Annual Notifications

The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Act (AHERA) requires that each school in the nation develop an asbestos management plan.  An environmental engineering firm completed a study to determine the presence and location of all friable and non-friable asbestos materials in all public schools within the Montgomery County Public School (MCPS) System.  All buildings have been inspected and are scheduled for re-inspection in accordance with Environmental Protection Agency guidelines for asbestos-containing materials (i.e., 40 CFR  Part 763).  An updated copy of the management plan is available in the administrative offices of each school/facility or at the MCPS Facilities Department.  The plan will contain information regarding past asbestos actions taken.    Should you have questions or concerns in regard to the above information, please call the MCPS Facilities Department at 540-382-5141. 

Montgomery County Public Schools is an equal opportunity education institution and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability and/or age in its activities, programs or employment practices as required by Title VI, Title IX and Section 504.  Students attending Montgomery County Public Schools in grades 7 – 12 may participate in career & technical programs and activities, including agriculture, business & information technology, health & medical sciences, marketing, family & consumer sciences, technology, and trade & industrial studies.  Educational programs and services will be designed to meet the varying needs of all students and will not discriminate against any individual for reasons of race, color, national origin, sex, disability and/or age.  For information regarding civil rights or grievance procedures, contact the Title IX Coordinator, the Section 504 Coordinator, or the Director of Human Resources at 750 Impmerial Street, Christiansburg, VA, 24073, telephone 540-382-5100.   For information regarding services, activities and facilities that are accessible to and usable by disabled persons, contact the Director of Facilities at 540-382-5141.

Montgomery County Public Schools does not discriminate in its programs and activities for reasons of race, religion, color, gender, national origin, disability, age, or on any other basis prohibited by law. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies:

Director of Human Resources and Assistant Superintendent
750 Imperial Street SE, Christiansburg, VA 24073
(540)382-5100

School Board Policy 5-1.2 outlines reporting and investigation procedures for harassment based on race, national origin, disability, and religion.

Notification of Rights Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents/guardians and students over 18 years of age ("eligible students") certain rights with respect to the student's education records. These rights are:

1. The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day MCPS receives a request for access.
   
   Parents or eligible students should submit to the school principal a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The school official will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.
    
2. The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the parent/guardian or eligible student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student's privacy rights under FERPA.
   
   Parents/guardians or eligible students who wish to ask the MCPS to amend a record should write the school principal, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it should be changed. If the school decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the school will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and advise them of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student-when notified of the right to a hearing.
    
3. The right to privacy of personally identifiable information in the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
   
   One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the school as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff  member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the School Board; a person or company with whom the school has outsourced services or functions it would otherwise use its own employees to perform (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist); a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee; or a parent, student, or other volunteer assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks.
   
   A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.
   
   Upon request, MCPS discloses education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll, or is already enrolled if the disclosure is for purposes of the student's enrollment or transfer.
    
4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by MCPS to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA are: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202-8520.