3230 – Student Privacy and Searches
Searches of Students and Personal Property
Personal privacy is a fundamental aspect of individual liberty. All students possess the constitutional right to be secure in their persons, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures. Staff will take particular care to respect students’ privacy.
Cooperative Program officials have the authority to maintain order and discipline in the program and to protect students from exposure to illegal drugs, weapons, and contraband. The superintendent, the site administrator, and other staff designated by the superintendent have the authority to conduct reasonable searches on program property in accordance with the law.
Any authorized cooperative program official will conduct searches according to the procedure associated with this policy.
Student Privacy
Adult Students, Emancipated Minors, and Confidential Health Information
State law provides that at certain ages, students attain the right to decide for themselves what records will remain confidential, even from their parents, and what activities the student will participate in. At age eighteen students become legal adults and must approve any disclosure of information about themselves from cooperative program records, except directory information if a request for confidentiality has not been filed. Students at age eighteen may also sign releases, authorizations, or permission slips to participate in program activities, and may sign themselves out of cooperative programs and authorize their own absences.
Students between sixteen and eighteen who have been granted legal emancipation from their parents or guardians have the same rights as eighteen-year-old students.
Students over fourteen years of age have confidentiality rights in records indicating that they have been tested or treated for a sexually transmitted disease. Students thirteen years and older have confidentiality rights in records regarding drug, alcohol, or mental health treatment.
All students have confidentiality rights in family planning or abortion records.
First Reading: 02/26/92 (as 6450)
Second Reading: 03/25/92 (as 6450)
Revised: 04/25/01 (recodified 3230)
Reviewed: 01/24/07
Revised: 02/27/23
Reference
RCW 13.64.060
RCW 28A.310.180
RCW 28A.320.040
34 CFR § 99.5
42 CFR § 2.14
RCW 9.02.100
RCW 28A.600.020
RCW 28A.600.210-240
RCW 70.02.220
RCW 70.02.240
Date Revised: 2/27/23