Education Department Sends Letter to School Leaders About Federal Parental Rights Laws

As the 2026–2027 academic year gets underway, the Department of Education is reminding K–12 district leaders about laws that allow parents to view their children’s educational records and prohibit schools from hiding information regarding a child’s preferred gender identity, federal officials said on Aug. 26.

The letter sent to schools across the nation explains the obligations of educators under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA). Noncompliance can result in the loss of federal funding.

The action was prompted by reports about schools withholding critical information from parents and issuing sexually explicit surveys or assignments even after parents opted their children out of such activities. There were also allegations that a teacher required same-sex students to kiss each other for a graded assignment, according to the department.

Frank Miller, director of the Department of Education’s Student Privacy Policy Office, said that, in some instances, state education departments pressured districts to violate FERPA.

“Parents know what is best for their children,” he said in an Aug. 26 statement. “Yet, we continue to see schools adopt policies that shut parents out of their children’s lives at school. The department is committed to putting parents back in the driver’s seat. We will fully enforce FERPA and PPRA and ensure parents have the information and authority they need to make decisions for their children.”

Under PPRA, parental consent is required for students to participate in evaluations, surveys, or analyses that reveal information about behavior and attitudes regarding sex, religious or political beliefs, mental health, and other sensitive subjects. Federal law also protects parents’ rights to review their child’s records and the curriculum to which they are subjected.

The letter signed by Miller concludes, “Thank you for the vital work you do every day to safeguard student privacy, empower parents, and create safe and effective learning environments for our students nationwide.”

Potential FERPA violations in California are being investigated by President Donald Trump’s administration.

The Department of Education also reported on Aug. 25 that it has reached a resolution agreement with Topeka Public Schools in Kansas after an investigation there revealed that schools in the district were advised to hide information related to a child’s preferred gender identity from parents.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon said the district agreed to share existing “gender support” plans with parents and not to create any new ones. She said in an Aug. 26 news release that the district will rescind any policies that were contrary to FERPA and provide principals and teachers with training on the appropriate federal laws.

“I hope more school districts will take this necessary step voluntarily, but our work is far from finished,” she said. “Schools that continue to hide information from parents will find that [the Education Department] and [Department of Justice] stand ready to resolve violations of parental rights efficiently and effectively.”

In a statement provided to media outlets, Topeka Public Schools said it disagreed with the federal government’s findings and “has always supported the rights of parents to access, inspect, and review their students’ education records.”

The district said it chose to enter into the voluntary resolution agreement to preserve federal funding and avoid “unnecessary litigation costs so that district resources remain focused on students, classrooms, and learning. The district does not have any gender support plans.”