Who has the right to access student education records under FERPA?

Under FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), students and their parents or guardians have specific rights regarding access to education records. This federal law ensures that parents have the ability to review their child's education records until the student reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level, at which point the rights transfer to the student.

The intent of FERPA is to give families the authority to access and request amendments to their records, thereby promoting transparency and protecting student privacy. This right empowers parents and students to be more involved in the educational process and to ensure that records are accurate and complete.

The other options do not represent the correct understanding of access rights. School districts have responsibilities for maintaining records but do not have exclusive rights to access them. State officials and federal regulators do have some access roles, primarily for compliance and oversight purposes, but they do not have the same direct access rights as parents or students under FERPA.