Outgoing D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Lewis D. Ferebee is heading for the exit with a firm line in the sand, telling attendees at a post-pandemic progress event that the district will not hand over student records to the U.S. attorney’s office unless a court orders it. His stance follows public pressure from U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, who has been pushing for access to truancy and juvenile files as she looks to hold parents accountable for violent teen gatherings. The back-and-forth has set up a jurisdictional tug-of-war between federal prosecutors and local school officials just as summer approaches.
Ferebee's on-the-record reply
Ferebee did not hedge. He said “records will only be shared with a court order,” a remark captured on video of his appearance. He made the comment while walking through DCPS’s post-pandemic academic gains and fielding a question about Pirro’s outreach, according to WUSA9.
Pirro says she needs records
Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, has said prosecutors need truancy, family court and juvenile records to build cases against parents whose children participate in violent gatherings, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The Washington Post reports that Pirro told reporters she had discussed information-sharing with local officials, including Ferebee, but said any formal arrangements were “yet to be determined.”
What the law allows
Federal student-privacy rules under FERPA generally keep education records under tight wrap, but there is a key exception. Schools can disclose records to comply with a judicial order or a lawfully issued subpoena, although districts are usually required to make a reasonable effort to notify parents or eligible students ahead of time so they can seek protective action. That framework helps explain why DCPS is refusing to hand over files unless a court compels it, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Chancellor's exit complicates the timeline
Ferebee announced on May 20 that he will step down on June 19 to become CEO of EdReports, a national instructional-review nonprofit. His departure leaves the school system in transition just as federal prosecutors are pressing for student records. An interim leader will guide the district through the summer while legal and interagency talks continue, WTOP reported.
What comes next
Practically speaking, Pirro’s office can pursue the records through subpoenas or court orders, and DCPS appears ready to comply with lawful process while pointing to FERPA protections. Most juvenile cases are handled locally, with federal prosecutors stepping in only for certain violent offenses, which means this clash is likely to play out through court proceedings and intergovernmental negotiations rather than any quick handshake deal, The Washington Post reports.
