The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) afford parents and students over 18 years of age (“eligible students”) the following rights with respect to the student’s education records:
The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the district receives a request for access.
The parent or eligible student should submit to the school principal a written request that identifies the record(s) he or she wishes to inspect. The principal will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.
The right to request an amendment of the student’s education record that is believed to be inaccurate or misleading. The parent or eligible student should make a written request for an amendment of records to the school principal by clearly identifying the part of the record that needs to be changed and specifying why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the district decides not to amend the record as requested, the parent or eligible student will be notified of the decision and advised of the right to a district hearing regarding the request.
The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
One exception that permits disclosure without consent is to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the district as an administrator, supervisor, teacher, or support staff member (including health staff and law enforcement personnel); a person serving on the board of trustees; a person or company that the district has contracted to perform a special task; or a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.
Upon request, the district will disclose education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the district to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The office that administers FERPA is:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
600 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20202-4605