Under FERPA, what is required to release a student's records to a third party outside of the institution?

Under FERPA, what is required to release a student's records to a third party outside of the institution?

• A. A verbal instruction from a parent
• B. A written consent from the student or eligible party, or an applicable legal exception such as school officials with legitimate educational interest
• C. Public disclosure of records
• D. No consent is ever needed

Answer: (D)

FERPA governs who may see a student’s education records. To release records to someone outside the school, you generally need written consent from the student (or an eligible party) or the disclosure must fit a FERPA exception that permits it without consent. A common and important exception is disclosure to school officials who have a legitimate educational interest, and there are other specific exemptions (such as certain directory information disclosures if the student hasn’t opted out). Verbal instructions from a parent do not satisfy the written-consent requirement, and public disclosure or the idea that no consent is ever needed aren’t in line with FERPA rules.

FERPA governs who may see a student’s education records. To release records to someone outside the school, you generally need written consent from the student (or an eligible party) or the disclosure must fit a FERPA exception that permits it without consent. A common and important exception is disclosure to school officials who have a legitimate educational interest, and there are other specific exemptions (such as certain directory information disclosures if the student hasn’t opted out). Verbal instructions from a parent do not satisfy the written-consent requirement, and public disclosure or the idea that no consent is ever needed aren’t in line with FERPA rules.