Where custody of the student is an issue between parents/guardians, a copy of the court decree must be secured as part of a student’s file. The school must know specifically who has legal custody and who has permission to sign a child out or pick a child up after school.

This notification must be an official document form. Also it should immediately be ascertained whether one parent alone will have agreed access to the student’s school records or whether both parents have such access. Under the Buckley Amendment, either parent has the authority to secure a student’s records unless a state law or court decree states otherwise.