4020: Confidential Communications

The following guidelines are established to assist staff members in making appropriate decisions regarding confidential information and/or communications:

1. Information contained in the student's cumulative record folder is confidential and is only accessible through the custodian of student records. Information accessed through the authorization of the record’s custodian will remain confidential and will be used only for the purpose for which access was granted.
2. School staff members including counselors do not possess a confidentiality privilege.
3. A staff member is required to reveal information given by a student when there is a reasonable likelihood that a crime has or will be committed, (e.g., child abuse, sale of drugs, suicidal ideation).
4. A staff member will share student disclosed information when there is reasonable likelihood that the student's welfare may be endangered.
5. When district officials determine or have reasonable cause to believe there is a specific threat to the health or safety of a student or any other individual, they will disclose pertinent confidential student information to appropriate parties, as allowed by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Cross References

• Board Policy 2121 Drug and Alcohol Use/Abuse Program
• Board Policy 2140 Guidance and Counseling
• Board Policy 3231 Student Records
• Board Policy 4040 Public Access to District Records
• Board Policy 5260 Personnel Records

Legal References

• RCW 26.44.030(12) Reports — Duty and authority to make — Duty of receiving agency