FERPA Q&A: Validity of releases signed in high school

Question: Can a high school obtain college records for an alumnus using a release that the alumnus signed when he/she was still in high school?

Answer: When state high schools request transcripts for alumni, these letters are often accompanied by signed releases from the high school's former students (forms created by the high school with signatures from the students before they graduated from high school). You may be wondering whether or not you can/should fulfill these requests.

Technically speaking, a signed release should be from an "eligible student." While in high school, the student does not qualify as an eligible student, as the record "belongs" to the parent in the K-12 arena. The receiving department should contact the student and obtain the appropriate signed consent. Until that consent is received, the college transcripts should not be released.