NOTICE: OUTDATED SPECIAL EDUCATION RECORDS TARGETED FOR PURGING
Deer Lakes School District Offers Opportunity to Obtain Personal Files

The procedural paperwork associated with special education accrues rapidly. These files need to be purged to make room for current student informational records.

In keeping with the Pennsylvania Code, Title 22: Education Chapter 12: Student Rights and Responsibilities Sections 12.31, through 12.33 Pupil Records, The District Special Education services office staff maintain all special education records for five (5) years from their graduation date. Each year, starting on July 31, we will begin to review and purge all special education records including all files of all special education students who graduated a minimum of five years prior.

This notice of records to be purged applies only to special education records which include the files of those students identified for Autistic Support, Learning Support, Emotional Support, Life Skills Support, Physical Support, Speech and Language Support, Vision Impaired Support, Hearing Impaired Support, and Gifted Support Program and Services.

The official administrative records that constitute the minimum personal identifying data necessary for the operation of the education system, such as student’s name, parent’s or guardian’s name, student birth date, academic work completed, level of achievement including grades and standardized achievement test scores and attendance data will be maintained for at least 100 years after the student graduated from high school. These records are on file at Deer Lakes School District. This is in compliance with Pennsylvania Code, Title 22: Education Chapter 12: Student Rights and Responsibilities Sections 12.31 through 12.33. Pupil Records 2.1.1 under Classification and Maintenance of Data.

This public notice provides parents and former students who were eligible for special education programs and services the opportunity to obtain copies of their own information and personal use. While many of the former students who participated in these programs may have retained copies of their records, many have not as evidenced by the variety of requests received by the Special Education office. The records appear to be valuable to their owners when enrolling in institutions of higher education, applying for insurance or medical benefits, and for other purposes. Consequently, the District invites any former students or their parents to request their records before they are purged.

Therefore, if you wish to obtain these records, please complete the form below and forward it to Mrs. Lindsay McGaughey, Deer Lakes School District, 163 East Union Rd; Cheswick, PA 15230 before your term expires.

REQUEST FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES RECORDS

I graduated in (YEAR)______________ and I wish to obtain my special education programs and services records.

Name (at graduation) __________________________________ Date of Birth _____________________________

Address: ______________________________________________________________________________________

City, State and Zip Code: _________________________________________________________________________

Daytime Telephone: _______________________________ Evening Telephone: ______________________________

Special Education Program: ________________________________________________________________________

Signature: ______________________________________________________________________________________

NO PHONE CALLS: This form is required for the release of records.

PLEASE MAIL THIS COMPLETED REQUEST TO:

Mrs. Lindsay McGaughey

Deer Lakes School District

163 East Union Rd

Cheswick, PA 15024

THIS FORM MUST BE RECEIVED WITHIN FIVE YEARS OF YOUR STUDENT'S GRADUATION

You will be contacted when your records are ready for pick-up. Proper identification including name and date of birth (i.e. driver’s license) will be required before materials are released.

 DOWNLOAD THE FORM BY CLICKING HERE