Middle Tennessee State University Parent Guide
FERPA
What is the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act?
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, otherwise known as FERPA or the Buckley Amendment, is a federal law that protects the privacy of students’ education records. (20 U.S.C. 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) FERPA applies to educational agencies and institutions that receive funds under any program administered by the U.S. Department of Education. This includes almost any public school at the elementary, secondary, or postsecondary level.
Beginning at the elementary level, your student’s education records were protected by FERPA. Since your student was a minor, you as the parent or guardian had the right to view those records or give permission for a third party to access the records. The only other persons who could access the records without permission were those who had a legitimate educational interest.
Once a student enters college, FERPA rights transfer to the student which means only the student may view his or her record or provide permission for a third party to have access. There is an exception which allows the post secondary institution to share the student’s record with the parent without the student’s permission. That exception requires the parent to provide official proof of the student’s dependency for income tax purposes to the custodian of records.
However, the most helpful and efficient way for a parent or guardian to keep informed on their student’s academic progress and rather than share your tax information is to participate in PIE program.
