The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a Federal law designed to protect the privacy of a student's educational records. In general, schools must have written permission from a parent or an eligible student before releasing information from a student's record. Under Michigan's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), however, a public body is permitted, but not required, to exempt from disclosure information that, if released, would prevent it from complying with FERPA. As a result, a public body, such as a school district, may release information in compliance with the FOIA, but in violation of the Federal law. Apparently this occurred in 1996 and 1997 when Midland Public School officials, in response to FOIA requests, released information about a student's confession to violating athletic rules by drinking alcohol during an athletic season, a basketball coach's notes about two players' attitudes, and coaches' notes about the ability of a player to meet certain financial obligations. In another instance, school officials released certain academic records of a student, including report cards and test scores. Despite parents' complaints, school officials reportedly continued releasing FERPA-protected documents in response to FOIA requests. As a result, several students filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Education. The Department concluded in August 1997, that Midland school officials violated FERPA with the release of this information. Subsequently, the school district agreed in a settlement to update its policies on the release of information, appoint a FERPA officer to monitor the district's compliance with the law, and notify parents and students of their rights under FERPA. To prevent a similar situation from occurring in other school systems, it has been suggested that the FOIA should require a public body to exempt from disclosure information that is protected under FERPA.