I am located in New York.

In 2015, I attended a cosmetology school and did not complete it. I requested a 2 week leave of absence from my director because my dad was extremely sick. The director said I should just worry about my dad now and not school, meaning it would be best I no longer attend.

My father passed away in 2016 and now, since September of this year, I began attending community college. I have no parents or help from family so without financial aid, I won’t be able to attend school anymore.

Because I didn’t finish cosmetology school & dropped out of college in 2014, I have an “unusual enrollment history” according to Financial Aid. I had to submit a few documents, including a transcript from the cosmetology school. I have satisfied all requirement to receive financial aid except for the transcript.

When I called the cosmetology school to request it, they said I can’t have it because I owe them money (for the time remaining after speaking with the director of that school) and the woman would not listen to what I was saying and hung up on me. I can provide my college with an unofficial transcript from cosmetology school in order for financial aid to be disbursed and the hold taken off my account. This is all I was asking for and they said no.

I read online according to FERPA if a school withholds your official transcript, they must provide an unofficial transcript. I haven’t been able to find the actual law that states this but I’ve read other people saying it.

Is this true? What can I do to go about getting my transcript from this school?!