June:  

Thanks for taking this on since the guidance from ED leaves much room for
interpretation.  Although, and I really believe this to be true, there is
much to be understood from states' implementation of FERPA -- it would be
fantastic to survey states to see if there are any policy differences
between higher ed, K-12, and adult basic education.  There is a difference
between ED opening the door and states allowing those with a 'legitimate
educational interest' walk through.  I don't get the sense that there is any
widespread abuse of this exception, but I have no information to
substantiate my opinion.

Are ABE administrators required to address it in their grant applications or
in their project plans, especially for adults with LD?

Thanks, Varshna.


on 1/10/06 11:49 AM, Crawford, June at jcrawford at nifl.gov wrote:


> Thanks for raising this issue.  We are planning the Summer Institute for

> Bridges trainers and this is an area that may need to be addressed by an

> attorney from the Department of Education.  I am talking to them about

> participating in our seminars so I will raise the issue and see if I can get

> some answers.

> June Crawford

> 

> -----Original Message-----

> From: learningdisabilities-bounces at nifl.gov

> [mailto:learningdisabilities-bounces at nifl.gov]On Behalf Of Patti White

> Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2006 11:28 AM

> To: The Learning Disabilities Discussion List

> Subject: [LearningDisabilities] confidentiality in adult education

> 

> 

> I changed the subject for my reply to you, Robin...the "out of school youth

> with ld" thing wasn't working for me anymore.

> 

> Thanks for responding, and don't panic, at least not yet.  In Arkansas, our

> adult ed and literacy programs are very careful about having the students

> sign off on release forms for any sharing of confidential information, as

> per our LD Policy requirements.

> 

> My big "uh oh, holy cow" moment came when I read Varsha's thing about the

> part of FERPA that says, "School officials with legitimate educational

> interest" may not have to do the release forms to share information.  So in

> an adult ed. program, that pretty much opens the door for leaving the

> student out of the decision-making process re: who gets to know about the

> disability?  "Well, how can they teach this student effectively if they

> don't even know the student has a learning disability?"  Maybe so, but we

> have always argued that it is still the student's decision whether or not to

> 

> share that information, even with his/her teacher.

> 

> Our LD Policy manual sure doesn't mention this part of FERPA....should it?

> What are the other states doing in their adult ed. LD policy development?

> My disabilities advisory committee is *extremely* interested in how this

> might affect the whole confidentiality section of our LD policy manual.  Do

> we add this piece in?  Do we pretend like we never heard of it?  ;)

> 

> I would really, really like to hear from some of the other states that are

> working on their adult ed. LD policies.  Thanks,

> Patti White, M.Ed.

> Arkansas Adult Learning Resource Center

> prwhite at madisoncounty.net

> 

> ----- Original Message -----

> From: robinschwarz1 at aol.com

> To: learningdisabilities at nifl.gov

> Sent: Monday, January 09, 2006 9:06 PM

> Subject: Re: [LearningDisabilities] Out of school youth

> withlearningdisabilities

> 

> 

> Ditto for university students with LD/other issues needing

> accommodation that I worked with at a major university--and that I have

> had as a teacher.   They must be the ones disclosing to schools,

> requesting accommodations of the learning support at the college and

> then taking the letter requesting accommodations to each

> professor/instructor-- or not as the student chooses.  If they do not,

> the school is helpless to do anything except recommend.   It is pretty

> alarming that adult programs ask for and get all this information

> without the student's permission!  Robin Schwarz,  M.Sp.Ed:LD,

> Columbus, Ohio 

> 

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