FERPA and College

Under the the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), college students may provide written permission to the school to allow their parents to access their education records.

While providing this permission allows parents to take action on the student’s behalf, it is best for students to self-advocate. Through their everyday experiences, students are in a better position than their parents to identify the accommodations that meet their needs and ensure the college implements the accommodations.

Further, FERPA does not require colleges to work with the student’s parents, even with the student’s permission, which may lead to delays in securing and implementing educational accommodations for students with disabilities.