After the Covenant School shooting, public-records requests sought access to Metro Nashville’s investigative file, including the shooter’s writings. A trial court blocked disclosure entirely, but the Tennessee Court of Appeals rejected that blanket secrecy.

The court held that investigative files are generally public once an investigation ends, the school-security exception must be applied narrowly with redaction, and copyright or victims’ rights laws do not automatically prevent disclosure.

This decision clarifies how transparency and safety are balanced under Tennessee’s Public Records Act.

Tennessee schools frequently face disputes between divorced parents over access to student records and control of educational decisions. The key to compliance lies in distinguishing information access (governed by FERPA) from decision authority (controlled by the Permanent Parenting Plan). This guide walks LEAs through the laws, responsibilities, and best practices for avoiding liability while protecting student privacy.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law designed to protect the privacy of student education records and ensure that parents and eligible students (students over the age of 18 or those attending postsecondary institutions) have access to and control over their personal education information. FERPA is essential for safeguarding the rights of students and ensuring that schools handle student records responsibly. In this article, we will explore what FERPA is, how it protects student records, and what rights parents and eligible students are entitled to under this law.

Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), schools have a duty to protect the privacy of all students. However, more often than not, parent request to view video footage is denied citing FERPA. The law is for the protection of the student and but such protections were not intended to keep information from the parents of child in certain circumstances.