Educational Purposes

The District has determined that there are occasions when it is beneficial to videotape a student’s performance in the classroom setting or particular teaching methodologies being employed by District personnel with certain students. Among other things, the District may be able to better assess a student’s educational needs by videotaping the student in the regular classroom environment and later reviewing the videotape and analyzing the student’s educational performance. Similarly it may be beneficial to videotape specific educational techniques that work well with a student in order to share those techniques with other teachers who may interact with the student during the course of the school day.

The best location to conduct the videotaping is in the classroom environment. However, given the nature of classroom structure and the type of information that the videotaping is hoping to obtain, it may be that, from time to time, students who are not the subject of the videotaping may appear within the view of the camera. If a student is readily identifiable on the screen, there may be limitations to the extent that the videotape can be used.

With respect to the student who is the actual subject of the videotaping, the District will secure individualized permission before using the videotape. In situations in which the videotape is to be used for assessment purposes, it will be necessary to obtain prior written consent from the parents/guardian of the child. The videotape will become part of the student’s file, and will be subject to the restrictions imposed by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. (See also Policy and Regulation 2400, Student Educational Records.)

With respect to the student who just happens to appear in the video, even though the student is not the subject of the videotaping, the District will not secure a general release or as a general rule notify parents as the videotape will not be considered a part of the educational record of those students whose appearance on the videotape is incidental to the purpose of the videotaping.

Before a videotape is used for educational purposes, it will be screened by District staff to assure that the District has secured appropriate releases from the parents of all children appearing in the videotape. In the event that a student appears in the videotape whose parents have not signed the appropriate release form, the District may attempt to secure the appropriate release form.

However, if appropriate releases cannot be obtained, then the District must either electronically alter the appearance of the student whose parents/guardian have not signed the release, so that the student is not readily identifiable, or destroy the tape.

Videotaping of classroom projects for use in the classroom is not considered the making of an educational record for which prior notice/consent is required. Similarly, videotaping of public student activities, such as athletic contests, school plays, and the like, is not considered the making of an educational record for which prior notice/consent is required.

Public Relations Purposes

From time to time, members of the news media are invited to the schools of the District for the purpose of viewing a class or school project which may be of particular interest to the community. There are other occasions (i.e., Christmas program, musicals, athletic events, etc.) when the District may release information to the press regarding events taking place in the schools. When those circumstances arise, it is often appropriate to include a statement from a student or a photograph/videotape of a student.

The District may obtain prior written permission from the students’ parents/guardian where practicable. If a pupil is to be videotaped or photographed and is the primary subject of such videotape or photograph or is specifically identified on the videotape, including in the caption to the photograph, videotape or interview, the District shall make every effort to provide the parents/guardian with prior notice of such fact, and shall obtain prior written consent from the parents/guardian before releasing such information to the news media.

If the student is to be identified as a child with a disability in any such photograph, videotape, or interview, the District shall make every effort to provide the parent/guardian with prior notice of such fact, and shall obtain prior written consent from the parent/guardian before releasing such information to the news media.