Access to Student Records Eased

Access to their children's school records got a little easier for noncustodial parents last week with the enactment of Chapter 62 of 2006: An Act Regulating Access to Student Records. As we noted in February, the previous law required a noncustodial parent to prove s/he was not denied custody as a threat to the children or former spouse before being granted access to student records. Under the new law, records will be provided to the noncustodial parent upon request, "unless the custodial parent provides to the principal of the school documentation of any court order which prohibits contact with the child, or prohibits the distribution of the information referred to in this section...". This brings state law in line with applicable Federal standards. More information on issues affecting students is available at Mass. Law About Student Records.