Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
Source: Pearson Allyn Bacon Prentice Hall
Topics: Learning Disabilities, Learning Disability Rights, Advocating for Your Child with a Learning Disability, Special Education, Special Education Laws and Legislation
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (PL 93-380), commonly referred to as the "Buckley amendment," states that no educational agency may release student information without written consent from the student's parents. This consent specifies which records to release, the reasons for such release, and to whom. The agency should then send a copy of the released records to the student's parents.
FERPA allows families and students over 18 years of age access to and the right to inspect any of their records from any education institution, including preschool, elementary and secondary schools, community colleges, and colleges and universities that accept federal money. Parents also have the right to challenge and correct any information contained in these records. Professionals will want to ensure that they file only materials relevant to the student in the student's folder. Irrelevant information about the personal lives of families or information that is at best subjective and impressionistic has no place in a family's record.
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© 2007, Merrill, an imprint of Pearson Education Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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