How does FERPA impact Letters of Recommendation?
A person writing a reference letter is free to include his personal observations and assessments of the student as long as those observations/assessments cannot be identified as an education record. Letter writers can include such subjective observations as “stellar student,” “takes part in class discussions” or “mediocre performance” and can include examples. These statements are not education records. However, if the letter includes a statement that the student had a 3.30 GPA in the writer’s classes, or the student got C’s, this release of information would violate FERPA. Why? They are education records and subject to FERPA. Furthermore, GPA or grades cannot be directory information. The writer would be required to obtain the student’s written consent before including this type of information. If a student asks for a letter of recommendation, the student has access to the letter unless states otherwise.
