School officials can release personally identifiable information (PII) from students' education records without parental consent under certain conditions as allowed by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). These conditions include disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests, disclosures related to some judicial orders or subpoenas, disclosures to another school where the student seeks to enroll, disclosures in connection with financial aid, in health or safety emergencies, and disclosures to parents of dependent students as defined by the IRS, among others. Additionally, FERPA permits non-consensual disclosure of directory information if the school has given proper public notice and the student has not opted out. Schools must record these disclosures, and parents or eligible students have the right to review the record of disclosures.
Information not obtained from education records but through a school official's personal knowledge or observation (e.g., overhearing threatening remarks) is not protected under FERPA, allowing disclosure without consent.
In summary, FERPA sets specific exceptions that allow release of PII without parental consent, primarily involving legitimate educational interests, legal requirements, and safety concerns, subject to certain procedural safeguards and notifications.
