FERPA Compliance

FERPA Compliance Statement

Effective Date: January 1, 2025

At the Cook County Southland Juvenile Justice Council (SJJC), we prioritize the privacy and protection of student information. We comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a federal law that ensures the confidentiality of student education records and grants specific rights to students and their parents. This statement outlines our adherence to FERPA guidelines and your rights concerning educational information.

What Is FERPA?

FERPA is a federal law enacted in 1974 to protect the privacy of student education records. The law grants parents and eligible students (those over 18 or attending post-secondary institutions) the right to:

  • Access and review educational records.
  • Request corrections to inaccurate or misleading information.
  • Control the disclosure of certain information.

What Are Education Records?

Under FERPA, education records include any records, files, or documents directly related to a student and maintained by an educational institution or an authorized party. Examples of education records include:

  • Grades, transcripts, and academic performance records.
  • Attendance records and disciplinary actions.
  • Personally Identifiable Information (PII), such as a student’s name, ID number, or address.

Your Rights Under FERPA

As a parent or eligible student, FERPA grants you the following rights:

  1. Right to Inspect and Review Records:
    You have the right to request access to your or your child’s education records maintained by SJJC or our partner institutions.

  2. Right to Request Amendments:
    If you believe a record is inaccurate, misleading, or violates your privacy rights, you may request that we correct it.

  3. Right to Consent to Disclosure:
    Your consent is required before SJJC discloses Personally Identifiable Information (PII) from education records, except in specific circumstances permitted by law (see below).

  4. Right to File a Complaint:
    You may file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education if you believe your FERPA rights have been violated.

Disclosure Without Consent

FERPA allows the disclosure of education records without prior consent in certain situations, including:

  • Directory Information: Basic information such as name, address, and phone number, unless you opt-out.
  • School Officials: To school staff with legitimate educational interests.
  • Transfer Schools: To another school where the student intends to enroll.
  • Legal Obligations: To comply with judicial orders, subpoenas, or federal audits.
  • Health and Safety Emergencies: When necessary to protect the health and safety of students or others.

Directory Information

SJJC and its partner institutions may designate certain information as “directory information,” which may be disclosed without prior consent. Examples include:

  • Student name
  • Grade level
  • Participation in activities or programs

You have the right to opt-out of the disclosure of directory information by submitting a written request to SJJC.

How We Protect Education Records

We implement the following measures to safeguard education records and ensure compliance with FERPA:

  1. Access Controls:
    Only authorized personnel with legitimate educational interests may access education records.

  2. Secure Storage:
    Education records are stored in secure physical and digital environments.

  3. Training:
    All staff members handling education records receive training on FERPA compliance and privacy protocols.

  4. Data Minimization:
    We collect and retain only the information necessary to fulfill our educational mission.

Filing a FERPA Complaint

If you believe that SJJC has violated your FERPA rights, you may file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education at the following address:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-8520
📞 Phone: 1-800-USA-LEARN (1-800-872-5327)
🌐 Website: www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco

Changes to This Statement

SJJC reserves the right to update or modify this FERPA Compliance Statement at any time. Changes will be posted on this page with a revised effective date.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this FERPA Compliance Statement or your rights under FERPA, please contact us at:

Cook County Southland Juvenile Justice Council (SJJC)
336 Forest Blvd, 2nd Flr, Park Forest, IL 60466
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 1.708.441.2515