FERPA
RESOURCES FOR FACULTY, STAFF, STUDENTS AND VISITORS
Information and resources regarding the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974.
FERPA AT GVSU
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education. FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children's education records. These rights transfer to the student when they reach the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level. Students to whom the rights have transferred are "eligible students." Generally schools must have written permission from the parent or eligible student in order to release any information from a student's education record.
However, FERPA allows schools to disclose those records, without consent, to the following parties or under the following conditions (34 CFR § 99.31): (1) school officials with legitimate educational interest; (2) other schools to which a student is transferring; (3) specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes; (4) appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to students; (5) organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the school; (6) accrediting organizations; (7) to comply with a judicial order or lawfully ordered subpoena; (8) appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies; and (9) state and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system, pursuant to specific law.