<p>My sons friends' parents have had severe financial problems and were in arrears for tuition to his private HS. Now they won't release his transcript to college.
I've never heard of this and now it appears he won't be going to college if he can't provide his final transcript. Is this even legal?</p>
<p>My S’s high school would do the same thing. We signed a contract and I remember that condition being in it. All monies owed must be paid before final transcript is released. Have they called the school and tried to work out a payment schedule?</p>
<p>Looked around and most of what I saw agreed with mamom. They signed a contract. They might be able to get an unofficial transcript but will need to work with the school to get an official one.</p>
<p><a href=“https://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs29-education.htm[/url]”>https://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs29-education.htm</a>
3b. Access to Education Records</p>
<p>Do parents have a right to see their children’s education records?</p>
<p>Yes. Parents or adult-age students may review their records including medical or psychiatric evaluations. A parent may request and must be provided with a list of the kinds of information being stored and who to contact to retrieve them for review. Keep in mind that records are often kept in more than one school office. Be sure to ask school officials where records are filed and who to contact to retrieve them for review.</p>
<p>The right of access provided under FERPA does not prevent a school from withholding transcripts or other official recognition of completed work until all tuition, fees, and other charges are paid to the school. Many states have laws which allow schools to set up procedural guidelines, including the fulfillment of all financial obligations, before records are released. FERPA does not prevent states from establishing individual procedures for how records are released.</p>
<p>I believe they have attempted and were refused. Full amount or no transcript.</p>
<p>Just a thought–how are the parents going to pay for college if they can’t pay past high school tuition bills.</p>
<p>^^^Deadbeats. Tell your friend, if they don’t pay for college tuition, the college also will not release their kid’s transcript either. It would mean no transfer, grad school or job.</p>
<p>Oh my. Might be a good idea to see if the student can defer college for a year while they get their finances in order.</p>
<p>Apparently they got loans for a state school. Maybe it is legal but, it’s a shame. Especially in this economy.
I was shocked the school wouldn’t negotiate something. I guess everyone has fallen on hard times.</p>
<p>My apology for being so harsh. But I guess it is a slipping slope for some of those private schools…if they negotiate with one family, then other people may want the same treatment. I hope they could work it out.</p>
<p>Deadbeats? Yeah, that’s helpful</p>
<p>No, it wasn’t helpful, but I would have used the loan to pay off the high school first.</p>
<p>I agree with the HS. If they don’t pay the bill, they shouldn’t get the transcript. As a retail business owner, I can totally understand the policy. Getting stiffed by a customer is basically like having your merchandise stolen.</p>
<p>If that can be done, I’ll tell my son to suggest it to his friend. Is that possible with federal or college loans?</p>
<p>Don’t private schools require upfront payment before they can let the kids go to classes?</p>
<p>Whether you agree or disagree I’d hardly compare this to retail theft and, as I understand it, they are not trying to “stiff” the school</p>
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<p>My recollection of D’s college is that if the school doesn’t receive $$, you aren’t registered for the classes…a kind of pay-as-you-go plan when it comes to tuition.</p>
<p>Is it a significant amount of money? I can see the school’s point–the transcript is the only piece of leverage they have to get paid. Once they give that official transcript, your friends could well stop returning their phone calls.</p>
<p>Their son has completed the school year and graduated, yet the parents haven’t paid the tuition for the year. How is that not similar to stiffing a business? They received the product (education), but didn’t pay for it.</p>
<p>Your right–it doesn’t matter if we agree or disagree. However, I find it wrong when someone doesn’t pay a bill yet feels they are entitled to the product. </p>
<p>For the future, let them know that if they owe the college money, the student will not be able to register for future classes and the college will not release transcripts until the bill is paid in full.</p>
<p>It is pretty much standard practice, if u don’t clear your account the school will not release your transcript or diploma. From the school’s perspective, it is the only leverage that they have to ensure that they are paid. Otherwise families would be free to go from school to school never paying bills. </p>
<p>The situation happens more than you realize. Family does not pay bill at private high school, they are still entitled to a seat in public school to continue their education. However, the public school is not able to update student 's transcript without records from previous school. We contact school who is very forthcoming in informing us that there is a hold and records cannot be released. </p>
<p>I know in public school
diplomas are held if students have outstanding books.</p>
<p>The family needs to clear the account because the college most likely will not let student register or can rescind admission unless student proves he successfully completed high school with final official transcript.</p>
<p>This happens at colleges all the time. If student owes any fees there is a “hold” on their transcript.</p>