Directory Information and Photos
Use of Directory Information and Photos
The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student educational records. Most information in a student's education record cannot be shared outside the district without parent/guardian consent.
FERPA also allows school districts to identify certain basic student information as Directory Information. Directory information may be used in normal school activities and public-facing communications unless a family chooses to opt out.
What does NKSD consider Directory Information?
Under district policy, Directory Information includes:
- the student's full name
- photograph
- address
- telephone number
- date and place of birth
- dates of attendance
- participation in officially recognized activities and sports
- weight and height of members of athletic teams,
- diplomas and awards received
- most recent previous school attended
The residential addresses of participants in the state Address Confidentiality Program will not be released as directory information. Social Security numbers, student identification numbers (with authentication factors such as a secret password or personal identification number), or other personally identifiable information is not considered directory information.
How will Directory Information be used?
Directory Information allows students to be included in everyday school activities and communications, such as:
- yearbooks and class photos
- graduation programs and announcements
- athletic and activity rosters, programs and flyers
- awards and student recognition
- school and district news stories
- school and district websites and social media
- student and parent organization directories
Allowing directory information does not mean that all of your student's information will be shared publicly. We are thoughtful about what student information we share and why.
For example, we do not typically identify individual students by full name on school or district websites or social media unless there is a clear school-related purpose, such as recognizing an achievement, award, athletic accomplishment or other school activity.
NKSD does not release student Directory Information for commercial purposes.
What does opting out mean?
Families have the right to ask NKSD not to publicly release their student's Directory Information.
We take requests to withhold Directory Information seriously. To protect student privacy, schools and district staff need to be able to consistently recognize and honor an opt-out across classrooms, schools, athletics, activities, events, publications and district communications.
For that reason, NKSD uses one districtwide Directory Information Opt-Out rather than separate choices for individual publications or platforms. This helps us apply each family's privacy choice consistently. We do not offer different permissions for yearbooks, websites, social media, athletic programs, graduation programs or other individual uses.
What happens when you opt out?
When you opt out, North Kitsap School District and individual schools will not publicly release your student's Directory Information, including photographs.
This means your student's information will not appear in:
- yearbooks or class photos
- graduation programs or announcements
- athletic or activity rosters, programs or flyers
- public awards or recognition listings
- school or district websites and social media
- news releases or other public-facing school communications
- student or parent organization directories
The district will also not confirm your student's enrollment in an NKSD school.
An opt-out applies to the district's release of Directory Information. The district cannot control photographs, videos, names or other information independently shared by members of the public at school activities or events that are open to the public.
How do I opt out?
If you do not want North Kitsap School District to publicly release your student's Directory Information, you must notify the district each school year.
Please complete your opt-out by September 15 to help ensure your student's Directory Information is not released during the school year.
You may submit an opt-out at any time. However, information may already have been released before the district receives your request, so we strongly encourage families to complete the process by September 15.
To opt out, complete one of the following:
- Complete the Directory Information Opt-Out portion of the Online Student Registration during the registration of your new student.
- Complete the request as part of the Online Check-In process (view instructions)
- Complete an online request through Skyward Family Access - after the Online Check-In process ends (view instructions)
- Write a letter to your school's principal informing them that you would like to opt out of the release of Directory Information under FERPA.
Please note: District employees will exercise their best judgment when releasing Directory Information. They will seek parent/guardian permission for situations outside typical school-related activities or news. Also, the district cannot control the release of certain directory information, such as photographs or names, when students participate in school events open to the public.
For more information about your rights under FERPA visit the U.S. Department of Education's Student Privacy website.