In Saskatchewan, under The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP) and The Local Authority Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (LAFOIP), parents or legal guardians generally have the right to access their child’s cumulative record, provided the student is under the age of majority (18 years old) and has not exercised their own right to privacy.  

Key Considerations:

Parental Right to Access: 

• If the student is a minor, a parent or legal guardian can usually request access to their child’s cumulative record unless there are legal restrictions (e.g., court orders, custody agreements). 
• Personal information about a student is typically accessible to parents acting in the child’s best interest in accordance with applicable privacy legislation. 
• In many cases, the documents being requested are ones that schools are expected to provide to parents/guardians (e.g., report cards, assessment reports, etc.). 

Student's Right to Privacy: 

• If the student is 18 or older, they must provide consent before their records can be shared with a parent. 
• For mature minors (students under 18 who are deemed capable of making their own privacy decisions), schools may consider whether the student should provide consent. 

Exceptions & Restrictions: 

• Schools may withhold information if disclosing it could harm the student or if there are legal restrictions (e.g., protection orders, custody disputes). 
• Some documents within the cumulative record, such as psychological assessments or third-party reports, may be subject to additional confidentiality rules.  

Request Process: 

• Parents typically need to submit a written request for copies of documents from the student’s cumulative file. These requests may be made by email, through Help Desk, etc. Where possible, the best practice is for the parent to provide an explanation or reason for requesting copies of documents (i.e. to accompany a private assessment, proof of enrolment, etc.).  
• Sask DLC may require proof of guardianship prior to providing documents in cases where parental access is in question. 
• Access requests must be processed within 30 days, though extensions can be granted in certain circumstances in accordance with applicable privacy legislation.  

Transmission of Information 

• While email is generally not the preferred method for transmitting confidential information due to potential security risks, a password-protected PDF does offer an additional layer of protection when necessary. The password must not be shared within the same email in which the document is transmitted.