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Important Terms
What is FERPA?
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal privacy law that gives
parents certain protections with regard to their children’s education records, such as report
cards, transcripts, disciplinary records, contact and family information, and class schedules.
As a parent, you have the right to review your child’s education records and to request
changes under limited circumstances. To protect your student’s privacy, the law generally
requires schools to ask for written consent before disclosing your student’s personally
identifiable information to individuals other than you.
The following questions and answers are intended to help you understand your rights as a
parent under FERPA. If you have further questions, please contact the U.S. Department of
Education’s Family Policy Compliance Office using the contact information provided below.
Who else gets to see my son or daughters’ education records?
To protect your child’s privacy, college or universities are generally prohibited from disclosing
personally identifiable information without written consent. Exceptions to this rule include:
• Disclosures made to school officials with legitimate educational interests
• Disclosures made to another school at which the student intends to enroll
• Disclosures made to state or local education authorities for auditing or evaluating
federal or state-supported education programs, or enforcing relevant federal laws
• Disclosures including information the school has designated
as “directory information.”
The college or University won’t show me her or his education records. Does the college
or university have to provide me with a copy of the records if I request them?
Schools must honor your request to review education records within 45 days of receiving the
request. Some states have laws similar to FERPA that require schools to provide access within
a shorter period of time. FERPA requires that schools provide parents with an opportunity
to inspect and review education records, but not to receive copies, except in limited
circumstances.
Parents whose children receive services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act (IDEA) may have additional rights and remedies with regard to education records. The
school district, local special education director, or state special education director can
answer questions about IDEA.
What is directory information?
FERPA defines “directory information” as information contained in a student’s education
record that generally would not be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed.
Directory information could include:
• Name, address, telephone listing, date and place of birth, dates of attendance,
and grade level
• Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
• Weight and height of members of athletic teams
• Degrees, honors, and awards received
• The most recent school attended.
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