Common App FERPA waiver: does this allow disclosure of ALL test scores?

Parents Forum
1

<p>Our HS has gone to electronic record releases for the common app using Naviance. Before we can electronically request transcripts students have to check the box that agrees to the following:</p>

<p>“By completing this form, I authorize all schools that I have attended to release all requested records covered under the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) so that my application may be reviewed by the Common Application member institution(s) to which I am applying. I further authorize the admission officers reviewing my application, including seasonal staff employed for the sole purpose of evaluating applications, to contact officials at my current and former schools should they have questions about the school forms submitted on my behalf.”</p>

<p>Does this give permission to any Common App college can request any record in the student’s file? As in, ALL SAT scores from ALL sittings (these were reported to our HS and are maintained in student files)? Or, for that matter, other scores such as state proficiency results of PSATs? I’m not a lawyer, but I would interpret it that way. This release seem overly broad.</p>

2

<p>bump…</p>

3

<p>Good question. (I’m not a lawyer either.) Our school does not send any test scores, just the transcript and profile along with the counselor’s recommendation. They made a big deal the last few years emphasizing that they no longer have test scores on the transcript, due to score choice.</p>

<p>My S is not using the common app, due to only applying to a few schools and having some “streamlined” aps sent by the colleges. I did notice one of the counselor recommendation forms he has asks the counselor to fill in his test scores, another online ap asked him to self-report them. He only took the ACT and SAT once each, so it is not a big deal to him.</p>

4

<p>If release of certain test scores is a concern, you should ask the school to remove the test scores from the transcript.</p>