SANS Assessment of Student Learning Plan (ASLP) Security Awareness Training

When do parents' rights to education records typically transfer to the student?

1. When they apply to college

2. Once a student is 18 or older or they enroll in post-secondary education

3. When they graduate from high school

4. Only if the student requests it

The correct answer is: Once a student is 18 or older or they enroll in post-secondary education

The transition of parents' rights to education records to students typically occurs when a student turns 18 or enrolls in post-secondary education. This reflects the legal framework established under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which grants students privacy rights concerning their educational records once they reach adulthood or begin their higher education journey. At the age of 18, students are considered legal adults, and thus they gain control over their educational records. Enrolling in a post-secondary institution also triggers this transfer of rights, regardless of the student’s age, as they then operate under a different educational structure in which privacy is prioritized. This shift is crucial because it emphasizes the idea of student autonomy and the protection of their privacy as they take on greater responsibility for their educational paths. In contrast, the other options either imply conditions that do not align with FERPA regulations, such as graduation from high school, which does not necessarily coincide with the transfer of rights, or focus on the actions of the student in requesting such rights, which is not a requirement under federal law.