11. Department of Education · Notable · Needs Congress
Amend FERPA and PPRA to create a private right of action
Printed page 345 11. Department of Education
“The next Administration should work with Congress to amend FERPA and PPRA to provide parents and students over the age of 18 years with a private right of action to seek injunctive and declaratory relief, together with attorneys' fees and costs if a prevailing party, against educational institutions and agencies that violate rights enshrined in these statutes.”
What has happened
- Not started
One bill in the 119th Congress does what the Quote asks — the Parental Rights Relief Act would give parents and eligible students a private right of action under FERPA and the PPRA — and it was referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce and has not moved. Enforcement of both statutes therefore remains what it has always been: administrative, through the Department's Student Privacy Policy Office, which is running it hard (a Dear Colleague Letter on 2025-03-28 and joint ED-DOJ enforcement against two districts on 2026-07-27) but cannot create a cause of action.
Research log
What was searched, and what didn’t count as evidence
Research notes
- One negative search covered this ask and #863 and #865.
- The Department has FERPA (RIN 1875-AA15) and PPRA (RIN 1875-AA13) rulemakings at the proposed-rule stage on its Unified Agenda; both touch complaint and investigation procedures, neither can create a private right of action.
- This ask overlaps #862 (Pass a federal Parents’ Bill of Rights with strict scrutiny), which is leveled on the same bill plus H.J. Res. 127.
- Action
- repeal
- Object
- Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA)
- ID
- 864