2003S0211-1 02/05/03
By: Williams S.B. No. 448
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the release of certain student information by public
schools.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 26, Education Code, is amended by adding
Section 26.013 to read as follows:
Sec. 26.013. STUDENT DIRECTORY INFORMATION. (a) A school
district shall provide to the parent of each district student at the
beginning of each school year or on enrollment of the student after
the beginning of a school year:
(1) a written explanation of the provisions of the
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C.
Section 1232g), as amended, regarding the release of directory
information about the student; and
(2) written notice of the right of the parent to object
to the release of directory information about the student under the
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C.
Section 1232g), as amended.
(b) The notice required by Subsection (a)(2) must contain:
(1) the following statement in at least 14-point
boldface type:
"Certain information about district students is
considered directory information and will be released
to anyone who follows procedures for requesting it
unless the parent or guardian objects to the release of
directory information about the student. This
objection must be made in writing to the principal
within 10 school days after the issuance of this
notice."; and
(2) at the bottom of the notice, a printed box
containing the following:
"I oppose the release of directory information for the
following student: .
Signed _______________ Printed Name _______________
(Parent or Guardian)".
(c) In this section, "directory information" has the
meaning assigned by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
of 1974 (20 U.S.C. Section 1232g), as amended.
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2003-2004
school year.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.