The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act applies to all public bodies which are directed by government legislation.

The Act establishes policy and regulations relating to access of information held by a public body and sets out policy and regulations relating to the collection, use, protection and disclosure of personal information. The five principles of the Act are as follows:

                                                

1. To allow a right of access to any person to the records in the custody or control of a public body subject only to limited and specific exceptions.

2. To control the manner in which a public body may collect personal information and to control the use the public body may make of the information; and to control the disclosure by a public body of that information.

3. To allow individuals, subject to limited and specific exceptions, the right to have access to information about themselves which is held by the public body.

4. To allow individuals the right to request corrections to information about themselves held by a public body.

5. To provide an independent review of decisions made by a public body under the legislation.

The information that is requested on the school registration form is specifically mandated under the authority of the School Act and its regulations, and pursuant to Section 33 of the F.O.I.P. Act which states that information may be collected if that information relates directly to and is necessary for an operating program or activity of the public body or to other public bodies as outlined in statute.

Schools play an important role in the education and socialization of our children. In this process, personal information is often collected and used for authorized programs and activities that are a normal part of school life. The F.O.I.P. Act requires that parents/guardians be advised of the collection and use of personal information that is not specifically itemized under the School Act. This includes several activities that are part of a normal and required school community interaction, such as:

• the use of a student's name, photo and comments in the school calendar, newsletter, yearbook or other school publications

• the taking of individual, class or team photos and the use of the student photos for identification purposes

• the taking and developing of student photos for the purposes of helping to develop the skills required in the use of traditional photo developing, as well as the process skills required in the use of digital photography and photo scanning

• the use of student names on artwork or other material displayed in the school

• videos in which the student appears, which are prepared for use in the school

• the taking of photos and/or videos of classroom or other school activities, and their use, by the media or other organizations where students are not identifiable

• the use of student names in a listing of an honor roll, birthday recognition, graduation, scholarships, student achievement awards (including announcement from the P.A. system), within the school

• the use of student names, related contact information and phone numbers for attendance checks, class activities, including lunchroom programs

• the taking of photos and/or videos of classroom activities by the school and/or District personnel, where the material will be used within the District

• the use of student names and academic information necessary for determining eligibility or suitability for provincial, federal or other types of awards or scholarships in the event that the Board applies on the student's behalf

• release of the student name to the news media as part of a graduation list, honor roll or the promotion of a positive school program or other similar activities within the school

• release of information contained in a student record to the Department of Justice of the Government of Alberta or its designate when requested by that Department or its designate for the purpose of administering the Young Offenders Act or the Young Offenders Act (Canada) or carrying out any program or policy under either Act.

• release of a student's name, address, date of birth, sex, and school as well as the name, address and telephone number of the student's parent or guardian to the medical officer of health or his designate for the purpose of contacting parents or guardians regarding voluntary health programs offered by the regional health authority, including immunization, hearing, vision, speech and dental health programs and for the purpose of communicable disease control (to be disclosed only upon written request of a medical officer of health as defined in the Public Health Act and only in accordance with provisions of the FOIP Act, which limits the use of the information to the identified need and otherwise guarantees the security of the information)

• release of personal information to Child and Family Service Authorities, when required under the authority of the Child Welfare Act

R.D.P.S.D. #104

4747-53 Street

Red Deer, Alberta

T4N 2E6

Canada

Phone: 403-342-3720

FAX: 347-8190

e-mail:  bbieber@rdpsd.ab.ca

Also see Frequently Asked Questions, a web page hosted by the the Government of Alberta and designed to clarify questions by parents and students.