FERPA and College Parents - What you lose when your child turns 18, and how to get it back.
Why it matters: The moment your student enrolls in college as an adult, a federal law cuts off your access to their academic records — even if you're paying the bill.
What FERPA is
FERPA stands for the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (1974).
It transfers control of educational records from parents to students once they turn 18 or enroll in college. The college cannot share grades, transcripts, academic standing, financial aid details, or disciplinary records with anyone — including you — without your student's written permission.
What the college legally can't tell you:
Without a signed FERPA release, a college cannot share:
Whether your student is attending class or skipping
Grades, GPA, or academic standing
Whether they're on academic probation or have failed a course
Financial aid decisions — even if you're paying the bill
Details of any disciplinary proceedings
Whether they've withdrawn or taken a leave of absence
The fix: a FERPA release before move-in
Most colleges have their own FERPA release form in the student portal.
Your student signs it, specifies who gets access (you, a co-parent, both), and what records are included. They stay in full control — they can revoke it anytime. The conversation tends to go better when it's framed as practical planning: "If something goes wrong and I need to help, I want to be able to talk to the school."
FERPA ≠ HIPAA
A FERPA release does not cover medical records.
Campus health records — including mental health records — are governed by HIPAA. To communicate with campus health providers, your student needs to sign a separate HIPAA Authorization. Both documents should be in place before the semester begins.
The bottom line: Ask your student to sign a FERPA release and a HIPAA Authorization before orientation. Together with a Power of Attorney and Healthcare Proxy, these four documents form the legal foundation every college family needs.
