Final answer:
Under federal law, specifically the FERPA, non-custodial parents generally have the same rights as custodial parents to access their children's school records, barring any court orders to the contrary.
Step-by-step explanation:
Federal Law and Non-Custodial Parent Rights
Under current federal law, non-custodial parents have the same rights as custodial parents to access their children's school records. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) allows non-custodial parents to review their child's academic records unless there is a court order stating otherwise. Schools need to respect these rights and facilitate the engagement of both parents in the child's education, as long as no legal restrictions apply.
When a non-custodial parent requests to review academic records, the school should first confirm there are no legal documents barring the parent's access. If there are no such restrictions, then the school must provide access. Therefore, if the parent in the scenario does not have any restrictions against them, they are entitled to an appointment to review their child's academic records.