Custody

According to Public Law 93-380, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA):

In the case of divorce or separation, a school must provide equal access to both natural parents, custodial and non-custodial, unless there is a legal binding document that specifically removes that parent's FERPA rights.

In this context, a legally binding document is a certified court order or other legal paper that prohibits access to education records, or removes the parent's right to have knowledge about his or her child's records.  A certified court order would also be required if restrictions were placed on when and where a parent might have contact or visit the child at school. 

Please note that The Tidewater School will follow this law to the letter which means that we will only accept a court document in the event of a custody situation.  Handwritten notes, telephone calls or comments on the emergency card are not in accordance with the law.