Confidential Communications - 4100

The Board recognizes that school staff must exercise a delicate balance regarding the treatment of information that was revealed in confidence. A staff member may, in his/her professional judgment, treat information received from a student as confidential, while at other times decide to disclose what was learned to the school administration, law enforcement officers (including Child Protective Services), the county health department, other staff members or the student's parents. The staff member should advise the student regarding the limitations and restrictions regarding confidentiality. The student should be encouraged to reveal confidences to his/her parents. If the staff member intends to advise the parents, the student should be informed prior to such action.

The following guidelines are established to assist staff members in making appropriate decisions regarding confidential information and/or communications:

A. Information contained in the student's cumulative record folder is confidential and is only accessible through the custodian of student records. Information secured through the authorization of the records custodian shall remain confidential and shall be used only for the purpose that its access was granted. (Policy 3600)

B. The release of information regarding staff members is governed by policies 5260 and 4340.

C. While certain professionals may have a legal/confidential relationship as in attorney-client communications, school staff members including counselors (except licensed psychologists) do not possess a confidentiality privilege.

D. A staff member is expected to reveal information given by a student when there is a reasonable likelihood that a crime has or will be committed, (e.g. child abuse, sale of drugs, suicidal ideation).

E. A staff member should exercise professional judgment regarding the disclosure of confidential information when there is reasonable likelihood that the student's general welfare may endangered.

F.A staff member is encouraged to assist the student by offering suggestions regarding the availability of community services to assist a student in dealing with personal matters, (e.g. sexual activity, sexually-transmitted diseases, pregnancy). The staff member should encourage the student to discuss such matters with his/her parents first.

G. Building principals must make this information available to district administrators.

Cross References:
3432 Emergencies
3600 Student Records
4340 Public Access to District Records
5260 Personnel Records

Legal References:
RCW 26.44.030  Reports--Duty and authority to make
WAC 246-100-071  Responsibility for reporting to and cooperating with the local health department

Adoption Date: 11/26/01