In accordance with final regulations published on November 21, 1996, educational agency’s and institution’s are no longer required by FERPA to have a written student records policy. However, they are required to supply students in attendance with an annual notification of the rights available under FERPA. Notification must include, in short:

• the right to inspect and review.
• the right to request amendment of records.
• the right to consent to disclosure, with certain exceptions.
• the right to file a complaint with U.S. Department of Education.

The institution’s annual notification must now also include:

• the procedure for inspection and review of records.
• the procedure for requesting amendment of records.
• a statement indicating that education records may be disclosed to school officials without prior written consent, including:
  • specification of criteria for determining who are school officials and
  • what constitutes a legitimate educational interest.

Means of Notification

FERPA does not require a specific means of notification. They must, nonetheless, be reasonably likely to inform the students. Some common mediums for publishing an institution’s annual notification include:

• Student handbooks
• School newspapers or catalogs
• Local newspaper
• Inclusion in registration packets

Overview |  Student Rights |  Notification |  Disclosure
Amendment Procedures |  Recordkeeping |  Enforcement |  AACRAO Home

Last Updated on Friday, September 1, 2000