Directory information, the information that Department of Education regulations have said may be released to the public without the student’s prior approval, includes (but is not limited to) items such as the name, address, phone number, date and location of birth, field of study, degrees and awards received, and the height and weight of athletic team members. Schools must also give students a chance to restrict public access to even these facts if the student wishes. The difference between this information and other school records is that “directory information” is assumed to be available to the public until the student chooses otherwise. The release of any other school records must be explicitly approved by either the student or their parents.