What is the purpose of FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)?

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that provides students and their families with certain rights regarding their education records. FERPA is in place to protect the privacy of students and their families by regulating how their educational records are collected, stored, and distributed. The primary purpose of FERPA is to ensure that students’ educational records are kept confidential. This law gives students control over who can see their educational records and how they can be used. Under FERPA, educational records can only be provided to those who have a legitimate educational interest, such as teachers, school administrators, and certain government officials. FERPA also ensures that students are given the opportunity to review their educational records and challenge any inaccuracies that may be present. This means that students can request that their educational records be corrected if they believe there to be any factual errors. In Virginia, FERPA is enforced by the Virginia Department of Education. The department is responsible for ensuring that educational institutions are following FERPA laws and regulations. They also provide guidance to schools and districts regarding FERPA and how to protect students’ educational records.

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