Annual FERPA Notification (School Year 2023-24)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) gives parents and students age 18 and older rights over student education records. The Parents’ Bill of Rights for Data Privacy and Security(Open external link) provides you with additional rights.

Please note that if you are a student and age 18 or over, these rights belong to you, and not your parent(s) or guardian(s).

This regulation incorporates pertinent provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (20 U.S.C. l232g; federal regulations at 34 C.F.R. Part 99), commonly referred to as “FERPA” or “the Buckley Amendment.”

WHAT ARE THE RIGHTS GRANTED BY FERPA? 

There are five basic rights granted to parents or eligible students: 

1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records maintained by the school(s) the child attends or has attended. 
2. The right to challenge and request that the school amend any portion of the student’s education records that is inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights. 
3. The right to require the school to obtain written consent prior to the disclosure of personally identifiable information, except in those instances specifically allowed for by law. 
4. The right to be informed by the school of the rights accorded parents under FERPA. 
5. The right to file a complaint with the Family Policy Compliance Office of the United States Department of Education alleging a denial of rights.

Among other things, you have the right to:

• Inspect and review your child’s education records within 45 days after SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary (SUM) receives your request.
  • You should submit a written request that identifies the record(s) you wish to inspect.
  • Your child’s school (SUM) will notify you of the time and place where you may inspect the records.
• Request changes to your child’s education records when you believe they are inaccurate, misleading, or violate your child’s privacy rights under FERPA.
  • You should make requests to amend records in writing and identify what you want changed and the reason for doing so.
  • If the SUM decides not to amend records as requested, you will be notified of the decision, and of your right to a hearing and certain hearing procedures.
• Provide written consent before personally identifiable information (PII) in your child’s education records is disclosed. However, in certain cases, FERPA allows disclosure without consent. Cases permitting disclosure without consent include:
  • Disclosure to school officials who need to review education records to fulfill their professional responsibilities. School officials include: SUM employees (such as administrators, supervisors, teachers, other instructors, or support staff members); and people whom SUM engages to perform services or functions for which it would otherwise use its employees. 

• These include:

(a) individuals and entities providing SUM services and functions through contracts, 

(b) employees of other government agencies providing SUM-related services or functions,

(c) parents, students, or other volunteers assisting other school officials in performing their tasks, and 

(d) other qualifying individuals or organizations, such as consultants and community-based organizations, but only if they have agreed in writing to keep student information confidential. Such people are required to be under the direct control of SUM with respect to the use and maintenance of personally identifiable information (PII) from education records. Direct control is achieved in various ways, including by written agreement.

• When records are requested by officials of another school, district or education institution in which your child seeks or plans to enroll or is already enrolled if made for purposes of your child’s enrollment or transfer.
• Other exceptions exist that permit disclosure of personally identifiable information without consent, include certain types of disclosures. Some are listed below. Most of these types of disclosures are subject to certain additional requirements and limitations (Please see FERPA and the Parents Bill of Rights for more information).
  • to authorized representatives of government entities and officials in connection with audits, evaluations, or certain other activities.
  • in connection with financial aid for which the student has applied or which the student has received;
  • to organizations conducting studies for, or on behalf of, the SUM;
  • to accrediting organizations to carry out their accrediting functions;
  • to parents of students age 18 and over if the student is a dependent for Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax purposes;
  • to comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena;
  • to appropriate officials in connection with a health or safety emergency; and of information that the SUM has designated as “directory information.”

If you believe SUM failed to comply with FERPA’s requirements. Complaints may be filed with:

The Student Privacy Policy Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20202-8520
or by email to [email protected]