by Zainab Khan and Steve Phan, Staff Writers and Photographers
Students at Fountain Valley High School have been misinformed about the student’s records and information disclosure for the Morgan Hill Concerned Parents Association and the Concerned Parent Association vs. California Department of Education court case. The students are not guaranteed automatic removal of their personal information by signing the “Objection to Disclosure of Student Information and Records” form.
On Dec. 29, 2011, a parent-run nonprofit organization called Morgan Hill Concerned Parents Association filed a case against the California State Department of Education (CDE). This case was concerned with the equality of special education students who, the plaintiffs believe, are treated unfairly. U.S. District Court Judge Kimberly Mueller put forth a required disclosure of records of students who have attended a public school since 2008 or are in the special education. However, there is a way for students and parents to object against the disclosure.
Parents or students over the age of 18 can sign the “Objection to Disclosure of Student Information and Records” and mail them to the court. However, signing these forms does not guarantee that no third party will receive the student’s information.
Concerned students think that signing the ‘contract’ is a way to opt their private information out of the case.
“The [Objection to Disclosure of Student Information and Records form] is to halt any of my personal information that the schools have collected over the years from going to the concerned parents organization,” said Anthony Cort (‘16).
Principal Morgan Smith was also misinformed that this form is a way to stop student records from entering the court system.
“There are Social Security numbers, names, descriptions of the students that parents may not want to provide to the court system so they do allow students and parents to opt out of providing information,” said Smith.
The form also causes confusion in teachers who signed it. Sarah McCance, an economic teacher, signed the form because she is a parent of a public school student.
“I have already completed and sent in the non-disclosure form to ensure my children’s information is not released,” said McCance. “As a parent and teacher, it worries me that so much information can be released with with so many security breaches going on around the world. I would tell my students to discuss with their families to send in the non-disclosure form as well to try to protect their information.”
On Mar. 1, 2016, Mueller acknowledged the objections and strengthened the security of the student records by only allowing the CDE to search up student information in its protected database. Nonetheless, students still express their worries about an information leak.
“There’s no guarantee that the information will be kept secure because materials like Social Security numbers, names and addresses are extremely sensitive and in the hands of the wrong people could be disastrous,” said Patricia Vu (‘17).
April 1 is the deadline to send the objection forms to the court. Objection forms can be found in the FVHS administration office.
