Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

Definition

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records and gives parents certain rights regarding their children's education information. This law ensures that educational institutions maintain confidentiality and only disclose student information under specific circumstances, fostering trust between families and schools while upholding ethical responsibilities of educators.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. FERPA applies to all educational agencies and institutions that receive federal funding, including K-12 schools and postsecondary institutions.
2. Parents have the right to access their child's educational records and request corrections to inaccurate or misleading information.
3. Eligible students, those who are 18 years or older or attending a postsecondary institution, have rights similar to their parents under FERPA.
4. Schools must inform parents and students about their rights under FERPA through annual notifications.
5. Violations of FERPA can result in the loss of federal funding for educational institutions.

Review Questions

• How does the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act enhance the ethical responsibilities of educators?
  • FERPA enhances the ethical responsibilities of educators by ensuring that they maintain the confidentiality of students' educational records. By requiring parental consent for the disclosure of personally identifiable information, educators are compelled to treat student data with care and respect. This law reinforces the trust that families place in schools, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding sensitive information in the educational environment.
• What procedures must schools follow to comply with FERPA regarding the disclosure of educational records?
  • To comply with FERPA, schools must implement specific procedures such as obtaining written consent from parents or eligible students before disclosing personally identifiable information. Additionally, schools are required to provide annual notifications outlining the rights of parents and students under FERPA. They must also maintain accurate records of disclosures made without consent, ensuring transparency and accountability in handling educational records.
• Evaluate the implications of FERPA on educational institutions' policies and practices regarding student data privacy in an increasingly digital world.
  • FERPA's implications on educational institutions' policies regarding student data privacy are significant, especially as technology advances. Schools must balance the need for data sharing for educational purposes with the obligation to protect student privacy. This requires comprehensive training for staff on compliance with FERPA, as well as updated policies that address new technologies like cloud storage and online learning platforms. Ultimately, educational institutions must continuously adapt to safeguard student information while fostering an environment conducive to learning.

Related terms

Educational Records: Records that are directly related to a student and maintained by an educational agency or institution, including grades, transcripts, and disciplinary records.

Consent: A requirement under FERPA that schools must obtain written permission from parents or eligible students before disclosing personally identifiable information from education records.

Directory Information: Information contained in an educational record that is not generally considered harmful if disclosed, such as a student's name, address, and phone number, which may be released without consent unless parents opt-out.