Okay, so FERPA! FERPA: . (Yeah, I know, sounds like some kinda weird government agency, right?) But really, its all about protecting your kids educational records. Like, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act? Super long, I know. Basically, it says schools gotta keep your childs info private.
Before your kiddo turns 18, you, the parent, generally have the right to see their grades, attendance records, disciplinary stuff - all that jazz. But, like, once they hit 18 (or head off to college, even earlier sometimes), things change. They become the ones who decide who gets to see their records.
Now, this can be a little tricky. Lets say your kids struggling in college. Youre paying the bills, right? You wanna know whats going on!
There are exceptions, of course.
And just so you know, FERPA doesnt cover everything. Like, personal notes a teacher might be taking about your kid arent usually covered, as long as they arent shared with anyone else. Its really about official educational records.
Honestly, the best thing to do is talk to your kid about it. Have an open conversation about why you want to be involved (if you do), and see if you can come to an agreement that works for both of you. It helps everyone.