Can a student access their own education records?

Students have the right to access their own education records under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). This federal law is designed to protect the privacy of student education records and grants students certain rights, including the ability to inspect and review their records. Upon request, schools must provide students with access to their records, typically within a reasonable timeframe. This right is fundamental to promoting transparency and allowing students to understand what information is held about them, enabling them to verify its accuracy and ensure it is being used appropriately.

The other options suggest limitations on a student's rights to access their own education records, which are not consistent with FERPA's provisions. Parents accessing records is usually tied to students who are dependent under tax laws, and there are specific conditions under which parents can access records when students are minors or have provided consent. Only school officials accessing records pertains to legitimate educational interests, which again refers to administrators or teachers reviewing records—not students themselves. Lastly, the stipulation about accessing records only after a year does not align with FERPA, as students can access their records at any time after they become students.