Under FERPA, what happens to rights when a student turns 18 or enters college?

• A. Rights transfer to the student
• B. Rights stay with the parent
• C. Rights transfer to the school principal
• D. Rights are shared with the student's guardian

Answer: (A)

FERPA assigns who controls access to a student’s records. When a student turns 18 or enrolls in college, those rights transfer from the parent to the student. This means the student can inspect and review their records, request corrections, and decide who may view their information. The student may also give consent for disclosures, rather than automatic access by parents. The other options don’t fit because rights don’t stay with the parent after 18, they aren’t transferred to the school principal, and they aren’t automatically shared with a guardian. (Directory information can be released unless the student opts out, but that doesn’t change who holds the primary rights.)