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Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA)
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Another change for you as parents or guardians is the enforcement of the Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) in 1974, also known as the Buckley Amendment. Some of today’s parents were part of the movement that created this law to protect the student’s educational records.
FERPA gives college students (whatever their age) the right to:
- Control the disclosure of their “educational records” to others and
- Inspect and review their “educational records.”
The rights belong to the student, and not to the student’s parents or legal guardians.
This is usually a very different situation than the K-12 experience. Often, parents and guardians have been able to go online and monitor homework assignments, grades, “extra-credit” work, and the like. It is likely that a strong bond has developed between you and your son or daughter with regard to school assignments and requirements. Teachers have probably been available to speak to you on the telephone and you have met regularly with them to check on your student’s progress. When things have not gone well with your student, it is likely that a teacher or administrator has called or emailed you to ask for your assistance or advice. It is also likely that copies of grade reports were automatically made available to you.
Protecting the “educational record” means that almost all information we maintain about our students, including course schedules, grade reports, bursar’s bills, student financial assistance, academic information, and disciplinary records are available only with the consent of your son or daughter. Medical information is also protected by federal and state law and cannot be obtained without a student’s written consent.
The easiest way to find out about your student’s educational records is to ask him/her. Most families have developed open and honest communication about important matters. Grade reports are available online from computers anywhere in the world through the student’s BannerWeb account.
