Teacher not allowing me info per BM

[starbud99]

I just found out about parent teacher conf. in may. I emailed the teachers to let them know that Im going to be driving out there to meet with them. My youngest daughter's teacher, ( kindergarden ) was cool, and told me when and where. My oldest daughter- 2nd grade, her teacher emailed me back and told me that the childrens mother told her that she was not allowed to discuss anything with me about my daughter. I called her back and told her, that i have joint custody, and have all rights to be involed in the childrens school. i even went as far as faxing the copy of the parenting time orders to her, and proving that I am in fact allowed all knowledge of anything going on there. She told me that there was nothing that she could do, school policy says that she has to listen to the custodial parent, and no one else. What can i do to show that I am allowed to know things about my kids when they are at school. I want to be involved espessually since I am going to have the kids for half the summer, and if they need to work on anything, I want to know what it is that the teachers think they need help on. this doesnt seem right or fair. I have proof. Shouldnt that have been enough?

[Troubledmom]

http://www.deltabravo.net/custody/ferpa.htm

http://www.deltabravo.net/custody/reportcards.htm

http://www.deltabravo.net/custody/school.htm

http://www.deltabravo.net/custody/access.htm

Articles here at SPARC that should assist you.

TM

[wendl]

That teacher is wrong and probably doesn't know much about FERPA. You should contact the school principal (in person with court order in hand if possible)

If it doesn't work with the principal contact the superindent of the school regarding this matter.

Go to the links TM just gave you and read up.

[Ref]

We did exactly what wendl says to do. First we sent a FERPA letter from this site. The school called BM immediatley. About a week later DH's lawyer reeived a letter from BM stating amount other things that she told the school not to send the information. Stupid woman. That was contempt #1 admitted in writing.

We then sent another letter to the principal explaning things a little bit stronger and we cc'd the superintendent. You bet that we got info right away. The principal was very helpful from then on. As a matter of fact, he asked that we email the super to let him know HOW helpful he has been.

Thoughout we have been very cordial but persistant. I think if you lose you temper, you will probably make it harder.

If I were you, I would get the teacher to send you a letter stating her position. Then at least tell BM of her likelihood of contempt. Write the principal and cc the super and include the FERPA statute and your divorce agreement certified. Don't give up!

Good Luck!!!!

[starbud99]

I went to the website above and created a letter, that would better suit us, and sent it today to the school. I couldnt believe that we have all these rights, that we never knew before. I sent it to the principle directly. Im hoping that scares them enough to do something about it. I know about the contempt thing, and I have already filed that with the court. Oh and I do have a copy of the email that states that the teacher would not allow us any information per the BM. Im hoping we have as much luck as you have. thankyou all for the information. this website is so helpful!

[Lumber1461]

It is your right by law if you have joint custody to be entitled to any and all access to your childrens education information and you should go to school when you get there and instruct the teacher and principal that if they do not start being co-operative that you are going to contact a lawyer within the ACLU or your private attorney with the intentions of suing the teacher, principal, schol, and school district.  This kind of threat in most cases usually is something they do not want.  Imagine if you went there with a local television station.  Last resort sue them to get all this information released, but just the mention of the ACLU should make them back off their stance.

[joni]

You don't need to have joint legal custody to have access to your child's school and medical records.  Under FERPA, a parent is entitled to these records UNLESS there's a court order prohibiting that parent from having them.

[c_alexander]

I had the same problem with my daughters schhol, and if you talk to the principal of the school and inform them that they need to talk to their attorneys about this situation and that by NOT allowing you access to this information they are breaking FEDERAL LAW and that they can loose their federal funding if they don't comply with this law, then I promise you will see some results. If this persists you can file a complaint with FERPA, making sure to send the school a copy of the compalint. This is VERY serious business and once the schools attorney finds out about it these school officals will be bending over backwards to kiss your butt.

[leftoverinmn]

I'm sorry, I'm having a little trouble understanding.. Does this apply to private schools that don't receive funding from the government? Or does this only apply to government run public schools?

[Hawkeye]

FERPA...... been working for me lately... :)