This chapter provides a synopsis of the regulations of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 and its effect on school recordkeeping policies and procedures. Two basic principles underlie the federal law regarding access to and control over the release of education records, the paper states. They are people's right to know and their right to privacy. Thus, the chapter is divided into two main sections. The first half deals with federal rules of access, including access by parents and students, access limited to education records only, procedures for access, and challenges to the access rules. The second half of the chapter discusses federal rules governing the release of records, including exceptions to the consent requirement and parental consent for third-party use. Notifying parents and students of their rights and enforcing procedures of the law are topics that complete the paper. It concludes that the application of the law relies on school officials' ability to demonstrate good faith and the rule of reason. (Author/LD)