LEXINGTON, Ky. — Fayette County Public Schools announced it will destroy special education and Section 504 records for former students whose records have exceeded the district's retention schedule.

The Special Education Department will destroy records for any individual with a birth date prior to June 30, 1997, on July 15, 2026. The Section 504 office will destroy records for individuals born between January 1, 1990, and December 31, 2003, on August 3, 2026.

The destruction follows the Kentucky Public School Districts Local Agency Records Retention Schedule and complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, commonly known as FERPA, and state regulations. FERPA, enacted in 1974, establishes strict requirements governing student education records and their proper destruction to protect student privacy.

District officials said anyone who needs copies of these records should request them before the destruction dates. Parents and eligible students can contact the Special Education Department by emailing Michelle Bean or Ben Martin and Margaret Murphy, who manage the Section 504 program. The main office line is (859) 422-4100.

This is an annual process for the district. According to retention schedules for Kentucky school districts, sensitive student data — including Social Security numbers, grades, and medical information — must be destroyed using secure methods once retention periods expire to ensure compliance with state and federal privacy laws.