FERPA question ...

[catholicschools]

What is the name of your state? NY
We're having some problems with obtaining school records. My niece spent two years in a catholic high school and had to transfer to a public school this past year due to tuition prices. The records for both years of private school were denied, even to her parents. Can the private school still deny the release of grades and attendance records to the public school, until the past due tuition is fully paid off? Now that next year is her last year of high school, the public school is stating that she might have to repeat both grades in order to graduate. This which makes no sense. Does this fall under FERPA?

 

[responder]

I am not sure if a private religious school has to follow the guidelines of FERPA. FERPA does state that parents and students once 18 years old shall have access to their educational records. I am a public school teacher and not sure how tutition would impact them releasing the records.

You stated your parents owe some tutition. Try to negotiate a payment agreement that both of you can live with and see if they will release the records. If that doesn't work contact your local diocese and see what happens.

Best of Luck
AZ Teacher

 

[minnesotakent]

The private school has every right to deny the records until the bill is paid.

When the child was enrolled in the private school there was probably a contract signed by the parent(s). You should have them check that contract.

This year in Minnesota there was a story all over the news about a girl who had went to a private school thru 11th grade and then transfered to a public school for her senior year (her father had become disabled and lost a very good paying job). The family owed a lot of money to the private school and the private school refused to send her transcript to the public school until they were paid. The girl got straight A's her senior year, but was not allowed to graduate because there wasn't any proof she had met the requirements for graduation. The story had a happy ending because someone who heard the story paid the debt and she was able to get her diploma.