Here at OCDC we respect your privacy and your family’s privacy. We ask for information like your family’s income, address, and employment history to prove that you are eligible for the program. We ask about the language you speak to make sure your child’s home language is spoken in the classroom along with English. We do not ever ask for information related to citizenship or immigration status.
Parents and legal guardians have the right to obtain copies of their child’s education records and/or family records. Request of records forms are available (the forms have both Spanish and English) and teachers, Family Advocates, and Education Coordinators can assist parents in filling out the forms.
Parents can give OCDC permission to use and disclose records, or parents can refuse – which means parents can say “no, OCDC cannot disclose these personal records to anyone”. If parents refuse to authorize OCDC to disclose or release records, they still have every right to participate in the program, and their child will still be enrolled.
There are nine reasons OCDC may have to share personal child records without parental permission. These are all required by law, and most of them are rare. They are:
- Contractors or other people providing direct services for OCDC’s families that need this personal information to do their work. OCDC will have a written agreement with the provider for how they can, and cannot, use this information.
- Federal and State officials who are auditing OCDC’s educational services or child development outcomes, or to officials who are auditing OCDC to make sure we are following the applicable laws and regulations. OCDC would have oversight over the records, a written agreement for how an official could and could not use these records, and requirements for when an official would have to destroy any records with identifiable information.
- Federal and State officials who are researching how to improve child and family outcomes in the program. OCDC would have oversight over the records, a written agreement for how an official could and could not use these records, and requirements for when an official would have to destroy any records with identifiable information
- Emergency responders or other appropriate people who are helping with a disaster, health or safety emergency, or for a child’s serious health risk like a food allergy. We will only share this information if it is necessary to make sure a child is kept safe and healthy while they are in the program.
- Federal or State officials who are auditing our food program, which is funded by the Child and Adult Care Food Program, to make sure we are following applicable laws and regulations. OCDC will have oversight over the records, a written agreement for how an official can and cannot use these records, and requirements for when an official will have to destroy any records with identifiable information.
- Caseworkers or representatives from State, local, or tribal child welfare agencies that are responsible for a child placed in foster care.
- When non-custodial parents ask for records, unless there is a court order saying we cannot share information with them.
- Subpoena or a court order – we will notify parents before we share this information if possible
- In order to address suspected or known child abuse or child maltreatment