Parents' Rights Relating to Educational Records
When the student reaches the age of 18 or begins attending a postsecondary institution, regardless of age, FERPA rights transfer from the parent to the student. This means that parents may not obtain any of their student's education records without the written consent of the student.
However, full access to their student's academic record will be provided if the parent first provides proof of dependency. To prove that the student is their "dependent," parents must submit a copy of the previous year's Internal Revenue Tax Form 1040 that contains the students' name. Once dependency has been demonstrated, student record information will be released to the parents without student consent.
Since student grades are part of the education record, they are protected under FERPA and, therefore, may not be released to parents. Students have access to their semester grades in one of two ways:
- online using eLion (elion.psu.edu)
- by submitting a request using eLion to have their grades mailed to them at their permanent address
For more information, see the U.S. Department of Educations's brochure, "Parents' Guide to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act: Rights Regarding Children's Education Records."