According to federal law (the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) the DOE cannot give out any information that identifies a student without the agreement of the student’s parent or guardian (or the student, if they are over age 18).
However, unless parents submit an opt out form for their student(s), the DOE shares the following information with the National Student Clearinghouse:
- names and birth dates of students who started ninth grade in 2019–2020
- names and birth dates of all students who attended DOE high schools from 2002–2019
This kind of information is called “directory information” and the DOE is allowed to share it.
The National Student Clearinghouse keeps records on where students go to college and what types of diplomas they receive. They let the DOE know about:
- where former DOE students went to college
- when they went to college
- when they graduated
- what types of diplomas they received
The DOE uses this information to understand how ready students are for college and what the DOE can do to help them more. To prevent the DOE students' directory information, parents can complete the form below and give it to the principal at their child's school.