FERPA Explained

Many parents are surprised by one of the first things they learn about college: the school will not tell them how their child is doing. A tuition bill arrives, and a grade report does not. A worried call to the registrar meets polite refusal. For families used to being closely involved in school life, this can feel baffling or even alarming. The explanation, in the United States, is a federal law called FERPA. Understanding what it says, and what it does not, helps you plan how your family will handle information.

This guide is general information about a US law, written for parents, and is not legal advice. Laws and interpretations change, and details vary by institution. It covers the US only. Check your college's own FERPA policy and official government guidance.

What FERPA is

FERPA is the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, a US federal law that:

• Protects the privacy of student education records held by schools and colleges that receive certain federal funds.
• Gives students the right to inspect and review their records.
• Gives students the right to request corrections to records they believe are inaccurate.
• Limits who can see records without consent.

In school, parents hold these rights. At college, the rights belong to the student.

When rights shift

The key rule is simple: when a student turns eighteen or begins attending a postsecondary institution, FERPA rights transfer from the parents to the student. These students are called eligible students. Importantly:

• It applies even if the student is a minor but attending college.
• It applies even if the parents pay the bills.
• It applies even if the student lives at home.

From that point, the college generally needs the student's written consent to share education records with anyone, including parents. This often surprises parents, but it reflects the idea that a college student is an adult, with the right to control their own information.

What counts as an education record

Education records are broadly defined and include records directly related to a student and maintained by the college.

• Grades and transcripts.
• Course schedules and enrollment.
• Financial aid and billing records, in many cases.
• Disciplinary records.
• Class work and evaluations.
• Advising notes and correspondence.
• Records of accommodations. Our guide to disability services explained describes how those records are kept confidential.

Some records are not covered in the same way, such as certain law enforcement records and some medical or counseling records, which may be governed by other laws. Details vary, so ask the college.

What colleges can and cannot share

Without consent, colleges generally cannot share education records with parents. But there are important qualifications.

Generally permitted without consent:

• Directory information, such as name, major and dates of attendance, if the college has designated it and the student has not opted out. Colleges set their own definitions.
• Information to school officials with a legitimate educational interest.
• Disclosures in a health or safety emergency, if there is an articulable and significant threat.
• Disclosures to parents of a dependent student, as defined for tax purposes, in some circumstances. Colleges differ in whether and how they use this exception.
• Disclosure to parents of alcohol or drug policy violations, for students under twenty-one, in some cases, if the college has chosen to do so.
• Disclosures required by law, such as a subpoena.
• Disclosures to other schools to which the student seeks to transfer.
• Disclosures related to financial aid.

Colleges have discretion about some of these exceptions, and many apply them cautiously. Do not assume that a college will share information, even where it could.

Generally not shared without consent:

• Grades and academic standing.
• Course enrollment and schedules.
• Disciplinary details, except as noted.
• Advising and counseling notes.
• Billing and aid details, in many colleges, unless the student authorizes access.

How students can give consent

Colleges usually have a process.

• A signed consent form naming who may receive what information, and for how long.
• Online portals where students can grant parents access to certain records, such as billing or grades. Our guide to parent portals and student privacy explains how these work.
• Informal sharing, such as the student showing you their grades or emails.
• Revoking consent, which students can usually do at any time.

Students can often choose which information to share, such as billing but not grades. Ask the college for its forms and procedures.

Why the law works this way

FERPA recognizes that college students are adults, and that they should control their own records. Many colleges also see independence as part of the educational experience. At the same time, the law allows flexibility for emergencies and for sharing with consent, and many families find that a clear conversation solves most problems.

Practical ways for families

The key is to deal with this before it matters.

1. Have an open conversation before college starts about how you will share information.
2. Agree what you want to know: grades, billing, health emergencies or only general updates.
3. Ask your student to give consent, if they are comfortable, through the college's system.
4. Agree what you will do in an emergency, including who to call.
5. Consider a health care proxy and releases, so that you can be contacted in a medical emergency. Ask a lawyer or doctor about the right documents.
6. Make sure your student knows how to reach you.
7. Revisit the arrangement from time to time.

Money and billing

Parents who pay the bills may expect to see them.

• Ask whether the college has a parent or authorized payer system, which lets you view and pay bills with the student's permission.
• Ask your student to set it up.
• Do not assume that paying gives you access to other records.
• Keep your own records of payments.
• Ask the billing office what they can discuss with you in general terms.

Health and emergencies

Health information may be covered by different laws, and colleges and clinics usually have their own rules. In a real emergency, colleges can share information when there is a threat to health or safety, but you cannot count on being contacted promptly. Make sure your student has emergency contacts on file, and consider formal arrangements with their agreement.

Accommodations and sensitive records

Records of disability accommodations are especially sensitive and are usually confidential. Parents typically cannot see them without the student's consent. If your student has a disability, talk to them about how they want to share information.

Complaints and rights

If a student believes that their FERPA rights have been violated, they can complain to the relevant federal office. Parents of eligible students do not have the right to file for the student, but can support them. The college's registrar can explain the internal process.

Outside the United States

FERPA applies only in the US. Other countries have different laws and customs about student privacy, and some colleges abroad share more with parents, while others share less. If your student is studying outside the US, ask the college about its policies, and check local privacy laws. International students in the US are also covered by FERPA.

A worked example

Imagine a parent who calls the registrar to ask about her son's grades and is told that the college cannot share them without his consent. She feels shut out, but speaks to her son, who says he does not mind sharing his grades at the end of each term. He gives her access to billing through the portal, shows her grades himself and signs a consent form for the registrar. They also agree that she will be called if there is a health emergency.

A calm conversation solved what a phone call could not.

Common mistakes

• Assuming you can see grades because you pay the bills.
• Calling the college to demand information.
• Asking the student to share everything.
• Not setting up emergency arrangements.
• Assuming FERPA applies abroad.
• Reading too much into a student's silence.
• Not revisiting the arrangement.

A quick checklist

• Have we talked about what information to share?
• Has my student used the college's consent or portal system?
• Do we have emergency contacts and releases in place?
• Do I know my student's rights and the college's policy?
• Am I respecting my student's privacy and independence?

Final thoughts

FERPA means that, at college, your child controls their own records. It can feel like a wall, but it is also an opportunity to build trust. Talk early about what you would like to know, ask your student to share what they are comfortable with and arrange for emergencies. Respecting privacy often brings more openness, not less.