Most information about our students is confidential and cannot be made public without the consent of parents/guardians. However, a federal law called the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) allows each student’s “directory information” to be released without written consent from parents/guardians. Information may be given to outside organizations with legitimate educational interest, but the primary use of directory information is to allow the school district to include this information in certain school publications, including:

• The annual yearbook
• Honor roll or other recognition lists
• Printed programs for graduation, sports competitions, or school plays
• School-related social media posts and video productions, print and online communication, and media coverage of district/school events or activities

Monroe School District defines "student directory information" as: 

• Student’s name
• Mailing address
• Parents'/Guardians' primary contact phone number(s)
• Parents’/Guardians’ email(s) and student’s school district email
• Date of birth
• Dates of enrollment and enrollment status
• Current grade level or graduation date
• Participation in activities and sports
• Weight and height (for athletes)
• Diplomas and awards 
• Grade level and the most recent school or program attended
• Photograph or video image
• Student's projects/artwork

If you do not want the school district to disclose any of the information designated above as directory information, you must submit a completed and signed ‘Do Not Release Directory Information’ form to your school office no later than September 30th. The choices made on this form will remain on your student’s record as long as they are enrolled in the District. If no form is on file, permission for the release of directory information is granted. 

Do Not Release Directory Information Form

*NOTE: This form does not cover public events where media may be present outside of school hours, such as concerts, athletic activities, fairs, etc.

Student Directory Information Requests by Outside Organizations

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. If you ask the school district not to release student directory information, you will not receive some mailings that are routinely sent to students and their families from outside organizations, including notifications from government agencies, higher education institutes and information about school pictures and yearbooks.

The law permits the school district to disclose student directory information without parental consent to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by a school as an administrator, supervisor, instructor or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the school board; a person or company with whom the school has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist); or a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. Monroe School District does not release student directory information for commercial use.

Monroe School District will release student directory information upon request to law enforcement and Child Protective Services without the consent of parents. 

Student Directory Information Requests by Military Recruiters (Grades 9-12 only)

Under federal law, United States military recruiters are entitled, upon request, to receive the names, telephone numbers, and addresses of “secondary school students,” unless the parent/guardian or eligible student denies consent to release directory information to the military. The military typically requests this information in October of each academic year. If you do not want information to be released to the military, parents must notify the District in writing by completing Section 2 of the  'Do Not Release Directory Information' form, available in school offices, by September 30.

Once this form is signed and submitted MSD will not release directory information to the military; however, the military may gather student information from other, non-school district sources. Additionally, submitting the 'Do Not release Directory Information' form does not prevent military recruiters from speaking with your student when the recruiter is on campus.

Student Directory Information Requests by OSPI (Grades 9-12 only)

State law requires school districts to provide the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) with high school student and guardian names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses, and student SSID (state student identifier) unless parents have informed the district not to do so. OSPI shares this information with higher education institutions in accordance with RCW 28A.150.515 and RCW 28B.10.041.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean if I complete and submit the 'Do Not Release Directory Information' form?
If you completed and signed the 'Do Not Release Directory information' form, Monroe School District will not share any of your student's “directory information”. This means your student’s name and/or photo will NOT appear in any school or district publication, including the school newsletter, yearbook, school programs, graduation or honor roll lists, etc. Artwork with his/her name will not be entered in outside competitions, nor will public recognition be given for his/her accomplishments in any news media.

If I don't submit a form, does that mean you will share my child's directory information with anyone that asks for it?
We only release student’s directory information to authorized requestors such as colleges and universities, scholarship grantors, PTA/PTO groups, and the media. We do not give out student directory information to every individual or group that requests it.

What if I only want my child to appear in the yearbook and nowhere else?
With today’s technology, everything has the potential to end up online and to be shared elsewhere. Yearbooks can be scanned and easily uploaded onto social media channels, just as any other published document. If families truly do not want their child’s name and photograph to be shared anywhere publicly, it is best to exercise caution and completely opt out of having your child’s name & photo from being published at all.

Where can I learn more?
For questions or more information, contact the district’s Communication Department at 360-804-2602, visit the U.S. Department of Education website or review School Board Policy 3231P.