From the U.S. Department of Education website: Disclosure of Information from Education Records to Parents of Postsecondary Students
Can school officials share their observations of students with parents?
Nothing in FERPA prohibits a school official from sharing with parents information that is based on that official's personal knowledge or observation and that is not based on information contained in an education record*. Therefore, FERPA would not prohibit a teacher or other school official from letting a parent know of their concern about their son or daughter that is based on their personal knowledge or observation.
When may a school disclose information to parents of dependent students?
Under FERPA, schools may release any and all information to parents, without the consent of the eligible student, if the student is a dependent for tax purposes under the IRS rules.
Advisors have to call the Dean of Students Office to determine if permission has been given, 878-4681.
From the U.S. Department of Education website: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Regulations (FERPA) 34 CFR Part 99 : FERPA Regualtions (pdf)
[ "Education Records"
(a) The term means those records that are:
(1) Directly related to a student; and
(2) Maintained by an educational agency or institution or by a party acting for the agency or institution.
(b) The term does not include:
(1) Records that are kept in the sole possession of the maker, are used only as a personal memory aid, and are not accessible or revealed to any other person except a temporary substitute for the maker of the record.]