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)

• 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
• Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA)
  • Model Notification of Rights Under PPRA
• Court Cases
• FPCO Resource Website
• FAQs
• Helpful Links