Define: Ferpa

FERPA stands for the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. It is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records.

FERPA applies to all educational institutions that receive federal funding, including public and private schools, colleges, and universities.

FERPA provides students with the right to access their education records, request amendments to inaccurate or misleading information, and control the disclosure of their records.

Yes, FERPA allows parents to access their child’s education records until the child reaches the age of 18 or attends a postsecondary institution.

Yes, FERPA allows educational institutions to disclose student records without consent in certain circumstances, such as for school officials with legitimate educational interests or in response to a court order.

Schools can disclose student records to third parties if they have obtained written consent from the student or if the disclosure falls under one of FERPA’s exceptions.

Yes, schools can release directory information, such as a student’s name, address, and phone number, without consent. However, students have the right to opt-out of the disclosure of directory information.

FERPA does not require schools to remove disciplinary records from education records. However, students can request amendments if they believe the records are inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of their privacy rights.

Yes, schools can charge a reasonable fee for providing copies of education records, but they cannot deny access to records solely based on an inability to pay the fee.

Educational institutions that violate FERPA may face penalties, including the loss of federal funding. Additionally, individuals who knowingly disclose student records in violation of FERPA may be subject to criminal charges.