Massachusetts law about student records

Laws, regulations, and web sources on student records law.

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Massachusetts laws

MGL c. 71, § 34D Student records; maintenance, storage, destruction, etc.; inspection by parent or guardian

MGL c. 71, § 34E Inspection of student records; persons authorized

MGL c. 71, § 34G Private schools; transfer of transcripts upon ceasing operation

MGL c. 71, § 34H Non-custodial parents, access to records

Massachusetts regulations

603 CMR 23 Student records

603 CMR 49 Notification of bullying or retaliation

• 603 CMR 49.06 Confidentiality of records

Federal laws

20 USC 1232g Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

Federal regulations

34 CFR 99 Family educational rights and privacy

Web sources

An eligible student guide to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), U.S. Dept. of Education, March 2023.
"This guide provides general information on an eligible student’s rights under FERPA. 

Massachusetts privacy of school records laws, Findlaw.
Chart provides summary of state law on access to student records.

A parent's guide to FERPA, U.S. Dept. of Education, July 2021.
"The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act or FERPA provides certain rights for parents regarding their children’s education records. This guide provides general information on a parent’s rights under FERPA."

Student records: Questions, answers and guidelines, Mass. Dept. of Education.

Print sources

Consumer law, 4th ed. (Mass Practice v. 36) Thomson Reuters, 2021. Section 23:2, Records of Public School Students and Section 23:3, Student transcripts.

Education law, Matthew Bender, loose-leaf, Section 13.04 Student records.

Family law and practice, 4^th ed. (Mass Practice v. 2A) Thomson Reuters 2013 with supplements. Section 61:29, Access by the non-custodial parent.  

FERPA and school safety: understanding the rules for permissible disclosure, LRP Publications, 2015.

Lawfully managing student records without violating privacy rights, by Sandy A. Curko, Deborah Hemdal, Corey F. Higgins, and Peter Maher, National Business Institute, 2015.

Municipal law and practice, 5^th ed. (Mass Practice v. 18B), Thomson/West 2006 with supplement. Section 22.48, Records.

School law in Massachusetts, 4^th ed. MCLE, loose-leaf, Chapter 10, Student Records.

Last updated:	March 11, 2024