A new directive from the U.S. Department of Education is requiring schools in Kentucky and across the nation to provide parents with access to all student education records, including documents related to their child’s gender identity.
The announcement, issued on Friday, states that schools failing to comply with this mandate could face investigations and potential loss of federal funding.
Officials from the Kentucky Department of Education were not immediately available for comment on Monday.
Chris Hartman, executive director of the Louisville-based Campaign for Equity, criticized the directive, calling it “cruel and discriminatory.” He said the order was part of broader efforts by the Trump administration to remain in legal battles over its policies.
“This attempt to harm transgender children is wrong and will face significant legal challenges,” Hartman said. “I hope Kentucky schools will resist and reject these discriminatory actions.”
U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon has informed school district superintendents and state education commissioners about their obligations under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA). These federal laws protect student privacy and give parents the right to access their children’s education records, request changes, and control the release of personally identifiable information.
FERPA allows parents to access their child’s education records, while PPRA gives them the right to opt out of surveys or questionnaires that ask for sensitive information.
“Parents are the most natural protectors of their children,” McMahon said in the statement. “Some states and districts have policies that undermine parents’ rights, and this directive ensures parents can fully protect their children.”
The directive comes in response to reports that some school districts have withheld information about students’ gender transitions, which the Department of Education views as a violation of parental rights. The department stressed that schools should not treat gender identity plans as separate from education records and that parents have the right to review all documents related to their children.
According to the new directive, by April 30, state and local education officials must provide proof that they are following the law.
Dia Davidson-Smith, a spokesperson for Fayette County Public Schools, emphasized the importance of FERPA and PPRA in fostering strong school-family relationships. “These laws help create tools like Infinite Campus, which allows families to easily access education records,” Davidson-Smith said. “FCPS remains committed to complying with these important laws.”
