Student records and confidentiality (SPED)
On your first morning as a SPED aide, the teacher hands you a folder with a student's IEP and behavior plan.
By the end you can
- Know why student records are protected (FERPA and IDEA) and who may see them
- Use IEP and behavior-plan information to help the student — and nowhere else
- Avoid the common slips: hallway talk, phone photos, texts and social media
Walkthrough
Know what is protected
Everything that identifies a student's needs — IEPs, 504 plans, behavior plans, evaluations, grades, health notes and even the fact that a student receives special education — is part of the student's education record. Federal law (FERPA, and IDEA for special education) limits who may see it.
Share only with people who need it for this student
You may discuss a student with the teacher, case manager and staff working with that student that day. Not with other students, other parents, other schools, friends or family — and not with EverTeach staff beyond what is needed to support the assignment.
Keep papers in the room and off your phone
Leave the IEP and plans where the teacher keeps them. Never photograph, copy, text or post anything about a student, and never take documents home. If you need notes, keep them general and hand them to the teacher at the end of the day.
Watch where you talk
Hallways, the staff room, the parking lot and social media are public. If a parent of another child asks about a student, say you cannot discuss other students and point them to the teacher or office.
If something slips, tell someone
If a document goes missing or you shared something by mistake, tell the teacher and EverTeach support the same day. A quick report lets the school fix it; hiding it makes it worse.
Take me thereWorth knowing
- When in doubt, ask the teacher "who else should know this?" before you share anything.
What goes wrong
- Talking about a student's behavior in the staff room where other staff and visitors can hear.
- Taking a photo of the daily schedule that has student names on it.