An eligible student may file a written complaint of an institution's alleged violation of FERPA with the Family Policy Compliance Office of the US Department of Education. The Office's address is:

Family Policy Compliance Office
US Department of Education
Washington, DC 20202-4605

Such a complaint must contain specific violations of fact giving reasonable cause to believe that a violation of FERPA has occurred. The Family Policy Compliance Office will investigate timely complaints, i.e. allegations of FERPA violations submitted to the Office within 180 days of the date of the alleged violation or of the date that the complainant knew or reasonably should have known of the alleged violation.

Following its investigation, the Family Policy Compliance Office provides both the complainant and the institution written notice of its findings and the basis for its findings.

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