School telling ANYONE that calls about DC's attendance record

[UberMama]

I am not talking about the parents of the child but ANYONE else. If ANYONE else calls, should the school divulge attendance records to that person without first receiving the parent's permission?

[mommato5]

No, the school should not be divulging info about any child.

[Emmeline II]

http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/reg/ferpa/index.html

[reece19]

From a strictly ethical standpoint, a school should not confirm or deny that a student even attends unless the person inquiring has a legit need to know.

I'm not sure how that factors into the law...but you never know who is calling and trying to get info about a kid. Best to not confirm anything without consent of the parent or a legal requirement (like a court order, or to comply with some existing law).

[Zach'smom]

Just curious. Who else would call the school to check on your child's attendance record?

[UberMama]

Thank you!

Zach'smom - My MIL (who already has issues with us not circ'ing our boys (SIX YEARS LATER!), not vax'ing, etc.) called the school last week and DS's teacher told her how he'd missed a few days the prior week when MIL asked. MIL could have asked us and we've seen her recently, talk via email every 1-2 days, so why call the school? I don't know. But she e'd me Friday night and said how she talked to Mrs G and knows DS missed school and is he really that sick? Well, I am going according to the sick guidelines we got from the school (no barking cough, if they have an EI - must be on antibiotics for 24 hours before returning, etc.).

The thing is, I don't have a relationship with my Mom due to some pretty severe issues. So I have it noted on my DS's records to not release him to such and such person, to not allow anyone to call in and tell them someone else will be picking him up (they allow that), etc. My Mom has boundary issues, so how did Mrs G know it was my MIL and not my Mom? Even so, she shouldn't have told MIL anything. :/

[syd'smom]

uhhhh...nope that is a no-no. As a teacher, she should be careful to only discuss said child to the legal/custodial parent/guardian, as unfortunately some bio parents are not allowed to have contact with their children. I was always very careful what I said to whom about my students.

[mommato5]

I would complain to someone about this info that has been given out. That is a HUGE No-NO.

[momslittleangel]

If I was you, I'd be hopping mad. I don't even think what the school did was legal.

[Heavenly]

Please lodge a formal complaint about this. That is just unacceptable. I would be completely livid if I were you. They should not be discussing your child with anyone but you and your DH.

[orca]

Another teacher chiming in to say that is a BIG no no. In fact, teachers are not even allowed to talk to other teachers about students (unless of course it is in the context of a collaborative meeting meant to create a plan for the child's learning) You have many courses of action you could take. Depending on what your school board is like, typically you have to speak to the teacher first, then work your way up the ladder. Next would be the Principal, Superintendent etc. Most States/ Provinces have a regulatory body that certifies and disciplines teachers. If you do not get a satisfactory response from the school/ teacher call them up and lodge a complaint and if they see any merit to the case, they will investigate.

[urchin_grey]

Wow, that sends up huge red flags to me. This is different, but even when DS's DAD called the hospital I took DS to once when he got really sick, they wouldn't confirm nor deny whether he was there or not over the phone. And I know that the therapists that DS goes to aren't allowed to talk about details of other patients such as their diagnosis and stuff.

BUT, I don't see why school should be any different. I would think that teachers wouldn't even be allowed to say whether or not that child even goes to that school!

[UberMama]

Okay, I talked to MIL. She seems to semi-understand she didn't have to call the school to ask. But she said initially she called to ask about volunteering. She is signed up to volunteer and when you want to do that, you have to call the day before to make sure they want you there. So she called and the teacher mentioned something about DS not being there and MIL asked her if he's missed a lot of days or something like that and Mrs G told her what days he's missed recently.

I'll talk to the principal about it tomorrow as I have to fill out paperwork at the school tomorrow anyway.

[Britishmum]

Originally Posted by UberMama

Okay, I talked to MIL. She seems to semi-understand she didn't have to call the school to ask. But she said initially she called to ask about volunteering. She is signed up to volunteer and when you want to do that, you have to call the day before to make sure they want you there. So she called and the teacher mentioned something about DS not being there and MIL asked her if he's missed a lot of days or something like that and Mrs G told her what days he's missed recently.

I'll talk to the principal about it tomorrow as I have to fill out paperwork at the school tomorrow anyway.

Yep, definitely speak to them about that. It sounds like the teacher just slipped into giving that info, but she shouldn't have done so and needs to be made aware.

[pranamama]

figure out how to reference it to FERPA, at our elementary, volunteers are now not allowed into the office area anymore because of the laws on privacy. All schools should be careful anyway, it's creepy if they don't check who's calling before divulging attendance.

[LauraN]

Originally Posted by UberMama

Okay, I talked to MIL. She seems to semi-understand she didn't have to call the school to ask. But she said initially she called to ask about volunteering. She is signed up to volunteer and when you want to do that, you have to call the day before to make sure they want you there. So she called and the teacher mentioned something about DS not being there and MIL asked her if he's missed a lot of days or something like that and Mrs G told her what days he's missed recently.

I'll talk to the principal about it tomorrow as I have to fill out paperwork at the school tomorrow anyway.

I can see her saying "don't come in b/c DS isn't here today." But when MIL asked if he missed a lot of days, she needed to have said, "You'll need to talk to UberMama about that, we can't give out that information."

Sounds like an honest slip-up, but the thing is she can't know if it might have been a dangerous one!

[mommy68]

Originally Posted by mommato5

I would complain to someone about this info that has been given out. That is a HUGE No-NO.

I agree.

And your MIL sounds a bit off to me. Why would she invade your privacy like that concerning your own child? I'd have issues with that as well, unless she has always been the overbearing type and you've always allowed it. It just seems odd to me that she would go behind your back and call your child's school. Geez, I wonder what she'd be like if you homeschooled.

[ecoteat]

No, schools obviously shouldn't give out information to anyone else, but the conversation between MIL and teacher sounds completely innocuous. It doesn't sound at all like MIL was asking invasive questions to snoop on her grandchild. In terms of her coming in to volunteer, your child being in school is relevant. LauraN, maybe I'm naive, but how could divulging that information to a family member have been dangerous?

[UberMama]

Originally Posted by mommy68

I agree.

And your MIL sounds a bit off to me. Why would she invade your privacy like that concerning your own child? I'd have issues with that as well, unless she has always been the overbearing type and you've always allowed it. It just seems odd to me that she would go behind your back and call your child's school. Geez, I wonder what she'd be like if you homeschooled.

MIL is overbearing at times. We don't allow it. I already called her on this specific incident and she admitted that it was underhanded and not necessary.

And we do homeschool DS's twin brother.

[mommyto3girls]

As a teacher I also agree that this would be a No-No, but I can see in this case why the teacher may have thought it was okay. The official policy is that we only discuss a child with the parents/guardians on record, however if I understand, your MIL is an approved volunteer in your son's class. because of that the teacher probably felt that open discussion was okay.

Based on your OP I would have said no way in he!! shoudl the info be shared, but knowing that your MIL volunteers in the room it does make it different.