Address Changes

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Access to Social Services (COMPASS) – is a service that enables parents and guardians to apply for social services (including free and reduced lunches). The COMPASS web site makes it possible for anyone with internet access to complete applications for the various social services listed below. COMPASS offers screening for the various services listed below:

• Cash Assistance
• Energy Assistance (LIHEAP)
• Food Stamp Benefits
• Healthcare Coverage including adult Basic, CHIP & Medicaid
• Free & Reduced Meals
• Home & Community Based Services
• Long Term Care
  

Per PA School Code, parents/guardians are required to submit a note of explanation within three (3) school days when a child is absent from school.  Parents may send an email or a picture of a doctor's note regarding the absence to the building attendance secretary at the correct building link below.  

• Shippensburg Area Senior High School
• Shippensburg Area Middle School
• Shippensburg Area Intermediate School
• James Burd Elementary School
• Nancy Grayson Elementary School
• Grace B. Luhrs University Elementary School
  

The Family Educational Rights arid Privacy Act (FERPA) and Pennsylvania law afford parents/guardians and students eighteen (18) years of age and over (eligible students) certain rights with respect to the student’s educational records, as follows:

• The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within thirty (30) days of the district’s receipts of a request of access.
• The right to request amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate, misleading or otherwise violates the privacy rights of the students.
• The right to consent to disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA and State law authorize disclosure without consent.
• The right to refuse to allow the disclosure of certain “directory information” such as the student’s name, address, telephone listing, e-mail address, photographs, and place of birth, major fields of study, dates of attendance, grade level, participation in school activities and sports, height and weight of members of certain athletic teams, degrees, honors and awards received, and the most recent educational agency or institution attended by the students;
• The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failure by the district to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

Parents or eligible students interested in inspecting and reviewing the student’s education records should submit a written request to the school principal that identifies the records they wish to inspect.  The principal will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.

Parents or eligible students may ask Shippensburg Area School district to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading by submitting a written request to the school principal clearly identifying the part of the record they want to be amended and specify how the record is inaccurate or misleading.  The District will either amend the record as requested or notify the parents or eligible student of its decision not to amend the record.  A parent or eligible student may appeal the District’s decision not to amend the record and is entitled to a hearing regarding their request.

Parents and eligible students may file a complaint with the United States Department of Education concerning an alleged failure by the District to comply with FERPA requirements by contacting the Family Policy Compliance Office.

The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:

          Family Policy Compliance Office
          U.S. Department of Education
          600 Independence Avenue, SW
          Washington, DC 20202-4605

You may find more information about FERPA at this link.

“Directory Information” includes the following information relating to a student: the student’s name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, e-mail address, photograph, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and heights of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student and other similar information.

The District is permitted by law to disclose directory information without written consent of the parent or eligible student. The parent or eligible student has the right to refuse to permit the designation of any or all of the categories of directory information, if a written refusal is forwarded to the Building Principal within 30 days of the beginning of the current school term.

The parent or eligible student has the right to request that information not be provided to military recruiting officers. Names, addresses and home telephone numbers of secondary school students will be released to military recruiting officers unless a student submits, within 21 calendar days of the beginning of the current school term, a written request to the Superintendent that such information not be released.