A parent, guardian or student over the age of 18 has access to the student's school records according to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). Any records maintained by a school district as part of the student's official record are available for review by the parent or the student after age 18. The law also controls sharing of pupil records with third party individuals or agencies.

The District maintains Management Plans for each school building as well as the AHERA Reinspection of the District, which are available for inspection upon request to the Buildings & Grounds Office at (585) 392-1000, ext. 7065.

The Hilton Central School District participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), a federally-assisted meal program providing nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children each school day. Further information and applications for the Free/Reduced Price Meals Program are available on this website. Applications are returned to Hilton Food Service, 400 East Avenue, Hilton, NY 14468.

The Safe School Against Violence in Education (SAVE) and Section 100.2[1] of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education require that each school district adopt a written policy on school conduct and discipline. The Code of Conduct is available on this website and at every school's main office. The Code of Conduct applies to all students, school personnel, parents and other visitors when on school property or attending any school function.

The District may release directory information (student name/address/phone; date/place of birth; grade level; participation in officially-recognized sports; height and weight of athletic team members; dates of attendance; major field of study, degree, honors and awards received; school-related photographs and videos; agency/school previously attended) about a student without student or parental consent in certain circumstances. Directory information is information about the student that would generally not be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. At the discretion of the District, directory information may be disclosed in the case of sports or performing arts programs, news releases or in connection with educational or extra-curricular activities or events. Release of directory information is not permitted if such information is to be used for solicitation, fundraising, political or commercial purposes.

The District publishes this annual notice in the District Calendar which is mailed to all students’ homes in August. If a parent, guardian or eligible student does not wish to have some or all of the directory information described above released without prior consent, he or she must, in writing, contact the Hilton Central School District, Census Office, 225 West Ave., Hilton, NY 14468 or the school’s principal within 30 days after publication of this notice.

Emergency Preparedness written information about basic emergency response actions are communicated through schools in accordance with the NYS Commissioner of Education Regulation 155.13 Emergency Planning. Each school annually conducts sheltering or evacuation drills with notices in advance to parents and students.

The annual NYS Education Dept. Fire Safety Inspections of each building by the fire marshals are shared with the fire district officials, with all deficiencies cited in the inspection reports corrected. State-issued Certificates of Occupancy are on display in the main offices of each building.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students who are 18 years of age or older ("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 after the day the Hilton Central School District receives a request for access.

Parents or eligible students who wish to inspect their child’s or their education records should submit to the school principal a written request that identifies the records 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 or eligible student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA.

Parents or eligible students who wish to ask the Hilton Central School District to amend their child’s or their education 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 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 provide written consent before the school discloses personally identifiable information (PII) from 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.  The criteria for determining who constitutes a school official and what constitutes a legitimate educational interest must be set forth in the school’s or school district’s annual notification for FERPA rights.  A school official typically includes a person employed by the school or school district as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel) or a person serving on the school board.  A school official also may include a volunteer,  contractor, or consultant who, while not employed by the school, performs an institutional service or function for which the school would otherwise use its own employees and who is under the direct control of the school with respect to the use and maintenance of PII from education records, such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist; a parent or student volunteering to serve 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 typically has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.

4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the Hilton Central School District to comply with the requirements of FERPA.  The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA are:

Student Privacy Policy Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC  20202

Opt Out - If you do not want the District to disclose any or all of the types of information designated above as directory information from your child's/your education records without your prior written consent, you must notify the District in writing of such decision to opt out in whole or in part. Your written notice must be received by the Census Office or the school's principal within 30 days after publication of the Annual Notice regarding Directory Information in the District Calendar.

In compliance with Federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and the National Defense Authorization Act, the District is permitted to disclose students' names, addresses and telephone listings to military recruiters. This disclosure is subject to a parent's written request NOT to disclose such information. If a parent wishes to opt out of the District’s releasing directory information to military recruiters, or to any other third-party, they must give written notice to the Hilton Central School District, Census Office, 225 West Ave., Hilton, NY 14468 AND Hilton High School Registrar, 400 East Ave., Hilton, NY 14468.

In accordance with New York State Education Dept. Law, public schools must provide written notification 48 hrs. in advance of application if required. The District implements integrated pest management; pesticides are only applied upon express authorization of the District. For more information, call (585) 392-1000, ext. 7065/7066.

The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) governs the administration of students surveys, analysis or evaluation that concerns protected areas: political affiliations or beliefs of the student or the student’s parent/guardian; mental or psychological problems of the student or the student’s family; sexual behavior or attitudes; illegal, antisocial, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior; critical appraisals of other individuals with whom respondents have close family relationships; legally-recognized privileged relationships such as those of lawyers, physicians, ministers; religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or student’s parent/guardian; income other than that required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under such program. PPRA also concerns marketing surveys and other areas of student privacy, parental access to information, and the administration of certain physical examinations to minors. The requirements of PPRA do not apply to a survey administered to a student in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The rights provided to parents/guardians under PPRA transfer from the parent/ guardian to the student when the student turns 18 years old or is an emancipated minor under applicable state law. If a parent/guardian would like to opt-out of any of the above, they must contact the Hilton Central School District, Office of Student Services, 225 West Ave., Hilton, NY 14468 at (585) 392-1000, ext. 6055.

Policy 5634 regulates the use of video surveillance cameras in school buildings, on school grounds and on school buses in locations approved by the superintendent, but not in bathrooms, locker rooms or changing rooms.  All recordings are sole property of the District.

• U.S. Dept. of Education: FERPA