within the school district boundaries who may need special education services.

The Knox County School District will make sure any child enrolled in its district who qualifies for Special Education or 504 services, regardless of how severe the disability, is provided appropriate Special Education or 504 services at no cost to the parents of the child.

Parents, relatives, public and private agency employees, and concerned citizens are urged to help the Knox County School District find any child who may have a disability and need Special Education or 504 services. The District needs to know the name and age, or date of birth of the child; the name, address, and phone number(s) of the parents or guardian; the possible disability; and other information to determine if Special Education or 504 services are needed.

Letters and phone calls are some of the ways the Knox County School District collects the information needed. The information the school District collects will be used to contact the parents of the child and find out if the child needs to be evaluated or referred for Special Education or 504 services.

If you know of a child who lives within the boundaries of the Knox County School District, who may have a disability, and may need but is not receiving Special Education or 504 services, please call (606)546-3157 or send the information to:

Savannah Blevins, Director of Special Populations

Knox County Schools

200 Daniel Boone Drive

Barbourville, KY 40906

(606) 645-2830 Ext. 2421

If you know of a child who attends a private or home school within the boundaries of the Knox County School District, who may have a disability, and may need but is not receiving Special Education services, please call (606)546-3157 EXT. 2421 or send the information to:

Savannah Blevins, Director of Special Populations

Knox County Schools

200 Daniel Boone Drive

Barbourville, KY 40906

(606) 645-2830 Ext. 2421

“Child Find” activities will continue throughout the school year. As part of these efforts the Knox County School District will use screening information, student records, and basic assessment information it collects on all children in the District to help locate those children who have a disability and need Special Education or 504 services. Any information the District collects through “Child Find” is maintained confidentially.

Written Policies and Procedures have been developed which describe the District’s requirements regarding the confidentiality of personally identifiable information and “Child Find” activities. There are copies in the Principal’s office of each school, and in the Board of Education office. Copies of these Policies and Procedures may be obtained by contacting:

Gina Sears, Director of Student Services

Knox County Schools

200 Daniel Boone Drive

Barbourville, KY 40906

(606) 645-2830 Ext. 2423

The District office is open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The Knox County School District provides a public notice in the native language or other mode of communication of the various populations in the geographical boundaries of the District to the extent feasible.

If you know of someone who may need this notice translated to another language, given orally, or delivered in some other manner or mode of communication, please contact the Director of Student Services or the Director of Special Populations at the address or phone number listed above for the Knox County Schools.

PARTICIPATION IN NATIONAL SCHOOL BREAKFAST AND LUNCH PROGRAMS

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Online Form (AD-3027) found online at How to file a Complaint, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

(2) fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or

(3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

FEDERAL PROGRAMS and CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION

Recipients of federal funding must annually issue a public statement of non-discrimination for all career and technical education programs. Students, their families, employees and potential employees of the Knox County Public Schools are hereby notified that the Knox County Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, religion, marital status, sex or disability in employment, vocational programs, or activities as set forth in compliance with federal and state statutes and regulations. Any persons having inquiries concerning Knox County Public Schools’ compliance with Title II, Title VI, Title IX and/or Section 504 may contact:

Director of Special Populations including Exceptional Children and 504, Savannah Blevins;

Director of Federal Programs including Title Programs and Title IX, Career and Technical Education, Stacy Imel;

The Knox County Public Schools offers the following career and technical education programs for all students regardless of race, color, national origin, including those with limited English proficiency, sex or disability in grade 9-12: Agriculture, Business and Marketing, Family and Consumer Sciences, Health Sciences, Information Technology, Technology Education, Auto Technology, Carpentry, Electricity, Office Technology and Welding.