Model Notification of Rights under FERPA for Postsecondary Institutions

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords eligible students certain rights 

with respect to their education records. (An “eligible student” under FERPA is a student who is 

18 years of age or older or who attends a postsecondary instiution.) These rights include:

1. The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days after the 

day the [Name of postsecondary institution (“School”)] receives a request for access. 

A student should submit to the registrar, dean, head of the academic department, or other 

appropriate official, a written request that identifies the record(s) the student wishes to 

inspect. The school official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of 

the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained 

by the school official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the 

student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed. 

2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student 

believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy

rights under FERPA.

A student who wishes to ask the school to amend a record should write the school official 

responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record the student wants 

changed, and specify why it should be changed.

If the school decides not to amend the record as requested, the school will notify the 

student in writing of the decision and the student’s right to a hearing regarding the 

request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be 

provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.

3. The right to provide written consent before the school discloses personally identifiable 

information (PII) from the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA 

authorizes disclosure without consent. 

The school discloses education records without a student’s prior written consent under 

the FERPA exception for disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational 

interests. A school official is a person employed by the [School] in an administrative, 

supervisory, academic, research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit 

personnel and health staff); a person serving on the board of trustees; or a student serving 

on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee. A school 

official also may include a volunteer or contractor outside of the [School] who performs 

an institutional service or function for which the school would otherwise use its own 

employees and who is under the direct control of the school with respect to the use and 

maintenance of PII from education records, such as an attorney, auditor, or collection 

agent or a student volunteering to assist another school official in performing his or her 

tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to 
review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibilities for 

the [School].

[Optional] Upon request, the school also discloses education records without consent to 

officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll. [NOTE TO 

POSTSECONDARY INSTITUTION: FERPA requires a school to make a reasonable 

attempt to notify each student of these disclosures unless the school states in its annual 

notification that it intends to forward records on request.]

4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged 

failures by the [School] to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and 

address of the Office that administers FERPA is:

Family Policy Compliance Office

U.S. Department of Education

400 Maryland Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20202

[NOTE: In addition, a school may want to include its directory information public notice, as 

required by § 99.37 of the regulations, with its annual notification of rights under FERPA.]

[Optional] See the list below of the disclosures that postsecondary institutions may make 

without consent.

FERPA permits the disclosure of PII from students’ education records, without consent of the 

student, if the disclosure meets certain conditions found in § 99.31 of the FERPA regulations. 

Except for disclosures to school officials, disclosures related to some judicial orders or lawfully 

issued subpoenas, disclosures of directory information, and disclosures to the student, § 99.32 of 

FERPA regulations requires the institution to record the disclosure. Eligible students have a 

right to inspect and review the record of disclosures. A postsecondary institution may disclose 

PII from the education records without obtaining prior written consent of the student—

 To other school officials, including teachers, within the [School] whom the school has 

determined to have legitimate educational interests. This includes contractors, 

consultants, volunteers, or other parties to whom the school has outsourced institutional 

services or functions, provided that the conditions listed in § 99.31(a)(1)(i)(B)(1) -

(a)(1)(i)(B)(2) are met. (§ 99.31(a)(1))

 To officials of another school where the student seeks or intends to enroll, or where the 

student is already enrolled if the disclosure is for purposes related to the student’s 

enrollment or transfer, subject to the requirements of § 99.34. (§ 99.31(a)(2)) 

 To authorized representatives of the U. S. Comptroller General, the U. S. Attorney

General, the U.S. Secretary of Education, or State and local educational authorities, such 

as a State postsecondary authority that is responsible for supervising the university’s 

State-supported education programs. Disclosures under this provision may be made, 
subject to the requirements of § 99.35, in connection with an audit or evaluation of 

Federal- or State-supported education programs, or for the enforcement of or compliance 

with Federal legal requirements that relate to those programs. These entities may make 

further disclosures of PII to outside entities that are designated by them as their 

authorized representatives to conduct any audit, evaluation, or enforcement or 

compliance activity on their behalf. (§§ 99.31(a)(3) and 99.35)

 In connection with financial aid for which the student has applied or which the student 

has received, if the information is necessary to determine eligibility for the aid, determine 

the amount of the aid, determine the conditions of the aid, or enforce the terms and 

conditions of the aid. (§ 99.31(a)(4))

 To organizations conducting studies for, or on behalf of, the school, in order to: (a) 

develop, validate, or administer predictive tests; (b) administer student aid programs; or 

(c) improve instruction. (§ 99.31(a)(6))

 To accrediting organizations to carry out their accrediting functions. ((§ 99.31(a)(7))

 To parents of an eligible student if the student is a dependent for IRS tax purposes. 

(§ 99.31(a)(8))

 To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena. (§ 99.31(a)(9))

 To appropriate officials in connection with a health or safety emergency, subject to 

§ 99.36. (§ 99.31(a)(10))

 Information the school has designated as “directory information” under § 99.37. 

(§ 99.31(a)(11))

 To a victim of an alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence or a non-forcible sex offense, 

subject to the requirements of § 99.39. The disclosure may only include the final results 

of the disciplinary proceeding with respect to that alleged crime or offense, regardless of 

the finding. (§ 99.31(a)(13))

 To the general public, the final results of a disciplinary proceeding, subject to the 

requirements of § 99.39, if the school determines the student is an alleged perpetrator of a 

crime of violence or non-forcible sex offense and the student has committed a violation 

of the school’s rules or policies with respect to the allegation made against him or her. 

(§ 99.31(a)(14))

 To parents of a student regarding the student’s violation of any Federal, State, or local 

law, or of any rule or policy of the school, governing the use or possession of alcohol or a 

controlled substance if the school determines the student committed a disciplinary

violation and the student is under the age of 21. (§ 99.31(a)(15))