Alabama Education News... Continued from page 5
(3) The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the 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 as its agent to provide a service instead of using its own employees or officials (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. [Optional] Upon request, the School discloses education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll. [NOTE: FERPA requires a school district to make a reasonable attempt to notify the parent or student of the records request unless it states in its annual notification that it intends to forward records on request.] (4) The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the School District to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA are: Family Policy Compliance Office U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20202-5920 — Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education
FEMA Issues Reminder of Tax Claims Related to Hurricane Katrina Not only did Alabama schools open up to more than 5,000 Hurricane Katrina evacuees, but many in education opened up their hearts and homes to those devastated by the disaster. Some were even victims of the massive storm. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently issued a reminder that there will be tax relief for those who suffered losses in Alabama. “This has been an unprecedented disaster. The new tax benefits recognize that every penny taxpayers save will help them in rebuilding their lives,” said Michael Bolch, FEMA’s federal coordinating officer for the Alabama recovery. Under the Hurricane Katrina relief bill passed on Sept. 23: • Limits are suspended on individual cash contributions made to qualified charities beginning Aug. 28 through Dec. 31, 2005. • There is a tax benefit for people who volunteer to take in Katrina victims, a $500 deduction for each person they house for at least six months, up to a cap of $2,000. • Filers who itemize no longer have to deduct 10 percent of adjusted gross income and a $100 deductible to claim disaster losses. You can claim the full amount of a disaster loss. • Katrina victims can withdraw up to $100,000 without tax penalties from certain retirement accounts, such as 401(k) plans and Individual Retirement Accounts, to pay for disaster-related needs. • Certain filing and payment deadlines are extended. Check with the IRS or your tax consultant to see which deadlines may apply to you. • The option to file an amended 2004 return or wait until the end of the year and claim the loss on your 2005 return is offered. FEMA asks that tax forms and attached documents be filed with the words “Hurricane Katrina” written in red ink at the top to alert the IRS tax examiner. For answers to Hurricane-related tax questions, contact the IRS disaster hotline at 866/562-5227 or online at www.irs.gov.
Intel and Scholastic Searching for Schools of Distinction Boards of education may wish to recommend schools for the Intel and Scholastic Schools of Distinction awards. The awards program recognizes K12 schools in the U.S. that demonstrate excellence in implementing innovative, replicable programs supporting positive educational outcomes. The awards showcase the effective use of technology, the benefits of strong teamwork and the development of excellent classroom teachers. Winners are chosen — one each in elementary and secondary — from nine categories: academic achievement, literacy achievement, mathematics achievement, science achievement, technology excellence, technology innovation, leadership excellence, professional development, collaboration and teamwork. From among those, one each from elementary and secondary are selected as “Best of the Best.” Each category winner receives a $10,000 grant from the Intel Foundation and a host of educational products provided by Scholastic. “Best of the Best” winners receive an additional $15,000 from the Intel Foundation. To apply for ▲ the awards, visit www.schoolsofdistinction.com before Jan. 5, 2006. Alabama School Boards • December 2005 7