Code No. 504.10
CUSTODY AND PARENTAL RIGHTS
Disagreements between family members are not the responsibility of the school district. The
school district will not take the “side” of one family member over another in a disagreement
about custody or parental rights. Court orders that have been issued are followed by the school
district. It is the responsibility of the person requesting an action by the school district to
inform and provide the school district the court order allowing such action.
This policy does not prohibit an employee from listening to a student’s problems and concerns.
It is the responsibility of the superintendent to ensure employees remain neutral in a
disagreement about custody and parental rights.
Unless the school Principal is presented with a court order or other written documentation from a
court of law that prohibits a parent’s physical custody of a child or prohibits the access of the
child’s school record or other school documents, the following rights will be honored for all
parents of students, regardless of the parents’ marital status: The parent or step-parent of a child
may have physical custody of the child upon request; the parent or step-parent may have
notification of parent-teacher conferences and other relevant conferences upon request; the
parent or step-parent may have access to the child’s school record upon request; the parent or
step-parent may have access to other written notices from the school upon request.
Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 232.67, .70, .73, .75; 235A; 279.8; 710.6 (2013).
441 I.A.C. 9.2; 155; 175.
Approved 4/15/96
Reviewed 4/17/00
Reviewed 12/19/05
Reviewed 6/20/11
Revised 8/3/15