Federal Legislation	July 8, 2003

H.R. 516 — General Education Provisions Act
(aka: the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act: FERPA)

Action Requested:
None at this time. HSLDA's National Center is tracking this legislation.

Background:
Official purpose: To amend the General Education Provisions Act to clarify the definition of a student regarding family educational and privacy rights.

Introduced: January 31, 2003 by Rep Mark R. Kennedy [R, MN-6]

Cosponsors (15)

Status:

01/31/2003:

Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Bill Summary and Status

HSLDA's Position:
HSLDA supports H.R. 516. Specific privacy problems have arisen in various states across the US regarding the records of homeschoolers. Because current law does not protect these records anyone can obtain them through freedom of information laws even if the local school would not otherwise make them available.

H.R. 516 would afford homeschool records the same protections as public school records. This bill is the first step in assuring that homeschool records held by the state remain private. HSLDA will keep you informed if or when action is needed on your part.

Other Resources

When a student is not considered a student: Homeschoolers deserve their privacy rights, too (Rep. Mark Kennedy, R-Minn.)

H.R. 516 (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)

FERPA in the 107th Congress (2001-2002)

US Department of Education: FERPA

Supported by the

Home School Foundation www.homeschoolfoundation.org