FEDERAL LAW, CASE LAW, OHIO LAW AND ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY/PROCEDURES OF OHIO SCHOOLS DEALING WITH PARENTS OF CHILDREN FROM SEPARATED AND DIVORCED FAMILIES

The purpose of this study was to inquire into the policy/procedures used by Ohio public school administrators to deal with the rights of parents who are separated or divorced, and identify federal, state and case law that grants certain accessibilities to custodial, joint custodial and noncustodial parents as they relate to their child's education.;The results of this study indicated that most Boards of Education do not have written policy to inform parents of their rights in the education of their children. The registration forms of most districts do not request the name, address and phone number of the joint custodial or noncustodial parent. Most written policy/procedures that do exist are not in total compliance with the requirements of the federal and state laws relating to access to records.;Neither state nor federal agencies monitor public school compliance and, as a result, not ALL parents are being advised of or granted their rights. Annual notices of written policy are not forwarded to all parents; therefore, parents are not aware of their rights or the procedures which may be followed to enforce them. Administrators are denying the joint custodial and noncustodial parents their rights related to their child's educational records. Reasons for denial indicate that administrators are not aware of the regulations of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, Ohio Privacy Act and the Students Records Act.;A questionnaire was developed, pilot tested, validated and used to survey the Ohio public school superintendents or their designee.