Pupil records: privacy rights.

(1) Existing law authorizes school districts to release pupil directory information, as specified, and defines directory information as one or more prescribed items, including, among others, a pupil's name, address, telephone number, and date and place of birth. This bill would redefine directory information to no longer include a pupil's place of birth and to also include a pupil's e-mail address. (2) Existing law prohibits a school district from permitting access to pupil records to a person without written parental consent or under judicial order, except to specified persons under certain circumstances, including to a probation officer or district attorney for the purposes of conducting a criminal investigation, or an investigation in regards to declaring a person a ward of the court or involving a violation of a condition of probation. This bill would additionally allow school districts to permit a counsel of record for a minor to access pupil records for the same purposes stated above. The bill would also require a probation officer, district attorney, and counsel of record for a minor to be deemed to be local officials for purposes of specified federal law, and would require pupil records obtained pursuant to the above provision to be subject to specified evidentiary rules. (3) Existing law requires the recipient of pupil records to be notified of the prohibition against transmitting the information to others without the written consent of the parent. This bill would require officials and authorities receiving pupil records pursuant to specified law to certify in writing to the school district that the information shall not be disclosed to another party, except as provided under specified federal law and state law, without the prior written consent of the parent of the pupil or the person identified as the holder of the pupil's educational rights. The bill would also authorize a local educational agency or other person or party to release pupil records or information to specified persons or parties not otherwise permitted access if the records or information are deidentified, as specified. (4) This bill would also make various technical, nonsubstantive changes to these provisions.