Traces the events that led to the passage of Colorado's Confidentiality of Library Records Law. The growing national trend to protect patron records is also discussed, and practical suggestions for librarians to use in dealing with privacy laws are provided. (EM)

Reviews controversies that have arisen at two California community colleges because campus newspapers were accused of violating the Buckley Amendment by publishing reports that student leaders were ineligible to hold their offices based on confidential academic records. Summarizes the Buckley Amendment and various court decisions related to…

Argues students have misconceptions about whether they may see letters of recommendation if they do not value their right of access. Reports students incorrectly believe they may view letters of recommendation if they are not accepted and that they can see the letter before it is sent. Recommends faculty who write letters of recommendation should…

Reviews the laws governing access to employee records including the U.S. Constitution, especially the Fourth and Fifth Amendments of the Bill of Rights; the National Labor Relations Act; the Privacy Act of 1974; state privacy statutes; and common-law privacy protections from court opinions. Recommendations for management actions are included. (EM)

Issues in the disclosure of special education student records and invasion of privacy are discussed. The article reviews what information teachers must disclose and may disclose, what information must be safeguarded, who has access to confidential information, what record of access must be maintained, and what information is not subject to…

This guide was written to help school and local education agency staff better understand and apply the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a federal law that protects privacy interests of parents and students in student education records. The Forum has developed full reports on student (and staff ) privacy guidance, but a shorter…

A counselor's obligation to safeguard information shared in counseling has clinical, ethical, and legal implications. This volume focuses on the duty-to-warn exception in client confidentiality. It provides general ethical and legal guidelines and, where possible, specific information to help the practitioner make good choices. It is intended for…

The advantages and disadvantages of laws mandating openness in decision-making are outlined, and their particular relevance in the case of collegial decision-making is discussed. (MSE)

Harlan Cleveland's book concerning the benefits and costs of open governing board meetings is reviewed and critiqued, especially in its suggestions for modification of statutes in the cases of presidential searches and program and board evaluations. (MSE)

The implications of applying state sunshine laws to state colleges and universities are examined. Considerations of political pressure, loss of privacy for individuals, difficulty in obtaining candid evaluations, and the threat of competition are cited. (MSE)

This publication provides information and guidelines on the way Pennsylvania school boards should meet and conduct business under Act 84 of 1986 (the Sunshine Act) and Act 20 of 1993. The first section provides a brief history of the passage of the Sunshine Act, which mandates an open-meetings statute for public agencies. The second section offers…

Considers the effects that disclosure of elementary student records and grades can have on a child's self-esteem, peer relationships, and future school experiences. Examines an elementary school case in which student grades were announced in the classroom. Argues that teachers have a moral and professional responsibility to honor students' rights…

Describes the development and current uses of computerized databases of information about individuals by the government and private agencies, especially credit bureaus, and discusses three major categories of abusive information practices that threaten personal privacy: information collection, information dissemination, and information management…

In the public school the tension between the public's right to know and the individual's right to privacy is clearly played out in questions surrounding the employee personnel file. The document discusses the relationship between employee and employer as well as between the public and the records. An issue often raised is what may or may not be…

Confidentiality issues in cooperative relationships between schools and agencies providing services to children and families with special needs are examined. Introductory sections consider the need to share information and the nature of confidentiality restrictions. A section on overall information sharing considers: when to address the…