Skip to Content

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and Open Records

Open Records Act

“The purpose of the Open Records Act is both to encourage public access to information and to foster confidence in government through openness to the public.” Georgia law clearly provides that, except as otherwise specifically provided, “all public records … shall be open for a personal inspection by any citizen of this state at a reasonable time and place; and those in charge of such records shall not refuse this privilege to any citizen.”

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.

FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children's education records. These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level. Students to whom the rights have transferred are "eligible students."

• Parents or eligible students have the right to inspect and review the student's education
records maintained by the school. Schools are not required to provide copies of records unless, for reasons such as great distance, it is impossible for parents or eligible students to review the records. Schools may charge a fee for copies.
• Parents or eligible students have the right to request that a school correct records which they believe to be inaccurate or misleading. If the school decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student then has the right to a formal hearing. After the hearing, if the school still decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student has the right to place a statement with the record setting forth his or her view about the contested information.
• Generally, schools must have written permission from the parent or eligible student in order to release any information from a student's education record. However, FERPA allows schools to disclose those records, without consent, to the following parties or under the following conditions (34 CFR § 99.31)
- School officials with 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 certain studies for or 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, pursuant to specific State law.

Schools may disclose, without consent, "directory" information such as a student's name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, honors and awards, and dates of attendance. However, schools must tell parents and eligible students about directory information and allow parents and eligible students a reasonable amount of time to request that the school not disclose directory information about them. Schools must notify parents and eligible students annually of their rights under FERPA. The actual means of notification (special letter, inclusion in a PTA bulletin, student handbook, or newspaper article) is left to the discretion of each school.

Additional Resources for Student Privacy at the U.S. Department of Education: https://studentprivacy.ed.gov

FERPA Directory Information

"Directory Information" is information not generally considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. Effective December 31, 2024, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) considers the following information to be directory information:

  • Student name
  • Class (e.g., sophomore)
  • Enrollment status (e.g., full-time, part-time)
  • Major field of study
  • Hometown
  • Dates of attendance
  • Degrees, honors, and awards received

Directory information cannot include social security numbers.

Please visit USG’s 3.2 Student Privacy section 3.2.1 USG FERPA Notification and Directory Information Policy at https://www.usg.edu/academic_affairs_handbook/section3/C678 for additional information.

Students who wish to prohibit the release of Directory Information can view information on the registrar's Notification of Rights under FERPA. Further information is available at the above URL in the USG’s policy.

Additional Resources for Student Privacy at the U.S. Department of Education: https://studentprivacy.ed.gov

    Instagram logo

    If you have questions about an area of Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) not covered on this site or require additional clarification about the information published, please email the Office of the Registrar registrar@abac.edu.