Under what condition can school officials release personally identifiable information without parental consent?

School officials can release personally identifiable information without parental consent when it's disclosed by school officials with legitimate educational interests. This condition aligns with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which allows educational institutions to share information among school officials who have a legitimate educational interest, meaning they need to access the information to perform their responsibilities within the educational setting.

This provision is crucial as it ensures that relevant staff can communicate and share information necessary for the effective education and welfare of students. For instance, teachers, counselors, and administrative staff often require access to student information to make informed decisions or provide necessary support.

In contrast, scenarios that involve making determinations based solely on 'the best interest of the student' or sharing information for marketing purposes do not meet the legal criteria set by FERPA for disclosure without consent. Parental consent remains necessary in those cases unless a clear exception applies.