Region 16 Head Start follows the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). FERPA is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. Under FERPA, parents have the right to look at and review their student’s education records. The school must have written permission from the parent to release any information from a student’s education record unless it is requested by the following parties or under the following conditions: • School officials with a legitimate educational interest; • Other schools to which a student is transferring; • Specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes; • Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student; • Organizations conducting studies on behalf of the school; • Accrediting organizations; • To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena; • Appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies; and • State and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system (specific to State law). Without parent consent, schools may disclose “directory” information. However, schools must allow parents a reasonable amount of time to request that the school not disclose directory information about them.