Chapter 3: Rules to Respect

There are rules to follow when releasing information from educational institutions just as there are concerning medical files. Test results and grades students acquire while in school are protected by law from casual observers. The law defines student rights to privacy, and defines what is considered public information. Relationships between school and parent are conditioned in some measure by clarity of understanding federally protected student rights to privacy.

When the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) was enacted in 1974, parents were guaranteed access to their children’s educational records. The act limited the disclosure of such records to individuals and institutions beyond the scope of the parents. Before 1974 educators were free to show whatever records they chose to whomever they wanted.