Why are recs absolutely necessary at some schools, while not expected at others?

[adpiucf]

Originally Posted by Hartofsec

Oh keep your shorts on. I'll change "educational" law to "administrative" law, and "liability" to "expose one's district to potential repercussions" if you like.



I'm really not that invested in being correct about the participation of the high school guidance counselor -- it doesn't seem necessary if the info needed for recruitment is on the transcript. Subjective opinions, particularly negative judgements or predictions made by the guidance counselor, may be another matter.

I think you may just be determined to split hairs and wave around a law degree.

Which might be handy for your guidance counselor friends in the event sorority alums come calling and ask for information on a list of female seniors (unsolicited by the female seniors, and without their knowledge or consent).
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You may not be invested in being correct, but you sure act like it. You shouldn't throw around terms and laws and procedures if you don't have even a layman's understanding of them. And there's no need to launch into personal attacks.

I'm not splitting hairs. I'm calling you out because you have no idea what you're talking about, and you insist you backtracking or changing the scenario to attempt to make yourself right.

TL;DR: You made an incorrect assertion.

[Hartofsec]

Originally Posted by adpiucf

You may not be invested in being correct, but you sure act like it. You shouldn't throw around terms and laws and procedures if you don't have even a layman's understanding of them. And there's no need to launch into personal attacks.

lol, I agree:

I'm not splitting hairs. I'm calling you out because you have no idea what you're talking about, and you insist you backtracking or changing the scenario to attempt to make yourself right.

TL;DR: You made an incorrect assertion.

Back to topic, let me ask the question another way (and I would appreciate your legal justification for this practice, in terms of protecting confidential student information):

If Mildred A. Lum from XYZ sorority calls a local high school guidance counselor, and asks for information on a list of senior females, the guidance counselor is free to disclose this information -- including info and potentially negative opinions concerning academic struggles and remedial classes taken (as previously mentioned on this thread) -- without the knowledge or consent of the senior females?

At my local high school, the guidance counselor would probably hang up. In layman's terms of course.

It just seems pretty straightforward to me:

Quick Guide to Privacy of Student Records (FERPA)
http://sja.ucdavis.edu/files/quickguide.pdf

Even parents need written consent from their student on file to access their own child's records once they turn 18.