Student Attitudes Towards Parent Involvement and Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore students’ attitudes related to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), their perceptions of parent over-involvement (POI), and the relationships thereof. A brief overview of privacy laws and FERPA are discussed. Legal cases that involve FERPA, past research of parent involvement and millennials are also explored. This study surveyed undergraduate students currently enrolled at a large public research university in the Upper Midwest (n = 537). The data analysis used descriptive and inferential statistics. Despite a reported lack of interest in FERPA, students generally reported an awareness and understanding of FERPA as well as feelings of trust in the policy. The reported level of trust in FERPA had no relationship with any of the five types of POI. The implications of these findings and areas for future research related to FERPA and parent over-involvement are discussed.