What Are the Rights of Inspection and Review of Education Records?

34 C.F.R. Part ..., Subpart B
in effectEffective: 2024-07-01

34 C.F.R. § 99.10 What rights exist for a parent or eligible student to inspect and review education records?

(a) Except as limited under § 99.12, a parent or eligible student must be given the opportunity to inspect and review the student's education records. This provision applies to— (1) Any educational agency or institution; and (2) Any State educational agency (SEA) and its components. (i) For the purposes of subpart B of this part, an SEA and its components constitute an educational agency or institution. (ii) An SEA and its components are subject to subpart B of this part if the SEA maintains education records on students who are or have been in attendance at any school of an educational agency or institution subject to the Act and this part. (b) The educational agency or institution, or SEA or its component, shall comply with a request for access to records within a reasonable period of time, but not more than 45 days after it has received the request. (c) The educational agency or institution, or SEA or its component shall respond to reasonable requests for explanations and interpretations of the records. (d) If circumstances effectively prevent the parent or eligible student from exercising the right to inspect and review the student's education records, the educational agency or institution, or SEA or its component, shall— (1) Provide the parent or eligible student with a copy of the records requested; or (2) Make other arrangements for the parent or eligible student to inspect and review the requested records. (e) The educational agency or institution, or SEA or its component shall not destroy any education records if there is an outstanding request to inspect and review the records under this section. (f) While an education agency or institution is not required to give an eligible student access to treatment records under paragraph (b)(4) of the definition of Education records in § 99.3, the student may have those records reviewed by a physician or other appropriate professional of the student's choice.

34 C.F.R. § 99.11 May an educational agency or institution charge a fee for copies of education records?

(a) Unless the imposition of a fee effectively prevents a parent or eligible student from exercising the right to inspect and review the student's education records, an educational agency or institution may charge a fee for a copy of an education record which is made for the parent or eligible student. (b) An educational agency or institution may not charge a fee to search for or to retrieve the education records of a student.

34 C.F.R. § 99.12 What limitations exist on the right to inspect and review records?

(a) If the education records of a student contain information on more than one student, the parent or eligible student may inspect and review or be informed of only the specific information about that student. (b) A postsecondary institution does not have to permit a student to inspect and review education records that are: (1) Financial records, including any information those records contain, of his or her parents; (2) Confidential letters and confidential statements of recommendation placed in the education records of the student before January 1, 1975, as long as the statements are used only for the purposes for which they were specifically intended; and (3) Confidential letters and confidential statements of recommendation placed in the student's education records after January 1, 1975, if: (i) The student has waived his or her right to inspect and review those letters and statements; and (ii) Those letters and statements are related to the student's: (A) Admission to an educational institution; (B) Application for employment; or (C) Receipt of an honor or honorary recognition. (c)(1) A waiver under paragraph (b)(3)(i) of this section is valid only if: (i) The educational agency or institution does not require the waiver as a condition for admission to or receipt of a service or benefit from the agency or institution; and (ii) The waiver is made in writing and signed by the student, regardless of age. (2) If a student has waived his or her rights under paragraph (b)(3)(i) of this section, the educational institution shall: (i) Give the student, on request, the names of the individuals who provided the letters and statements of recommendation; and (ii) Use the letters and statements of recommendation only for the purpose for which they were intended. (3)(i) A waiver under paragraph (b)(3)(i) of this section may be revoked with respect to any actions occurring after the revocation. (ii) A revocation under paragraph (c)(3)(i) of this section must be in writing.

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