What is the purpose of FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)?
FERPA, or the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, is a federal law that was passed in 1974 to protect the privacy of student educational records. Its purpose is to ensure that the records of students in any educational institution that receives federal funding are kept confidential and remain secure. FERPA gives parents, guardians, and eligible students the right to access, amend, or correct their educational records while protecting the rights of the school or institution to keep certain information confidential. It also restricts who can access student records and how they can use them. FERPA requires that schools provide “annual notification” to parents or eligible students regarding their rights under the law by publishing it in a school handbook or policy statement. It also requires the school to disclose information from a student’s educational record only with the written consent of the parent or eligible student, or in certain emergency or limited circumstances. By ensuring that student records and information remain confidential, FERPA provides certain protections to students, parents, and guardians, and helps ensure the accuracy and security of student data. It is an important law that serves to protect the privacy of education records, and to ensure that schools take necessary steps to guarantee that student records are secure and confidential.
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