Information Technology

Information and Technology Literacy is the ability of an individual, working independently or with others, to use tools, resources, processes, and systems responsibly to access and evaluate information in any medium, and to use that information to solve problems, communicate clearly, make informed decisions, and construct new knowledge, products, or systems.

The Briarcliff Manor Educational Technology Planning Committee clearly supports curriculum-based uses of technology in the teaching and learning environment of schools and the use of technology as an aid in improving the management of schools.

In addition, the committee feels that technology is the catalyst for restructuring the classroom and that technology tools foster new ways of thinking.

The Briarcliff Manor Educational Technology Planning Committee believes that students need to become lifelong learners in order to adapt to a constantly changing workplace. Students need to know how to access, evaluate, and use information effectively to live and work in an information society. Students need technological skills in order to be successful and productive in our society.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

FERPA is a Federal law that applies to educational agencies and institutions that receive funding under a program administered by the U. S. Department of Education. Parochial and private schools at the elementary school levels do not generally receive such funding and, therefore, are not subject to FERPA. The statute is found at 20 U.S.C. § 1232g and the Department's regulations are found at 34 CFR Part 99.

Under FERPA, schools must generally afford parents: -access to their children's education records -an opportunity to seek to have the records amended -some control over the disclosure of information from the records.

Parents may access, seek to amend, or consent to disclosures of their children's education records, unless there is a court order or other legal document specifically stating otherwise. When a student turns 18 years of age or attends a postsecondary institution, the student, and not the parent, may access, seek to amend, and consent to disclosures of his or her education records.

Parents' Guide to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act:  Rights Regarding Children's Education Records

Directory information is defined currently as information that would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. School districts and postsecondary institutions may disclose directory information without consent if they have given the parent or eligible student notice of the kinds of information they designate as directory information and an opportunity to opt out of directory information disclosures. The statute and current regulations specifically list some items as directory information, including a student’s name; address; telephone number; email address; photograph; date and place of birth; enrollment status; and major field of study. Neither the statute nor current regulations lists any items that may not be designated and disclosed as directory information.
    
What is the definition of directory information for Briarcliff Manor UFSD?

• Student's Name
• Student Address
• Student Primary Telephone Listing
• Student Grade Level
• Parent/Guardian Names

A school may disclose directory information to anyone, without consent, if it has given parents: general notice of the information it has designated as "directory information;" the right to opt out of these disclosures; and the period of time they have to notify the school of their desire to opt out.

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a part of the US Department of Education

Forum Guide to the Privacy of Student Information: A Resource for Schools
Description:  This guide was written to help school and local education agency staff to better understand and apply FERPA, a federal law that protects privacy interests of parents and students in student education records. 

Protecting the Privacy of Student Records:  Guidelines for Education Agencies
Description:  The primary purpose of this document is to help state and local education agencies and schools develop adequate policies and procedures to protect information about students and their families from improper release, while satisfying the need for school officials to make sound management, instructional, and service decisions.

Board Policy: Computer Use in Instruction (Acceptable Use Policy)

Board Policy: Computer Use in Instruction Regulation

Board Policy: Computer Use in Instruction or Acceptable Use Student Acknowledgement Form

Board Policy: Computer Use in Instruction or Acceptable Use Parent Acknowledgement Form

Board Policy: Internet Safety

Board Policy: Internet Safety Regulation

Board Policy: School District Records Regulation

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a Federal law, requires that Briarcliff Manor UFSD, with certain exceptions, obtain your written consent prior to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from your child’s education records. However, Briarcliff Manor UFSD may disclose appropriately designated "directory information" without written consent, unless you have advised the District to the contrary in accordance with District procedures. The primary purpose of directory information is to allow the Briarcliff Manor UFSD to include this type of information from your child’s education records in certain school publications. Examples include:

• A playbill, showing your student’s role in a drama production;
• The annual yearbook;
• Recognition lists;
• Graduation programs; and
• Sports activity sheets;
• Educational Sponsors (i.e. BPTA District Student Directory)

Directory information, which is information that is generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if released, can also be disclosed to outside organizations without a parent’s prior written consent. Outside organizations include, but are not limited to, companies that manufacture class rings or publish yearbooks. In addition, two federal laws require local educational agencies (LEAs) receiving assistance under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to provide military recruiters, upon request, with three directory information categories – names, addresses and telephone listings – unless parents have advised the LEA that they do not want their student’s information disclosed to military recruiters without their prior written consent¹ .

If you do not want Briarcliff Manor UFSD to disclose directory information from your child’s education records without your prior written consent, you must notify the District in writing using the Directory Information Opt-Out Form to avoid your child’s inclusion in most of the District’s materials.

Briarcliff Manor UFSD has designated the following information as directory information:

• Student’s name (please be aware that if you opt out, your child’s name will not appear in the class list in the PTA handbook.)
• Address
• Telephone listing
• Grade level
• Parents’ Names

_______________________

1 These laws are: Section 9528 of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7908), as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (P.L. 107-110), the education bill, and 10 U.S.C. 503, as amended by section 544, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002 (P.L. 107-107), the legislation that provides funding for the Nation’s armed forces.

Notice for Directory Information Form

In the course of its instructional program the Briarcliff Manor UFSD may from time to time record, film, photograph, audiotape or videotape a student’s name, image, likeness, spoken words, student work, performance and or activity, in any form (hereinafter collectively referred to as “work” or “works”), and may display, publish, distribute or exhibit such works or any part thereof for the purpose of and in connection with any material that may be created by the Briarcliff Manor schools, including, posting on the Briarcliff Manor Public Schools Website and/or broadcasting using podcasting technology, on our Website and/or television facilities including Briarcliff Manor Educational Access, for such period of time as the School District shall, in its sole discretion, determine.

Parents who do not wish to have their student’s work disclosed or displayed as described above may withhold consent by filing an Opt-Out Form with the school district.  See the Opt-Out Form immediately following this notice.  Parents who have not filed this form shall be deemed to have consented to the disclosure or display of their student’s work and shall be deemed to have released the Briarcliff Manor UFSD and its respective officers, directors, agents and/or employees from and against any and all liability, loss, damage, costs, claims and/or causes of action arising out of or related to their child’s (children’s) participation in any media events, including, without limitation, podcasts, television broadcasts, promotional materials or website projects.

Please see referenced file below:

Notice of Disclosure of Student Work Opt-Out Form

On an annual basis the United States Armed Services requests information about students for their recruitment purposes.

Parents who do not wish to have their student’s information disclosed as described above may withhold consent by filing an Opt-Out Form with the school district.  See the Opt-Out Form immediately following this notice.  Parents who have not filed this form shall be deemed to have consented to the disclosure of their student’s information and shall be deemed to have released the Briarcliff Manor UFSD and its respective officers, agents and/or employees from and against any and all liability, loss, damage, costs, claims and/or causes of action arising out of or related to the disclosure of their child’s (children’s) information to the Armed Services.

Please see referenced file below:

Notice of Disclosure of Student Information to Armed Services Form

Instructional Technology Plan 2022-2025 (NYS ED TECH)