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Every state is different. My comments are for Virginia's laws and policies. That is where I live; I know what they are.

They can't get these records if they've been destroyed. Even if they haven't been destroyed, records policy/law still requires written permission from the student to release them.

Now if you want to argue that policies aren't followed, fine. At least tell about some situations where this happened--if you know of any.

As far as the other concern, the case where someone begins work or school within 5 years of graduation is adequately handled by the part of the policy, which I mentioned above, that requires written permission from the former student for the release of the records.

Further protecting the release of this information is the fact that in Virginia, records are divided into Category I and Category II records.

Category I records are things like grades, standardized test scores, awards won, etc. Category I records are kept "forever" and are the records that will be sent if a request for the records is made with written permission from the student.

Category II records are things like special education/health/etc. records. These are only kept for 5 years after graduation and will only be sent if a request is specifically made for "category II records" with written permission from the student.

If, hypothetically speaking, I were to have been taking ritalin when I was in elementary and middle school, you would find NO record of it in my school files.

If (that's big IF) you tracked down the doctor that originally made the ADHD diagnosis, there might be some records of it; that would still require written permission from the patient.