A FERPA waiver, when signed by a student, allows parents to gain access to academic records during college. However, this raises an interesting question: should parents push their college-bound children to sign?

Many parents, accustomed to having access to their child’s academic records throughout high school, are surprised when they no longer have the same access once their child enters college. As a result, some parents may consider requesting – or even pressuring – their child to sign a FERPA waiver. But is this a good idea?

We’ll explore the nuances of FERPA, the implications of signing a waiver, and the potential consequences of forcing a college student to comply.