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Protecting the Privacy of Student Records
Exhibit 2-4
Requirements under FERPA
Applicable to General Education and Special Education Records1 
    1. Publicly list the items of personally identifiable information the school designates as directory information.

    2. Establish the procedures the education agency or school will follow when a parent or eligible student requests the opportunity to inspect the student's education records.

    3. Publicly list the types and location of education records the school maintains, giving the titles and addresses of the records custodian.

    4. Establish that the school will not disclose information in a student's record without the prior written consent of the parent or eligible student, except as permitted by law.

    5. Set the criteria the education agency will use to determine which school officials have a "legitimate educational interest" in accessing information from a student's record.

    6. Define procedures for notifying parents and eligible students of their rights under FERPA; notices must be made annually and in a language that can be understood.

    7. Define procedures for a parent or eligible student to file a complaint concerning an alleged failure of the school, district, or state agency to comply with FERPA.

    8. Publish a schedule of fees the agency intends to charge for copies of education records.

    9. Annually notify parents or eligible students of their rights to seek correction of records, including the right to place a written rebuttal in the record. The notification must be available in a language the parent or eligible student understands.


1 Adapted from Resource Handbook for School Administrators: Confidentiality Requirements of General Education And Handicapped Student Education Records. Oakland (Michigan) Schools Department of Pupil Services, Waterford, Michigan, 1992. 

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National Center for Education Statistics - http://nces.ed.gov
U.S. Department of Education