Can educational institutions provide student records to third parties without consent?

Educational institutions are generally prohibited from disclosing student records to third parties without the consent of the student. This protection is crucial under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which aims to safeguard the privacy of student education records. However, there are specific exceptions outlined under FERPA that allow for the release of information without consent. These exceptions can include scenarios such as disclosures to school officials with legitimate educational interests, in connection with enrollment in another school, or in response to a judicial order.

Therefore, while the default rule is that institutions must obtain consent prior to sharing records, the presence of these exceptions allows certain disclosures to occur under defined circumstances. Understanding this principle is essential for institutions to maintain compliance with FERPA regulations while also recognizing the limited ways in which they can share student data without prior authorization.