What is the law on student privacy and data protection?
In Virginia, student privacy and data protection is governed by a law which is known as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). FERPA is a federal law which gives students the right to access their educational records, to request that changes be made to these records, and to keep their information private. It also requires that all student data collected by schools and educational institutions be kept confidential in accordance with the law. Under FERPA, schools and institutions must give students notice of their rights, as well as any information regarding the handling of their personal data. This includes details on how the information is used and shared, how it is stored, who has access to it, and how it is protected. If a student’s data is shared with a third party, the student must be informed of the details of that transaction. In addition, FERPA requires that all student data be kept securely and that any personally identifiable information be stored separately from student academic records. This means that only the necessary information is collected and that it is kept safely. Furthermore, schools and institutions must take reasonable steps to protect the data from unauthorized access. Finally, they must comply with all applicable state and federal laws related to student privacy and data protection.
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