Grant Parish Public Schools protects student privacy and family records in accordance with FERPA, PPRA, Louisiana student data privacy law, and district policy. This page also explains how information submitted through the district website may be used.
Student Records and FERPA Rights
Required by 20 U.S.C. § 1232g and 34 CFR Part 99 — Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act; La. R.S. 17:406.9 — Parents’ Bill of Rights.
FERPA gives parents and eligible students certain rights regarding education records. When a student turns 18 or attends a postsecondary institution, FERPA rights transfer from the parent to the eligible student. Louisiana law also gives parents the right to inspect and receive copies of certain school records within 10 business days of submitting a written request.
Inspect and Review Records
Parents and eligible students may request to inspect and review education records. Submit a written request to the student’s school or the central office identifying the records requested.
Request a Correction
Parents and eligible students may request that the district amend education records they believe are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights.
Control Most Disclosures
Written consent is generally required before personally identifiable information from education records is disclosed, unless FERPA, Louisiana law, or district policy allows the disclosure without consent.
Review Disclosure Records
Parents and eligible students may request to review records of certain disclosures of personally identifiable information, except for disclosures that are not required to be recorded under FERPA.
Gwen Mercer
Information System Manager
Grant Parish School System
P.O. Box 208 / 512 Main Street
Colfax, Louisiana 71417
318-627-3274, ext. 1107
Office Hours: Tuesday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Directory Information and Opt-Out
Required by 34 CFR § 99.37 — FERPA directory information notice and opt-out rights.
Unless directed otherwise in writing by a parent, legal guardian, or eligible student, Grant Parish School Board may allow limited disclosure of directory information, to the extent allowed by FERPA and Louisiana law, for legitimate school-related purposes.
- Information to facilitate a student’s participation in a school-sanctioned extracurricular activity, including but not limited to a sport, organization, or club.
- Information to facilitate the operation and daily activities within district facilities, including but not limited to the display and use of student information in and around student facilities.
- Programs and activities related to school-sanctioned performances or productions, events, award programs, and graduations.
- University transcript requests, scholarships, and admissions.
- LHSAA, NCAA, and other related sports programs or sanctioning entities.
- Online resources and educational tools.
- School photography and yearbook providers.
- Any other information considered directory information, to the extent allowed in FERPA.
To opt out of directory information disclosure, contact the Grant Parish School System central office at 318-627-3274. Families should submit opt-out requests in writing and include the student’s full name, school, grade, and the information or uses they want restricted.
Military Recruiter Opt-Out
Required by 20 U.S.C. § 7908 and 10 U.S.C. § 503(c).
Federal law requires school districts receiving assistance under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to provide military recruiters, upon request, with the names, addresses, and telephone listings of secondary school students unless a parent has opted out.
Parents who do not want their child’s information released to military recruiters should contact the central office at 318-627-3274 and submit a signed written request.
Louisiana Student Data Privacy
Required by La. R.S. 17:3913 and La. R.S. 17:3914 — student information privacy, data sharing, and electronic data governance.
Louisiana law protects personally identifiable student information and limits when student information may be collected, accessed, shared, or disclosed. Grant Parish School Board requires written consent before releasing student personally identifiable information unless the disclosure is allowed by law or district policy.
Personally Identifiable Information
Personally identifiable information may include a student’s name, parent or family member names, address, identifiers such as date and place of birth or biometric records, race and ethnicity data, and other information that is linked or linkable to a specific student.
Student Identification Numbers
The district uses unique student identification numbers in accordance with Louisiana law. Student identification numbers do not include or rely on social security numbers.
Access to Student Systems
Access to student information systems is limited to authorized individuals with a legitimate educational need, such as parents or eligible students, teachers of record, principals, registrars, designated school system employees, and authorized system support or audit personnel.
The district may use approved third-party educational service providers to support instruction, operations, and student services. Information concerning the release of personally identifiable information through contracts or data-sharing agreements is available for review at the Grant Parish School System central office during regular business hours.
For students in grades 8 through 12, state law may require annual consent forms related to the collection and disclosure of certain information for Louisiana postsecondary admissions, financial aid, Board of Regents reporting, and related state purposes. Consent continues unless withdrawn in writing, and families receive annual notice of the right and process to withdraw consent.
PPRA Survey, Marketing, and Physical Exam Rights
Required by 20 U.S.C. § 1232h and 34 CFR Part 98 — Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment.
The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment gives parents and eligible students the right to review certain surveys and to opt out of specific activities involving protected information, marketing, or certain non-emergency physical examinations or screenings.
Protected Surveys
Parents may review third-party surveys, analyses, or evaluations before they are administered and may opt a student out of surveys involving protected topics such as political beliefs, mental or psychological problems, sex behavior or attitudes, illegal or self-incriminating behavior, family relationships, privileged relationships, religious beliefs, or income.
Marketing Information
Parents may opt a student out of the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information for marketing or selling that information, except as allowed by law.
Non-Emergency Physical Exams
Parents may opt a student out of certain non-emergency, invasive physical examinations or screenings that are required as a condition of attendance, scheduled in advance by the school, and not necessary to protect immediate health or safety.
To review a covered survey, request additional information, or opt out of a covered activity, contact your child’s school or the central office at 318-627-3274.
Photo and Media Privacy
School-related photos, videos, yearbooks, news stories, athletics coverage, award programs, graduation materials, and similar publications may include student images or information as allowed by FERPA, Louisiana law, and district policy.
Families who need to restrict the use of a student’s photo, name, or directory information should contact the central office at 318-627-3274 and submit the restriction in writing. Families should also notify the student’s school so staff can help apply the restriction during school activities and publications.
Website Privacy Notice
This section applies to information collected through the Grant Parish Public Schools website.
The Grant Parish Public Schools website is used to share district information, provide access to public resources, and receive online form submissions from families, students, staff, applicants, and community members.
Who We Are
Our official website address is https://grantpsb.org. This website is operated by Grant Parish Public Schools for public information, district communication, and school system services.
Website Forms
Grant Parish Public Schools uses online forms to receive requests, questions, reports, applications, and other submissions. Information submitted through a website form is used to respond to the request, provide the service requested, document the submission, or route the information to appropriate district staff.
Form submissions may be stored in the website database and/or emailed to appropriate district staff. Information submitted through a form may be retained as needed for district operations, legal compliance, public records obligations, security, or documentation purposes.
Cookies and Technical Data
The district website may use limited cookies and technical data needed for normal website operation, security, form processing, login sessions for authorized staff, and website administration. This may include information such as IP address, browser type, device information, date and time of request, referring page, and website activity logs.
The district website is not intended to use cookies for advertising tracking. Authorized staff login cookies may be used to keep staff signed in, remember screen preferences, and support secure website administration.
Spam and Security Protection
The website may use automated spam detection and security tools, including Akismet Anti-spam when active, to help protect website forms and prevent abusive or automated submissions. These tools may process technical information such as IP address, user agent, referrer, site URL, and information submitted through a form for spam and security review.
Embedded Content and External Links
Some pages may include embedded content or links to outside websites and services, such as videos, maps, calendars, forms, documents, or state and federal resources. Embedded content from another website behaves as if the visitor has visited that outside website directly.
External websites and embedded services may collect data, use cookies, or track interaction according to their own privacy practices. Grant Parish Public Schools is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of external websites.
Comments, Public Accounts, Events, and Uploads
Public comments are disabled on the district website. The website is not intended to allow visitors to create public accounts, publish public comments, upload public media files, submit public events, or make event bookings.
Website accounts are limited to authorized users for district website administration or approved staff functions. Authorized users are responsible for following district procedures when uploading or publishing website content.
Privacy Questions and Complaints
Families are encouraged to contact the district first so privacy questions or concerns can be reviewed and addressed promptly. Federal complaint options are also available for FERPA and PPRA concerns.
District Privacy Questions
Contact Gwen Mercer, Information System Manager, for questions about student records, privacy rights, directory information opt-outs, data-sharing information available at the central office, or information submitted through the district website.
Phone: 318-627-3274, ext. 1107
U.S. Department of Education
Student Privacy Policy Office
FERPA and PPRA complaints
400 Maryland Ave. SW
Washington, DC 20202-8520
FERPA complaints: FERPA.Complaints@ed.gov
PPRA complaints: PPRA.Complaints@ed.gov
Before filing a PPRA complaint, parents are required to contact the educational agency or institution to try to resolve the concern. Before filing a FERPA complaint, parents are strongly encouraged, but not required, to contact the educational agency or institution first.