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Freedom of Information

Student Files

Two acts passed by Congress in 1974 permit students and parents at any institution receiving federal aid open access to student records and files.

The laws were Public Law 93-380 and 93-568 and are also known as the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. The act threatens federally funded institutions with loss of funds if they fail to comply with requests.

The act grants to students the right to inspect, to obtain copies, to challenge and to a degree control the release of information in their educational records.

A section of the Texas Open Records Act requires that student records of state schools be made available to the student, parent, guardian or spouse.