Under FERPA, which scenario does not require parental consent for releasing student records?

Under FERPA, which scenario does not require parental consent for releasing student records?

• A. When the family asks for information
• B. When the student is transferring to another school and the new school needs records
• C. When the school newspaper wants to publish the student's name
• D. When the school is conducting internal evaluation only

Answer: (B)

FERPA allows certain disclosures without parental consent, specifically to another school where the student intends to enroll or is enrolled. This is meant to facilitate a smooth transfer by sending the student’s records directly to the new institution (transcripts, attendance, immunizations, etc.). Because the receiving school needs these records to evaluate and enroll the student, parental consent isn’t required in this situation. The other scenarios involve disclosures that typically require consent or are not automatic releases: publishing a student’s name in a school newspaper would involve making information public and usually requires explicit authorization; a family requesting information is generally handled under parental rights for a minor; and internal evaluation is usually handled by school officials with legitimate educational interests, which can fall under FERPA’s normal disclosure rules but doesn’t create as clear a no-consent transfer as the enrollment scenario.

FERPA allows certain disclosures without parental consent, specifically to another school where the student intends to enroll or is enrolled. This is meant to facilitate a smooth transfer by sending the student’s records directly to the new institution (transcripts, attendance, immunizations, etc.). Because the receiving school needs these records to evaluate and enroll the student, parental consent isn’t required in this situation.

The other scenarios involve disclosures that typically require consent or are not automatic releases: publishing a student’s name in a school newspaper would involve making information public and usually requires explicit authorization; a family requesting information is generally handled under parental rights for a minor; and internal evaluation is usually handled by school officials with legitimate educational interests, which can fall under FERPA’s normal disclosure rules but doesn’t create as clear a no-consent transfer as the enrollment scenario.