Annual Notices

The Federal government has developed several laws and regulations designed to govern the use of asbestos and better protect the public. In 1986, the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) was signed into law as Title II of the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA). Additionally, the Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Reauthorization Act (ASHARA), passed in 1990, required accreditation of personnel working on asbestos activities in schools, and public and commercial buildings.

Specifically, Asbestos-Containing Materials in Schools (October 30, 1987 40CFR Part 763, Subpart E) outlines a detailed process that ensures the safe management of all asbestos-containing building materials (ACBM) by a designated person (DP) for a Local Education Agency (LEA).

Additionally, the Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Reauthorization Act (ASHARA), passed in 1990, required accreditation of personnel working on asbestos activities in schools and public and commercial buildings. Specifically, the Asbestos Model Accreditation Plan (40 CFR Part 763, Appendix C required the use of accredited inspectors, workers, supervisors, project designers, and management planners (schools only) when conducting asbestos activities at schools and public and commercial buildings.

Although asbestos is hazardous when inhaled, the risk of exposure to airborne fibers is very low. Therefore, removal of asbestos from schools is often not the best course of action. It may even create a dangerous situation when none previously existed. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) only requires removal of asbestos to prevent significant public exposure during demolition or renovation. EPA does, however, require an in-place, pro-active asbestos management program for all LEAs in order to ensure ACBM remains in good condition and is undisturbed by students, faculty, and staff.

Free and Reduced Lunch/Breakfast Program

All families who wish to apply for reduced or free meals with the Dieringer School District are encouraged to fill out an application at anytime during the school year. A new application must be completed at the beginning of each school year. Applications are available at all school locations, on the Nutrition Service web site, http://www.k12.wa.us/childnutrition. The letter explaining how the program works is available there. Once an application is completed properly it will not be necessary to complete a new application during the school year.

Tips to have an application successfully filled out:

• List all children who attend the Dieringer School District.
• If receiving food stamps or TANF benefits, list the case number in the space provided on top line area.
• List all household members and their incomes.
• Make sure to fill out the form completely: signature, social security number, address and your phone number.
• Did you know that if your child qualifies for free or reduced price meal benefits, there may be additional benefits such as discounts or "0" costs for the following services? Ask your school for more information; not all benefits are available at each school.
• Academic Classroom Fees
• Athletic Fees
• Associated Student Body (ASB) fee

Field trips Free and Reduced Forms are also available in Spanish

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.

FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children's education records. These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level. Students to whom the rights have transferred are "eligible students."

• Parents or eligible students have the right to inspect and review the student's education records maintained by the school. Schools are not required to provide copies of records unless, for reasons such as great distance, it is impossible for parents or eligible students to review the records. Schools may charge a fee for copies.
• Parents or eligible students have the right to request that a school correct records which they believe to be inaccurate or misleading. If the school decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student then has the right to a formal hearing. After the hearing, if the school still decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student has the right to place a statement with the record setting forth his or her view about the contested information.
• Generally, schools must have written permission from the parent or eligible student in order to release any information from a student's education record. However, FERPA allows schools to disclose those records, without consent, to the following parties or under the following conditions (34 CFR § 99.31):
• School officials with legitimate educational interest;
• Other schools to which a student is transferring;
• Specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes;
• Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student; Organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the school;
• Accrediting organizations;
• To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena;
• Appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies;
• and State and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system, pursuant to specific State law

Schools may disclose, without consent, "directory" information such as a student's name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, honors and awards, and dates of attendance. However, schools must tell parents and eligible students about directory information and allow parents and eligible students a reasonable amount of time to request that the school not disclose directory information about them. Schools must notify parents and eligible students annually of their rights under FERPA. The actual means of notification (special letter, inclusion in a PTA bulletin, student handbook, or newspaper article) is left to the discretion of each school

For additional information, you may call 1-800-USA-LEARN (1-800-872-5327) (voice). Individuals who use TDD may call 1-800-437-0833.

Or you may contact us at the following address:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-8520

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a law ensuring services to children with disabilities throughout the nation. IDEA governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education and related services to more than 6.5 million eligible infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities.

Infants and toddlers with disabilities (birth-2) and their families receive early intervention services under IDEA Part C. Children and youth (ages 3-21) receive special education and related services under IDEA Part B.

In accordance with the McKinney-Vento Act, Dieringer School District is required to provide homeless children access to educational services and opportunities to enroll in, attend and be successful in school.

The McKinney-Vento Act defines homeless children as "individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence." The act provides examples of children who would fall under this definition:

• Children sharing housing due to economic hardship or loss of housing;
• Children living in "motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camp grounds due to lack of alternative accommodations"
• Children living in "emergency or transitional shelters"
• Children "awaiting foster care placement"
• Children whose primary nighttime residence is not ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation (e.g. park benches, etc)
• Children living in "cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations…"

The McKinney-Vento Act ensures homeless children transportation to and from school free of charge, allowing children to attend their school of origin (last school enrolled or the school they attended when they first become homeless) regardless of what district the family resides in. It requires schools to register homeless children even if they lack normally required documents, such as immunization records or proof of residence.

For more information, visit the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, http://www.k12.wa.us/HomelessEd

The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232h; 34 CFR Part 98) applies to programs that receive funding from the U.S. Department of Education (ED). PPRA is intended to protect the rights of parents and students in two ways:

• It seeks to ensure that schools and contractors make instructional materials available for inspection by parents if those materials will be used in connection with an ED-funded survey, analysis, or evaluation in which their children participate; and
• It seeks to ensure that schools and contractors obtain written parental consent before minor students are required to participate in any ED-funded survey, analysis, or evaluation that reveals information concerning:

1. Political affiliations;
2. Mental and psychological problems potentially embarrassing to the student and his/her family;
3. Sex behavior and attitudes;
4. Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating and demeaning behavior;
5. Critical appraisals of other individuals with whom respondents have close family relationships;
6. Legally recognized privileged or analogous relationships, such as those of lawyers, physicians, and ministers; or
7. Income (other than that required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under

Parents or students who believe their rights under PPRA may have been violated may file a complaint with ED by writing the Family Policy Compliance Office. Complaints must contain specific allegations of fact giving reasonable cause to believe that a violation of PPRA occurred.

For additional information or technical assistance, you may call (202) 260-3887 (voice). Individuals who use TDD may call the Federal Information Relay Service at 1-800-877- 8339. Or you may contact us at the following address:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-5920