FERPA
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
Federal law protecting the privacy of student education records.
What is FERPA?
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. FERPA applies to all schools that receive funds from applicable programs of the U.S. Department of Education, which includes virtually all public schools and most private institutions.
FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children's education records, which transfer to the student when they reach 18 or attend a school beyond high school. These rights include access to records, the right to request amendments, and control over disclosure of personally identifiable information.
Who Needs FERPA?
- K-12 public and private schools
- Colleges and universities
- State education agencies
- EdTech companies handling student data
- Educational service providers
Key Requirements
Core compliance areas for FERPA
Access Rights
Allow eligible students and parents to inspect and review education records.
Amendment Rights
Provide process for requesting amendment of inaccurate or misleading records.
Consent Requirements
Obtain consent before disclosing personally identifiable information except for permitted exceptions.
Directory Information
Define and notify about directory information that may be disclosed without consent.
Annual Notification
Notify parents/students annually of their FERPA rights.
Benefits of FERPA Compliance
- Legal compliance for educational institutions
- Protection from federal funding loss
- Trust from parents and students
- Foundation for responsible data handling
- Clear framework for data sharing decisions
- Risk mitigation for student data
Official Resources
Related Frameworks
COPPA
Federal law imposing requirements on websites and online services directed to children under 13.
HIPAA
Federal law protecting sensitive patient health information from disclosure.
State Privacy Laws
Comprehensive consumer privacy laws enacted by US states including Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, and others.