Gainesville ISD

Written Annual Notification to Access Public Benefits of Insurance (e.g., Medicaid)

Medicaid services provided by school districts in Texas to Medicaid-eligible students are known as School Health and Related Services (SHARS). SHARS allows local school districts, including public charter schools, to obtain Medicaid reimbursement for certain designated health-related services documented in a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP).

Gainesville ISD has previously notified and received parental consent to disclose personally identifiable
information to the agency responsible for the administration of the State’s public benefits or Insurance program (e.g., Medicaid) for reimbursement under the SHARS program. Consent may be withdrawn at any time. A parent’s withdrawal of consent or refusal to allow consent does not relieve the district of its responsibility to ensure that all required services are provided at no cost to the parent(s).

Access to and Destruction of Records

The special education department observes federal and state laws, state regulations and local policies pertaining to the confidentiality of student records. Parents (or an eligible student 18 years or older) may inspect and review records at any time. School officials with a legitimate educational interest have access to student records. The parents of a student with a disability must give written consent before a student’s records can be seen by someone not involved in the student’s education.

If the student transfers to another school district, special education records will be sent to the receiving district without parental consent.

Special education eligibility and educational records are maintained for five (5) years following the date of the least recorded action for each student served by the Special Education Department of Gainesville ISD. At the end of five years, the records will be destroyed.

Parent/guardian/adult student has been informed that the District shall retain education records of students with disabilities for five years after the student’s graduation or dismissal from special education.

Records with personally identifiable information are located in the Special Education Office at 1201 Lindsay St., Gainesville, TX 76240.