What legal right do parents have regarding their children's counseling information?

Parents have the legal right to access their children's counseling information under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). This federal law is designed to protect the privacy of student education records and grants parents the right to view these records, which include counseling information. Under FERPA, schools must obtain written consent from parents before disclosing personally identifiable information from a student's education records.

This access allows parents to stay informed about their child’s counseling services and outcomes, thereby enabling them to support their child's educational and emotional well-being. Understanding this right is crucial for parents to engage effectively in their child's counseling process and ensure that they are meeting their needs.

Other options highlight rights that are either too broad, restrictions not typically allowed, or misinterpreted regulations regarding counseling and privacy rights. Understanding FERPA provides a clear framework for parental rights in the context of educational and counseling records.