From the FCC (Federal Communications Commission): 

The Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) was enacted by Congress in 2000 to address concerns about children's access to obscene or harmful content over the Internet. CIPA imposes certain requirements on schools or libraries that receive discounts for Internet access or internal connections through the E-rate program – a program that makes certain communications services and products more affordable for eligible schools and libraries. In early 2001, the FCC issued rules implementing CIPA and provided updates to those rules in 2011.

Schools and libraries subject to CIPA may not receive the discounts offered by the E-rate program unless they certify that they have an Internet safety policy that includes technology protection measures. The protection measures must block or filter Internet access to pictures that are: (a) obscene; (b) child pornography; or (c) harmful to minors (for computers that are accessed by minors). Before adopting this Internet safety policy, schools and libraries must provide reasonable notice and hold at least one public hearing or meeting to address the proposal.

Schools subject to CIPA have two additional certification requirements: 1) their Internet safety policies must include monitoring the online activities of minors; and 2) as required by the Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act, they must provide for educating minors about appropriate online behavior, including interacting with other individuals on social networking websites and in chat rooms, and cyberbullying awareness and response.

Schools and libraries subject to CIPA are required to adopt and implement an Internet safety policy addressing:

• Access by minors to inappropriate matter on the Internet;
• The safety and security of minors when using electronic mail, chat rooms and other forms of direct electronic communications;
• Unauthorized access, including so-called “hacking,” and other unlawful activities by minors online;
• Unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal information regarding minors; and
• Measures restricting minors' access to materials harmful to them.

Schools and libraries must certify they are in compliance with CIPA before they can receive E-rate funding.

• CIPA does not apply to schools and libraries receiving discounts only for telecommunications service only;
• An authorized person may disable the blocking or filtering measure during use by an adult to enable access for bona fide research or other lawful purposes.
• CIPA does not require the tracking of Internet use by minors or adults.

You can find out more about CIPA or apply for E-rate funding by contacting SLD. SLD also operates a client service bureau to answer questions at 1-888-203-8100 or via email through the SLD website.

• FERPA is an acronym for the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (also referred to as the Buckley Amendment) and is a federal law designed to: Protect the privacy of student education records. Establish the right of students to inspect and review their education records.

  Information from the U.S. Department of Education: 

  The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.

  FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children's education records. These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level. Students to whom the rights are transferred are "eligible students."

  • Parents or eligible students have the right to inspect and review the student's education records maintained by the school. Schools are not required to provide copies of records unless, for reasons such as great distance, it is impossible for parents or eligible students to review the records. Schools may charge a fee for copies.

  • Parents or eligible students have the right to request that a school correct records which they believe to be inaccurate or misleading. If the school decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student then has the right to a formal hearing. After the hearing, if the school still decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student has the right to place a statement with the record setting forth his or her view of the contested information.

  • Generally, schools must have written permission from the parent or eligible student in order to release any information from a student's education record. However, FERPA allows schools to disclose those records, without consent, to the following parties or under the following conditions (34 CFR § 99.31):

    • School officials with legitimate educational interests;
    • Other schools to which a student is transferring;
    • Specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes;
    • Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student;
    • Organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the school;
    • Accrediting organizations;
    • To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena; 
    • Appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies; and
    • State and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system, pursuant to specific State law.

  Schools may disclose, without consent, "directory" information such as a student's name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, honors and awards, and dates of attendance. However, schools must tell parents and eligible students about directory information and allow parents and eligible students a reasonable amount of time to request that the school not disclose directory information about them. Schools must notify parents and eligible students annually of their rights under FERPA. The actual means of notification (special letter, inclusion in a PTA bulletin, student handbook, or newspaper article) is left to the discretion of each school.

  For additional information, you may call 1-800-USA-LEARN (1-800-872-5327) (voice). Individuals who use TDD may use the Federal Relay Service.

  Or you may contact us at the following address:

  Family Policy Compliance Office
  U.S. Department of Education
  400 Maryland Avenue, SW
  Washington, D.C. 20202-852

• Pursuant to Act 677 and Act 837, Local Educational Agencies are required to make information about the transfer of students' personally identifiable information (PII) available to parents and guardians.  Below you will find a list of programs and software vendors that utilize student's PII.  WBR is currently gathering the following information from vendors that will be posted online when available.

  • a profile of each authorized recipient;
  • a copy of the signed agreement between WBR and the authorized recipient;
  • a complete listing of all the data elements authorized in the transfer of information;
  • a statement of the intended use of the information;
  • the name and contact information of the individual serving as the point of contact for the agreement; and
  • a process by which parents may register a complaint related to unauthorized transfer of personally identifiable student information

  A copy of all signed contracts/data agreements can be viewed at the West Baton Rouge Parish Central Office located at 3761 Rosedale Road in Port Allen, Louisiana from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. (Monday through Friday).

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  Definition of Directory Information as adopted by the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board:

  • Directory information has been designated by the School Board to include the student's name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, grade level, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, most recent previous school attended and photograph or video.
  • A parent or eligible student may refuse to allow the School Board to designate any or all of the types of information about the student as directory information, thus prohibiting its release to the public.  After proper notice, a parent or eligible student shall have thirty (30) days in which to notify the School Board as to which types of information about the student shall be designated as directory information.
  • In accordance with the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, schools shall honor the request of military recruiters for names, addresses and phone numbers of high school students, unless parents have specified that such information not be released to such recruiters.

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  Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA)

  • Parents of students in grade 8-12 must grant permission for PII data to be transferred to the LOSFA system for financial aid.  This permission must be granted one time.  If a parent would like to opt-out of this option, they must contact the school and provide their request in writing.