FERPA protects the education records of an eligible student. The term "education records" means records that are directly related to a student and maintained by an educational agency or institution, or by a party acting for the agency or institution.

An "eligible student" is a student who has reached 18 years of age or is attending an institution of postsecondary education.

Consider this hypothetical situation.

Mr. and Mrs. Jones have always been proud of Horace, their extremely bright 14-year old son. Last August, they enrolled Horace as a full-time student at Acme Community College (as he had graduated from high school the previous spring). Horace never talks about his experience at Acme, however, and his parents have never seen him study. Finally, without Horace's knowledge, Mr. and Mrs. Jones contact Acme admissions and records officials, demanding to see all the education records Acme is maintaining about Horace.

Should Acme disclose Horace's education
records to his parents?