August 2023

Dear Parent/Guardian,

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student information records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.

FERPA gives parents, guardians, or students over the age of 18, certain rights with respect to the student’s education records.

• Parents/Guardians have the right to inspect and review the student’s education record maintained by the school within 45 days of the request.

• Parents/Guardians have the right to request that a school correct records which they believe to be inaccurate or misleading or otherwise in violation of a student’s privacy rights.
  

In general, schools must have written permission from a parent/guardian to release personally identifiable information from a student’s record. However, FERPA allows schools to disclose those records, without consent, to the following parties under the following conditions:

• School officials with legitimate educational interest*

• Other schools to which the student is transferring

• Specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes;

• Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student

• Organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the school

• Accrediting organizations

• To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena

• Appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies; and

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

*A school official is a person employed by the School as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the Board; a person or company with whom the School has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist). A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record to fulfill their professional responsibility.

Schools may also disclose, without consent, “directory” information that includes a student’s name, address, telephone number, date, place of birth, honors and awards, and dates of attendance (i.e., this information is often provided as part of a school directory, sports activity sheets, or to local recreation programs).

For more information or to file a complaint, visit/contact:

U.S. Department of Education - Protecting Student Privacy

Family Policy Compliance Officer

U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW

Washington, DC  20202-5920