Confidentiality Policy

The safety, well-being and protection of our students are the paramount considerations in all decisions staff, at Right Paths Christian Academy, make about confidentiality. The appropriate sharing of information between school staff and/or volunteers as well as with parents is an essential element in ensuring our student’s well-being and safety. This includes personal information kept on file as well as conversations occurring on the premises. Our general rule is that staff/volunteers should make clear at the beginning of any conversation that there are limits to confidentiality. These limits relate to ensuring children’s safety and well-being. The student will be informed when a confidence has to be broken for this reason and will be encouraged to do this for themselves whenever this is possible.

Personal student files and medical records

All student records of personal information including applications, birth certificates, grades, immunization records, prescriptions, etc. will be kept in locked files. Any information kept digitally will be password protected. All staff/volunteers of Right Paths, Inc. and/or the board of directors will have access to these records. Parents may have access to all records for their children only.

Conversations

Staff/volunteers of Right Paths Christian Academy will not promise confidentiality to any student for any conversation. Students do not have the right to expect that incidents will not be reported to his/her parents or legal guardians as well as governing authorities if necessary. However, staff/volunteers are not obliged to break confidentiality except where child protection is or may be an issue, or to a specific child’s parents regarding their child only when asked. We do believe it is important that staff/volunteers are able to share their concerns about students with colleagues in a professional and supportive way, on a need-to-know basis, to ensure staff/volunteers receive the guidance and support they need and the student’s safety and well-being is maintained. If necessary, matters will be brought to the Right Paths, Inc. board of directors for guidance. If any student shares difficult personal information regarding a home situation, they will be encouraged to also discuss the matter with their parent(s) or legal guardians themselves. We can never guarantee confidentiality if we think they will hurt themselves, hurt someone else, or they tell us that someone is hurting them or others. Staff/volunteers will never interrogate a student or ask leading questions. Regarding matters of serious abuse or neglect, if suspected, and/or if sexual activity of a minor is brought up in conversation, these will be reported to the appropriate authorities (and parents/guardians if appropriate) immediately as required by law to ensure that any intervention necessary to protect the child is accessed as early as possible.

Ground rules during teaching

At Right Paths Christian Academy, we have ground rules for the students to ensure a safe environment for teaching and to minimize unconsidered, unintended personal disclosures. - We won’t ask each other or the teacher personal questions - We will respect each other and not laugh, tease, or hurt others - We won’t say things we want to keep confidential - We can pass or opt out of something if it makes us feel uncomfortable - If we do find out things about other students, which are personal and private, we won’t talk about it outside of school, but if we are worried about someone else’s safety, we will tell a teacher.

Curriculum and/or teaching topics

All curriculum choices at Right Paths Christian Academy are carefully chosen to best represent Christ and/or Christian doctrine comfortable for all protestant denominations. It is our policy to exclude any sex education classes leaving that responsibility to parents and legal guardians. All curriculums will be available at any time for a parent to view. We believe the parents are fully responsible for the course of their children’s education and the information being taught.

Staff/Volunteers

Any staff/volunteers needing support themselves in dealing with some of the personal issues of students will be asked to make sure all conversations with colleagues never be within earshot of students. We would rather a staff member/volunteer ask for help rather than make a poor decision because they don’t have all the facts or the necessary training regarding an issue. We as staff/volunteers will pray for one another, encourage one another, and in difficult situations include the board of directors as a way to ensure that all staff/volunteers know that they have support. All staff conversations could be elevated to disclosure to the board of directors, and/or parents if necessary.

Dissemination and Implementation

This policy will be posted on our website and distributed to all staff at hiring and parents of students in application packets.