Date: Fri 12-Jul-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

schools-majority-Lerman

Full Text:

School Bd Revises Policy On Age Of Majority

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

The Board of Education has reworded its policy dealing with the age of

majority at Newtown High School.

The issue was brought up recently by Newtown residents Kenneth and Laura

Lerman, who pointed out that their 18-year-old son's grades were sent home

without written permission from him.

Federal law states that once a student turns 18, he or she may assume all

rights and responsibilities regarding his or her education. That means

students can write their own excuses for absences, inspect their own records,

such as report cards, and deal directly with administrators regarding

disciplinary action.

The NHS handbook used to state, "Any student 18 or older may assume all rights

and responsibilities regarding his education which have been delegated to the

parents of minors, as long as a note from a parent is on file expressing this

desire."

However, following a fact-finding meeting June 17, school attorneys explained

to board members that parents still have a right to see those records so long

as that child is a dependent in terms of his parents' federal tax returns.

They explained that the school could refuse information to parents only if

they write saying the child is no longer a dependent.

In response, the school board has rewritten the handbook policy to state,

"Parents of such 18-year-old students may still receive and review their

child's educational records as long as the child is a dependent of the parents

for tax purposes. Unless we are advised by parents in writing that an

18-year-old child is not a dependent child, the school will continue to

provide parental access to all educational records of the students."

Mrs Lerman heard of the change earlier this week, calling it a contradiction

to the regulations put out by the federal government.

"I don't understand why they don't want to be on the side of the angels and

obey the law," she said.

Mrs Lerman pointed out that if they simply asked each 18-year-old student to

write a single sentence stating their wish to have their parents see their

documents would not only be simple, it would be the letter of the law.

Apparently, lawyers were unable to dig up any case laws on the matter, meaning

no parent or student has ever taken the case to court.