Student Education Records & Privacy

Permission to Disclose Information to Parents (FERPA Handout and Form)

• [Handout] Disclosure of Information from Education Records to Parents of Students Attending Postsecondary Institutions (FERPA)

• [Form] Permission to Discuss Student Progress

Under FERPA, K-12 student record rights are provided to the parents. However, those rights are transferred to a student who turns 18 or enters a postsecondary institution at any age. 

An instructor may share the K-12 information with parents. They may also share with parents information based on the instructor's personal knowledge or observation (such as a conversation with the student) and that is NOT based on information in the university education record (such as the result of an assessment). 

CIS follows U of M preferred practice in recommending that high school instructors obtain permission for disclosure of information to parents or others. The permission form "Permission to Discuss Student Progress" is available for students to sign, granting permission for their instructors to discuss their grades and progress with their parents or guardians. 

Student Education Records: Policy

Board of Regents Policy: Student Education Records

Administrative Procedures

If you have questions regarding records and student privacy, contact CIS Program Director, Emily Hanson (hans0996@umn.edu) and/or University-wide primary contact Stacey Tidball (asr@umn.edu; 612-626-0075).

Related Policies:

Managing Student Records (University policy)