Annual Notices for Families

State of Michigan law requires that schools and day care centers that may apply pesticides on school property must provide an annual advisory to parents or guardians of students attending the facility. Please see the pesticide letter for this advisory information.

In accordance with state law, please review the Secure Storage notice from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services concerning the best practices for the safe storage of firearms.

Please see the district’s annual Asbestos Management Plan notification letter.

The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) requires the District to notify parents of certain rights regarding student surveys, evaluations, physical examinations, screenings, and instructional materials. If a student is required to participate in a survey, analysis, or evaluation that is either funded, in whole or in part, by the U.S. Department of Education or would reveal sensitive information about the student, parents will be notified with an opportunity to opt their child out. Please see Board Policy 5308 for more information, which also states that parents may inspect instructional materials consistent with Board Policy 5401.

If you want to review materials that will be used in a protected information or marketing survey, please submit your request to the building principal. The building principal will let you know where and when you may review those materials.

If the District schedules a protected information or marketing survey, the District will notify you within a reasonable amount of time and give an opportunity to consent or opt your student out. The District also will give you an opportunity to review the newly scheduled surveys or instructional materials upon request.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and eligible students (those over the age of 18) certain rights regarding the inspection and review of the student’s education records. These rights are:

1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within a reasonable time and not more than 30 calendar days from the date of the request, or if the student whose records are requested is a child with a disability as defined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, before any Individualized Education Program Team meeting, resolution meeting, or due process hearing.
2. The right to request that the student’s education record be amended if the Parent or eligible student believes the record is inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights. Form 5309-F-1 in the Board Policy manual explains the process for requesting an amendment and applicable hearing procedures.
3. The right to consent to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from a student’s education records, except as permitted or required by law and as provided in Board Policy 5309. One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official has a “legitimate educational interest” if the record review is necessary for the school official to perform an administrative, supervisory, or instructional task as assigned by the District or to perform a service or benefit for the student or the student’s family. A “school official” is any person employed by the District; a person or company with whom the Board has contracted to perform a specific task (such as an attorney, auditor, insurance representative, medical consultant, or online educational service provider or vendor); a contractor, consultant, volunteer, or other party to whom the Board has outsourced a service or function otherwise performed by District employees (such as a therapist, a school resource officer, an employee of an intermediate school district, or an authorized information technology specialist); a parent or student serving on an official committee (such as disciplinary, reinstatement, or grievance committee); a person, including a volunteer, who is assisting another school official in performing the official’s duties. Upon request, the school discloses education records without consent to another school or post-secondary institution in which the student seeks or intends to enroll, is enrolled, or from which the student receives services, if the disclosure is related to the student’s enrollment or transfer.
4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education alleging that the District violated FERPA.

“Directory Information” is the information contained in a student’s education record that would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. School officials may disclose “directory information” without the prior written consent of a Parent or eligible student. The Board designates as student “directory information” the following: student names, addresses, and telephone numbers; photographs and videos depicting a student’s participation in school-related activities and classes; date and place of birth; major field of study; grade level; enrollment status (e.g., full-time or part-time); dates of attendance (e.g., 2023-2027); participation in officially recognized activities and sports; weight and height of athletic team members; degrees, honors, and awards received; and the most recent educational agency or institution attended. The Board further designates District-assigned student email addresses as directory information for the limited purposes of: (1) facilitating the student’s participation in and access to online learning platforms and applications; and (2) inclusion in internal school and District email address books.

The District will provide recruiters of the Armed Forces of the United States with at least the same access to the high school campus and to directory information as is provided to other entities offering educational or employment opportunities to those students, as required by state and federal law.

Parents or eligible students (over the age of 18) may opt out by using the form 5309-F-2 Directory Information and Opt-Out, and returning it to the school’s main office before September 11, 2026, if possible.

Directory Information Opt-out Form

The District may use a detection dog, without a warrant or consent, to sniff property in an effort to locate illegal drugs or contraband according to the protocol in Board Policy 3107.

Lockers are District property and may be made available for student use. Students have no expectation of privacy in their lockers. The building principal or designee may inspect lockers without any particularized suspicion or reasonable cause and without advance notice. Upon the building principal or designee’s request, law enforcement may help search lockers. During a locker search, student privacy rights will be respected for any items that are not illegal or against Board Policy. (Board Policy 5102)

Board Policy 5401 outlines steps that the District will take to encourage Parent involvement in their student’s education. Parents of students attending Title 1 schools have the right to request a copy of this policy, which will be provided by the District in a timely manner.

The District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, height, weight, familial status, marital status, military service, veteran status, genetic information, disability, or any other legally protected basis in admission, access to District programs and activities, or employment. Unlawful discrimination, including unlawful harassment and retaliation, in District programs, services, and activities is prohibited. See Board Policy 3115 for more information.

Title IX sexual harassment is covered by Board Policy 3118.

The District designates the following person(s) to serve as non-discrimination Coordinators:

Assistant Superintendent of Human Services
Grand Haven Area Public Schools
1415 S Beechtree Street
Grand Haven, MI 49417
compliance@ghaps.org
616-850-5000

Executive Director of Special Education
Grand Haven Area Public Schools
1415 S Beechtree Street
Grand Haven, MI 49417
compliance@ghaps.org
616-850-5000