📚 FERPA stands for the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974—a U.S. federal law that protects the privacy of student education records and gives families certain rights over how schools handle that information.

🧠 Core Rights Under FERPA

• Access: Parents (or eligible students) can inspect and review education records
• Amendment: They can request corrections to inaccurate or misleading records
• Consent: Schools generally need written permission to release personally identifiable information
• Control: Students gain these rights at age 18 or upon entering postsecondary education

🗂️ What Counts as an “Education Record”?

Any record that:

• Contains information directly related to a student
• Is maintained by an educational agency or institution Examples include grades, transcripts, disciplinary records, and class schedules.

🚫 Exceptions to Consent

Schools can disclose records without consent to:

• School officials with legitimate educational interest
• Other schools where a student is transferring
• Certain government agencies (e.g., for audits or financial aid)
• In emergencies to protect health or safety

🏫 Who Must Comply?

• Public and private schools receiving U.S. Department of Education funding
• Colleges and universities
• State and local education agencies

FERPA is like a privacy shield for students—it ensures that sensitive academic info isn’t shared without good reason.