Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

Guardians, or adult students, may make a request to review their child’s school records in writing using this form below or an email explaining which records are being requested and send to their school administration or Office of Special Services by mail to 75 South Street, Suite 2, Gorham, Maine 04038 or may email directly to Administrative Assistant of the Office Special Services, Suzanne Berthiaume, at  [email protected]    

Request for Review of Records

Once the school district receives the request, they will be in touch to set up an appointment for the guardians to complete the review or with any clarifying questions.  The school district has 45 calendar days to make the records available for review.   If copies are being requested, there may be a charge of $0.15 per page (fee may be waived if family can show it would be undue hardship)

Please feel free to contact the Office of Special Services with any questions regarding FERPA at 

(207) 222-1022

Please review FERPA Rights below:

NOTIFICATION OF RIGHTS UNDER F.E.R.P.A.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students over 18 years of age ("eligible students") 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 45 days of the day the District receives a request from access. Parents or eligible students should submit to the school principal [or appropriate school official] 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 records may be inspected.

(2) The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate or misleading. Parents or eligible students may ask Gorham School District to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the school principal, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. 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 them of their 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.

(3) The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the District as a administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff 56 member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the School Board; a 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 or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.

(4) 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 are: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202-4605.