Under FERPA, disclosures of student information require what?

• A. Consent from the student or eligible parent/guardian for disclosures
• B. Authorization by teacher only
• C. Public posting
• D. No consent needed for disclosures

Answer: (A)

Under FERPA, disclosures of a student’s information generally require written consent from the student or from the student’s eligible parent or guardian before the school can release records. This protects privacy and gives families control over who can see education information. The consent typically must specify what will be disclosed, to whom, and for what purpose. There are restricted exceptions where information can be shared without consent, such as with school officials who have a legitimate educational interest or for other specific legal requirements, but those are the exceptions rather than the rule. Because of this, consent from the student or eligible parent/guardian is the standard for most disclosures, not authorization by a teacher, public posting, or no consent.