FERPA (Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act)
Directory Information Does Not Require Parent Consent
Common examples of directory information
- Academic information: Major field of study, grade level, enrollment status, and dates of attendance.
- Awards and achievements: Degrees, honors, and awards received.
- Activities: Participation in officially recognized activities and sports, including athletic team details like height and weight.
- Previous education: The most recent educational agency or institution attended.
- Personal information: Name, address, telephone listing, electronic mail address, photograph, and date and place of birth.
What is not directory information
- Social Security number.
- Student ID numbers, unless they can't grant access to records without additional authentication.
- Grades.
Annual Notification and Rights of Parents
FERPA regulations require that local education agencies give annual notification to parents and eligible students of their rights under FERPA (34 CFR § 99.7). The law does not require agencies to notify parents and eligible students individually, but agencies must provide notification where they are likely to see it. In addition, education institutions must make provisions to effectively inform individuals with a disability or whose primary language is not English.
The annual notification process must ensure that parents understand that they have the right to:
- inspect and review their child's record;
- seek to amend the record if they believe it to be inaccurate;
- consent (or not) to disclosures of personally identifiable information; and
- file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning the district's failures to comply with FERPA.
Here's a link detailing the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act.