INFORMATION about Publishing Students in Media and District Publications, Release of Information for Military and Higher Education
Directory Data (publishing students in media and district publications)
DASD designates the following as directory data: student’s name; weight and height of members of athletic teams; photograph, including videotape for educationally related purposes; dates of attendance; degrees, honors (including honor roll) and awards received; and major field of study. This directory data shall be considered public information and may be released to appropriate persons unless parent/guardian of student refuses the release during the annual online student registration process or in writing to the District. “Public” use of directory data includes the above-mentioned applications, and may also include:
Media Coverage
Sometimes the news, television and radio media will feature schools and students in the DeForest Area School District. If featured, we ask the media to verify permission to publish (photo, video, and student names) with School/Community Relations office staff at DASD based on directory data designation. Please be aware that media publication may be in print or online. Please note: This does not apply to school events open to the public or activities off school grounds. Please talk to your student about your decision.
District Publications
Publishing student work is considered to be of value to the educational process both as a teaching resource for others and as recognition for outstanding work. We also occasionally wish to feature student successes in District publications, both in print and on the Web, whereby a photo, audio clip, or video clip of students is included. To protect student privacy and ensure safety on the web, DASD staff will verify that a student's directory data may be published (list populated by District based on parent/guardian requests). DASD staff will make every attempt to not publish identifying pictures or videos of students on non-district hosted sites, such as social media, but if permission to publish is granted, students' names and photos may appear on non-district hosted sites. (For staff: Here's how you can include students on social media sites.)
When published on the web, the contact person for student projects will be the instructor, not the student. The District may maintain copies of student work, even after they leave the DeForest Area School District.
NOTE: Photographing/Filming/Videotaping Exceptions: Prior parental consent shall not be required, nor does “Directory Data” apply, for photographing, filming, or videotaping purposes (in print or on the web) when a student voluntarily participates in or is a spectator at a school-related activity that is open to the public (e.g., an athletic or recognition event, concert, school play) or serves as an officially designed school leader or role model (e.g., athlete, musical or drama role, student council president, homecoming court, etc.) at a school-related activity that is open to the public. This Policy is also not applicable to videotaping, filming and photography which will only be used by school officials with a legitimate educational interest or where the work meets other exceptions to FERPA’s disclosure rules. However, videotaping, filming, or photography of any student without the explicit knowledge and permission of the student is expressly prohibited, except where it is done as a direct consequence of security procedures implemented with the express knowledge and approval of the superintendent.
For High School Students Only: Military Use
Federal law also requires local school districts receiving assistance under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to provide military recruiters, upon request, with three information categories - names, addresses and telephone listings - unless parents have advised the school district that they do not want their student's information disclosed.
For High School Students Only: Higher Education (i.e., Colleges and Universities)
School districts receiving federal education funds are required to provide, on request made by an institution of higher education, access to secondary school students’ names, addresses and telephone listings unless access to such information has been restricted by the secondary school student or the student’s parents.
Parents may choose to NOT have their child’s name or photo published in the media or in district publications, or have their child's information released to military and higher education recruiters. Staff will check the DASD Do-Not-Publish List before publishing.