About the Family Policy Compliance Office
The mission of the Family Policy Compliance Office (FPCO) is to meet the needs of the Department's primary customers--learners of all ages--by effectively implementing two laws that seek to ensure student and parental rights in education: the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA).
Parents and eligible students who need assistance or who wish to file a complaint under FERPA or PPRA should do so in writing to the Family Policy Compliance Office, sending pertinent information through the mail, concerning any allegations to the following address:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-5920
Phone: 1-800-USA-LEARN (1-800-872-5327)
FPCO Contents
- Hot Topics
- Notices to LEAs and SEAs Regarding Responsibilities under FERPA & PPRA
- Cover letter to the Department’s annual notices to SEAs and LEAs PDF (51KB)
- Notice to Chief State School Officers PDF (85 KB)
- Notice to Superintendents PDF (143 KB)
- Model Forms:
- FERPA Model Notification of Rights for Elementary & Secondary Schools MS Word (50 KB)
- FERPA Model Directory Information Notice MS Word (51 KB)
- PPRA Model General Notice of Rights MS Word (54 KB)
- PPRA Model Notice & Consent Opt-Out for Specific Activities MS Word (50 KB)
- Disclosure of Information from Education Records to Parents of Postsecondary Students
- Model Form for Disclosure to Parents of Dependent Students
- Model Form for Disclosure to Parents of Dependent Students and Consent Form for Disclosure to Parents
- Model Notification for Postsecondary Officials
- Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA)
- Guidance for Parents
English PDF (41KB) | En español PDF (155KB) - Guidance for Eligible Students
- FPCO Letter Archive
- FERPA Regulations
- FERPA Legislative History
- Guidance for Parents
- Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA)
- Court Cases
- FPCO Resource Website
- FAQs
- Helpful Links