Who can see a student's IEP?

By the IEP Atlas editorial teamLast updated November 1, 2026

Short answer

A student's IEP can be seen by the parents and by school staff who have a legitimate educational interest, which includes every teacher and provider responsible for carrying it out. Most people outside the school, such as outside agencies, need written parent consent first. Other parents, volunteers and staff with no role for the student should not see it.

An IEP is an education record, so it is protected by FERPA and by the confidentiality rules in IDEA.^[1]^[3] The basic rule is simple: share it with the people who need it to teach the student, and get the parent's written consent before sharing it outside that circle, unless a specific exception applies.

This page is for teachers and case managers, but parents asking "who can see my child's IEP" will find the same rules. It explains the federal rules; district policies and state laws add detail. For the parent's own right to see records, see parent rights to education records.

Staff who need access

IDEA does more than allow access for implementers. It requires it. The district must make sure the IEP is accessible to each general education teacher, special education teacher, related service provider and any other provider responsible for carrying it out. Each must be told their specific responsibilities, including the accommodations, modifications and supports they provide.^[4]

That means a general education teacher who never got the IEP is a compliance problem, not a privacy win. The guide on general education teacher IEP responsibilities covers what that teacher does with it.

A school year with one student

This scenario is fictional.

Liam is in grade 6 with an IEP for a specific learning disability in writing. His IEP lists extended time, speech-to-text for assignments over 200 words, and 40 minutes a day of resource support.

August 20: The case manager gives Liam's five general education teachers a one-page IEP snapshot listing their accommodations, and access to the full IEP in the district system. Each signs that they received it. Allowed and required: they implement the IEP.
September 8: A paraprofessional who supports Liam in science asks to read the IEP. The case manager shares the goals and accommodations that apply in science. Allowed: the para has a legitimate educational interest. District policy decides whether paras see the full document.
October 2: A substitute covers English for 3 days. The sub plan lists Liam's extended time and speech-to-text, without naming the disability. Allowed: the sub needs the accommodations, not the full file.
November 15: A parent volunteer helping with grading asks why Liam gets more time. The teacher says it is not something she can discuss. Correct: volunteers with no school-official role do not get IEP information.
January 10: Liam's mother asks the school to invite a private tutor to the IEP meeting. Allowed: parents can invite people with knowledge or special expertise about the child.^[5]
March 3: The family moves. The new district requests Liam's records. The old district sends them. Allowed without consent under FERPA's exception for transfers. The district either lists this in its annual notice or tries to tell the parent.^[2]
April 20: At age 16 planning, the team wants to invite a vocational rehabilitation counselor. Needs parent consent (or the student's, once rights transfer) before inviting an outside agency.^[5]

Rules at a glance

"Varies" flags places where state law or district policy often adds rules.

Who	Can they see the IEP?	Basis	State or district variation
Parents	Yes, the full record	34 CFR 300.613^[6]	Some states shorten the 45-day limit
Teachers and providers who implement it	Yes, and access is required	34 CFR 300.323^[4]	Rarely
Paraprofessionals working with the student	Yes, the parts they need, as school officials	FERPA^[2]	Varies: some districts share full IEPs, some share summaries
Substitutes	The accommodations and supports they must provide	FERPA^[2]	Varies by district policy
Administrators and the school nurse with a role for the student	Yes	FERPA^[2]	Rarely
Staff with no role for the student	No	FERPA^[2]	Rarely
A new school the student is moving to	Yes, without consent, under the transfer exception	FERPA^[2]	Varies on timing
Outside agencies, such as vocational rehabilitation	Only with consent	IDEA confidentiality rules^[3]	Varies
Law enforcement after a school reports a crime	Records may be sent only as FERPA allows	34 CFR 300.535^[8]	Varies
Other parents, volunteers, classmates	No	FERPA^[1]	Rarely

Common gray areas

Bus drivers. A driver may need to know a student's behavior plan on the bus or a seating accommodation. Share that part, not the evaluation.
Coaches and club sponsors. If the IEP covers the activity, share the supports that apply there.
Lunch and recess staff. Share the specific support, such as a quiet table or an adult nearby, through the case manager.
Student teachers and interns. They usually work under a teacher who implements the IEP. District policy decides whether they count as school officials.

How the district keeps track

Each district must name one official responsible for confidentiality, train everyone who collects or uses personal information, and keep a public list of the names and positions of employees who may see the records.^[7] It must also keep a record of who outside the authorized staff looked at the records, with the date and purpose.^[3]

Practical habits for teachers

Keep IEP snapshots in a folder, not on the desk or a clipboard in view.
Share the accommodation, not the diagnosis, on sub plans.
Discuss a student's IEP in a closed room, not the hallway or the staff lounge.
Do not email full IEPs to personal accounts.
When a parent volunteer or another parent asks, say "I can't discuss another student's plan," and stop.
Shred printed copies you no longer need, following district rules for destroying records.

Where to read next

The FERPA glossary entry gives the short definition, and divorced parents and IEP rights explains which parents can see records when families separate. The special education rights overview covers the rest of the safeguards. For discipline situations where records go to law enforcement, see can a student with an IEP be expelled?

Frequently asked questions

Can I share a student's IEP with a teacher who will have them next year?

Staff with a legitimate educational interest can see the IEP. A receiving teacher preparing for a student usually qualifies under district policy. Share through the district system rather than by personal email.

Can a paraprofessional read the whole IEP?

A paraprofessional working with the student is a school official with a legitimate educational interest in the parts they need. Districts set their own policy on whether paras see the full IEP or a summary.

Does a private therapist need parent consent to get the IEP?

Yes. A private therapist is outside the school. The school needs written parent consent before sharing the IEP, unless the parent gives the therapist a copy directly.

Use it in IEP Atlas

Sources

FERPA, Protecting Student Privacy, U.S. Department of Education
34 CFR Part 99: Family Educational Rights and Privacy, eCFR (National Archives)
34 CFR Part 300: Assistance to States for the Education of Children with Disabilities, eCFR (National Archives)
34 CFR §300.323: When IEPs must be in effect, U.S. Department of Education (IDEA website)
34 CFR §300.321: IEP Team, U.S. Department of Education (IDEA website)
34 CFR §300.613: Access rights, U.S. Department of Education (IDEA website)
34 CFR §300.623: Safeguards, U.S. Department of Education (IDEA website)
34 CFR §300.535: Referral to and action by law enforcement and judicial authorities, Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School

Written and checked by the IEP Atlas editorial team under our editorial policy. This guide describes general practice and federal rules. It is not legal advice; your state may add requirements, and the IEP team makes the decisions for each student.