What does the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) ensure?

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that safeguards the privacy of student education records. It grants parents the right to access their children's educational records and establishes guidelines for the disclosure of those records. Under FERPA, schools must maintain confidentiality regarding personally identifiable information found in a student’s education records. This ensures that such information cannot be shared without appropriate consent, thus protecting the privacy of students and their families.

This focus on the protection of education records is vital in maintaining trust between educational institutions and families, as well as ensuring compliance with privacy standards. The act's commitment to confidentiality directly impacts how schools manage student data and interact with third parties regarding that information.