Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

Ø     Parents or eligible students have the right to inspect and review the student's education records maintained by the school. Schools are not required to provide copies of records unless, for reasons such as great distance which makes it impossible for parents or eligible students to review the records. Schools may charge a fee for copies.

Ø    Parents or eligible students have the right to request a school to correct or amend records which they believe are inaccurate or misleading. If the school decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student then has the right to a formal hearing. After the hearing, if the school still decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student has the right to place a statement with the record setting forth his or her view about the contested information.

Ø     Schools must have written permission from the parent or eligible student in order to release any information from a student's education record. However, FERPA allows schools to disclose those records, without consent, to the following parties or under the following conditions:

ü  School officials with legitimate educational interest;

ü  Other schools to which a student is transferring;

ü  Specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes;

ü  Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student;

ü  Organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the school;

ü  Accrediting organizations;

ü  To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena;

ü  Appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies;

ü  State and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system, pursuant to specific State law.

Ø    Schools are permitted to divulge “Directory” information like student’s name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, honors, awards and dates of attendance. However, schools are required to inform parents and eligible students about the contents of the directory and allow them sufficient time to request the school not to disclose such directory information about them.

Ø    All schools coming under the ambit of FERPA have to mandatorily notify parents and eligible students, their rights under the act every year. The actual means of notification example- Letters, handbook etc is usually left to the discretion of the school.