The federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) provides parents/guardians and students who are 18 years of age or older (known as “eligible students“) with certain rights with respect to the student’s education records. Parents/guardians and eligible students have the right to:

• Inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days after the day an access request is received by the school. These requests should be submitted to the school principal;
• Request a hearing to challenge information in the student’s education records that the parent/guardian or eligible student believes is inaccurate, misleading or otherwise in violation of the privacy or other rights of the student;
• Provide written consent before the school discloses education records or personally identifiable information contained therein, unless such release is authorized by FERPA, or the information released is directory information. Directory information includes the following information relating to a student: the student’s name; address (except information about a homeless student's living situation); major course of study; participation in school activities; dates of attendance; awards received; most recent school attended; grade level; home district; and post-secondary enrollment status.
• File a complaint with the USDOE concerning alleged failures by the district to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA are: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC  20202.