LOYAL READERS! WE’RE ZOOMING WITH THE DAWG TODAY AT 10! ELVIN HOUSTON, ONE OF MY PARTNERS FROM SAN ANTONIO, WILL BE JOINING ME AS WE FOCUS ON SPECIAL ED ISSUES.  SO GET YOUR DIAGS AND DIRECTORS TO JOIN US! !  IF YOU ARE NOT YET SIGNED UP, JUST SEND AN EMAIL TO INFO@WABSA.COM. 

 “It does seem that the improper disclosure was inadvertent.  Nonetheless, we find that the District violated FERPA as alleged.”  So sayeth the Student Privacy Policy Office in a ruling involving a Texas school district.

The complaint alleged that Student A’s confidential information was copied onto the back of Student B’s ARD paperwork and sent to the parent of Student B.  Why would someone do that?  It sure sounds like the type of thing that could happen if someone was temporarily inattentive at the copy machine.  SPPO seems to agree with that, noting that the disclosure was likely “inadvertent.”  To SPPO it doesn’t matter.  The improper disclosure of confidential information is a FERPA violation, regardless of intent. 

That’s your Friday FERPA Reminder.  It’s Letter to Watson, issued by SPPO on June 24, 2021 and cited on Special Ed Connection at 121 LRP 32103.

DAWG BONE: INADVERTENT OR ADVERTENT.  NO MATTER.   

Got a question or comment for the Dawg?  Let me hear from you at jwalsh@wabsa.com.