Additional FERPA Information
Right to Inspect and Review Education Records
- School must comply with a request to inspect and review education records within 45 days.
- Schools are generally required to give copies, or make other arrangements for access, only if failure to do so would effectively deny access – example would be
when a parent or eligible student who does not live within commuting distance.
- School may not destroy records if request for access is pending.
- If the records contain information on more than one student, the requesting parent or eligible student may
inspect, review, or be informed of only the specific information about his or her child’s records.
Right to Request Amendment of Education Records
Parent or eligible student should identify portion of record believed to contain inaccurate or misleading information:
- School must decide within reasonable period of time whether to amend as requested.
- If school decides not to amend, must inform parent or eligible student of right to a hearing.
- After a hearing, if decision is still not to amend, parent or eligible student has a right to insert a statement in the record.
Right to File a Complaint
Parent or eligible student may file a written complaint with FPCO regarding an alleged violation under FERPA. Complaint must be submitted to FPCO within 180 days of the date of the alleged violation.
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Ave., SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-8520
Telephone: (202) 260-3887
Website: www.ed.gov/fpco
Transfer of Rights Under FERPA
When a student turns 18 years old, or enters a postsecondary institution at any age, the rights under FERPA transfer from the parents to the student (“eligible student”).
Recordkeeping Requirements
An educational agency or institution must maintain a record of each request for access to and each disclosure from an education record, as well as the names of State and local educational authorities and Federal officials and agencies listed in § 99.31(a)(3) that may make further disclosures of personally identifiable information from the student’s education records without consent under § 99.33.
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