What does FERPA require for the disclosure of education records?

FERPA, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, mandates that educational institutions obtain written consent before disclosing a student’s education records. This requirement ensures that students or, in the case of minors, their parents or guardians have control over who can access sensitive information about their educational progress. The written consent must specify the records to be disclosed, the purpose of the disclosure, and the identity of the party or parties to whom the disclosure is to be made. This protection is designed to uphold the privacy rights of students, aligning with FERPA’s core principles of granting individuals some measure of control over their educational information.

Other methods, such as oral consent or notification to the student, do not meet FERPA's standard for disclosing education records. Additionally, there are specific exceptions where no consent is required, such as disclosure to school officials with a legitimate educational interest, but these do not apply universally to all circumstances involving the release of education records. Thus, the requirement for written consent is a fundamental aspect of FERPA's approach to safeguarding educational privacy.