Special Education Records Destruction Notice

Notice is hereby given that Arlington Public Schools (APS) intends to destroy special education records of former students who graduated, completed their school program, transferred, or withdrew from APS during the 2017-2018 school year. Any former student, who has reached 18 years of age, may review and/or receive a copy of these records by contacting the last school the student attended by June 30, 2023. According to federal law, parents and guardians lose their right to review or obtain these records when their child (the student) reaches 18 years of age or starts attending a post-secondary institution, whichever occurs first. However, a parent of a child with a disability who is 18 years of age or older may retain parental rights, provided that the child has been determined to be legally incompetent or legally incapacitated.

In accordance with federal and state laws, special education records are maintained for five years after the student exits the special education program, graduates, transfers or withdraws from APS. A permanent record of the student’s name, address, phone number, grades, attendance record and year completed (if applicable) is maintained for 75 years following graduation or withdrawal from APS. The purpose of destruction is to protect the student from improper and unauthorized disclosure of the confidential information contained within the file.

In accordance with the Commonwealth of Virginia guidelines, special education records that are not claimed by June 20, 2023, will be destroyed. Requests for records should be mailed to the former student’s last school attended.

Students must provide a written request to review/receive their records, and include their name, birth date, date of graduation or date last attended, name of the last Arlington school they were enrolled, and a copy a government issued photo ID. If you do not understand this notice, or if you need interpretation, contact the Student Services records clerk, Mary Beth Vieira at 703-228-6180 or mary.vieira@apsva.us or Jennifer Vargas at 703-228-6062 or iennifer.vargas@apsva.us.