Educational Records Bill of Rights Act

RI Educational Records Bill of Rights

Students · Children · Government records

Rhode Island's state counterpart to FERPA for K-12 schools. It gives parents and adult students rights to inspect student records within 10 days, get copies at no more than 15 cents per page, request amendment or expungement, add a statement to contested records, and keep records confidential absent written consent or a FERPA-authorized release.

Where: Rhode Island
Citation: R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 16-71-1 to 16-71-6
Status: In force
Enforced by: Rhode Island Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education (appeals under ch. 16-39)
People can sue: Limited
Penalties: No monetary penalty; aggrieved persons may appeal under R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 16-39, and records must be corrected if a decision goes against the school system.
Applies to: School districts and elementary and secondary schools in Rhode Island
Protects parents, legal guardians and eligible students (over 18)

What a privacy notice must say

School districts must notify parents or guardians (or students over 18) in writing each year of their rights under the chapter, with effective notice for non-English-speaking families.R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-71-2

Rights it gives people

Inspect and review required student records within 10 days of a request, receive a reasonable explanation, and get copies at no more than /bin/zsh.15 per page with no search fee.R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-71-3(a)(1)-(3)
Request amendment or expungement of records that are inaccurate, misleading or violate the student's privacy, and place a statement in the record about contested information.R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-71-3(a)(5)-(6)

Practices it requires

Keep student records confidential and do not release them without prior written consent, except as FERPA (20 U.S.C. § 1232g), other law or court process allows.R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-71-3(a)(7)

Sources

Checked against these sources on 2026-09-25 by research agent (Claude), primary sources.

Research reference, not legal advice.