Under FERPA, who has the rights to inspect and review education records?

Under FERPA, who has the rights to inspect and review education records?

• A. Both parents and eligible students have rights to inspect and review education records.
• B. Only school administrators have access.
• C. Only the student has rights.
• D. No one has rights.

Answer: (A)

FERPA ensures that the right to inspect and review education records belongs to the parents or guardians of a minor student and to the student themselves once they are an eligible student (typically age 18 or attending a postsecondary institution). This means both the parents of a younger student and the student who meets eligibility can review the records. School officials may access records for legitimate educational reasons, but the explicit right to inspect rests with the parents/guardians and the eligible student, not only with administrators. So, the combination of parental rights for a minor and student rights upon reaching eligibility best captures who can inspect and review education records.

FERPA ensures that the right to inspect and review education records belongs to the parents or guardians of a minor student and to the student themselves once they are an eligible student (typically age 18 or attending a postsecondary institution). This means both the parents of a younger student and the student who meets eligibility can review the records. School officials may access records for legitimate educational reasons, but the explicit right to inspect rests with the parents/guardians and the eligible student, not only with administrators. So, the combination of parental rights for a minor and student rights upon reaching eligibility best captures who can inspect and review education records.