1) Purpose

Southwest Christian Academy (“SCA”) must keep students safe, honor parental rights, and

comply with applicable laws. This policy explains how SCA handles custody information,

access to students and records, and what documentation we require.

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2) Key Principles

We follow court documents exactly as written. If the school is provided a valid

court order or parenting plan that limits or defines a parent’s rights, SCA will comply

with that order.

Absent court documents, both parents are treated equally with full parental rights

to access their child’s educational records and to participate in school life, consistent

with FERPA.

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3) Definitions

Legal custody: The right to make major decisions for a child (education, health, etc.)

Physical custody: Where the child resides day-to-day.

Parent: A biological, adoptive, or legal parent or other person with court-ordered

custody/guardianship. (District examples define and apply these terms similarly.)

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4) Documents SCA Requires

(Provide at Enrollment and Upon Any Change)

Parents/guardians must promptly provide legible copies of all current court documents

affecting custody or school-related decision-making, including (as applicable):

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Divorce decrees, custody orders, parenting plans, guardianship letters,

protection/restraining orders, and any amendments.

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Temporary orders while a case is pending.If no documents are provided, SCA must presume

both parents have equal rights. Important: SCA cannot enforce verbal agreements or private

email/text understandings not memorialized in a court order.

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5) Student Records & Communications (FERPA) 

Unless restricted by a court order provided to SCA, both parents have the same

FERPA rights to access education records, receive school communications, and

attend conferences. SCA will offer duplicate notices when requested.

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SCA will not deny a parent access to records or information unless a court order

specifically removes or limits that right. (This mirrors many district policies.)

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6) School-Day Access, Pick-Up, and On-Campus Visits

Pick-up/visitation during the school day must align with the written court order or

parenting plan on file at SCA. Absent such documents, either parent may pick up the

child if that parent is listed on the child’s emergency contact and the pick-up is

consistent with normal procedures.

Parents must not use the school as a meeting place for custody or visitation

exchanges unless this is explicitly permitted in a court order and pre-arranged with

the principal. (This is a common provision in school policies.)

Arkansas note: State law contemplates coordinated transportation/pick-up by either

parent when pre-approved with the principal. SCA will rely on the court order and

principal approval for any such arrangement.

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7) Restraining Orders / Protective Orders

If a court order restricts a parent’s access, SCA will follow it exactly (e.g., no contact,

supervised contact, restricted pick-up).

Parents must provide current copies of such orders; SCA cannot act on information

we do not have.

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8) School Neutrality

SCA does not mediate disputes between parents and will not choose sides. We will

not limit access to a child or records unless a court order requires it. (Employer

counsel advisories emphasize this stance.)●

If parents disagree about an educational decision and the court order is silent, SCA

will maintain the status quo and direct parents to seek court guidance.

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9) Updating Information

Parents must immediately provide updated court documents when orders change.

If SCA receives conflicting documents, we will follow the most recent signed and

filed order on its face until a superseding order is provided.

 

10) Safety & Verification

Staff may request ID prior to releasing a student.

In emergency or ambiguous situations, SCA may hold the student in a safe location

and contact the custodial parties on file and/or law enforcement, as appropriate.

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11) Enrollment & Directory/Emergency Contacts​

Enrollment forms should list both parents (unless a court order limits rights) and

identify any restrictions.

Either parent can request to be added to communications consistent with FERPA and

any court orders.

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12) Compliance & Training

The principal or designee maintains custody documents in a confidential file

accessible to authorized personnel.

Annual staff training will cover custody basics, FERPA rights of noncustodial parents,

and procedures for pick-up and records requests.

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13) Questions & Point of Contact

Questions about this policy or about providing documents should be directed to the SCA

principal or the Administrator of Operations.