Letters of Recommendation and FERPA
What is a FERPA Waiver?The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 is a federal law that establishes the rights of students with regard to education records and ensures students of the right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to those records. If a student gets accepted to a college and decides to attend that college, the high school letters of recommendations become part of a student’s record. A student who is accepted and is attending, under FERPA, has the right to view these letters if one chooses to do so.
To Waive or Not to Waive?
It is the student’s choice; however, we recommend that a student clicks YES and waives his/her right. Please consider:
- Not waiving your right may raise some red flags to the colleges.
- Not waiving your right may appear as though you have something to hide.
- Colleges may feel your letter has more integrity if you waive your rights.
- Please trust that a teacher or counselor will not write a letter for you if they feel they cannot represent you in the best way possible.
- Some educators will not write a letter if rights are not waived.
All students must waive their rights through the FERPA survey on Naviance. Students applying to colleges through the Common Application must also sign the FERPA waiver through the Common Application.
- Naviance Family Connection: Under the About Me section, complete the DVHS FERPA and Transcript Release Authorization (on the far left). Once submitting this survey, you may begin requesting official transcripts after 24 hours.
- Common Application: Log into your Common App account. Click on the Recommenders and FERPA tab for any school on your list. Click on the Show details link in the FERPA Release Authorization section. You will then be able to make the change to your FERPA decision.