Can parents access their child's education records if the child is over 18?

The correct answer highlights the principles of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) regarding student education records once the student turns 18. Under FERPA, when a student reaches 18 years of age or attends a post-secondary institution, the rights previously held by the parents transfer to the student. This means that parents do not automatically have the right to access their child's educational records.

For parents to access these records, they require the consent of the student. This can be given in various forms, such as a written release or verbal agreement, depending on the institution's policies. Therefore, both the options indicating that access is conditional on the student's consent correctly represent the legal framework established by FERPA.

This emphasizes the importance of student autonomy in controlling who can view their personal educational information once they are considered independent adults in the eyes of federal law.