Parents Guide to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

FERPA stands for the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. It protects the privacy of students' educational records and gives parents certain rights regarding their children's education records. These rights transfer to the student when they turn 18 or attend a school beyond the high school level.

Parents have the right to inspect and review their children's education records, request amendments to inaccurate or misleading records, and consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information from education records, except under certain permitted situations.

FERPA rights transfer to the student when they reach the age of 18 or attend a school beyond the high school level. These students are referred to as "eligible students".

No, once the student becomes an "eligible student," the rights under FERPA transfer from the parents to the student. Parents can only access the records if the student provides written consent.

Directory information includes items such as a student's name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, honors and awards, and dates of attendance. Schools may disclose directory information without consent unless parents have advised the school to not disclose this information.

Education records can be disclosed without consent to school officials with legitimate educational interests, other schools to which a student is transferring, certain government officials, and in connection with financial aid applications, among other exceptions.

Parents can request a copy of their child's education records by contacting the school directly. Schools are required to provide access to the records but are not required to provide copies unless it is impossible for parents to review the records due to reasons such as distance.