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1-786-885-5165Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a U.S. federal law that protects the privacy of student education records.
FERPA applies to all educational agencies and institutions that receive funding from the U.S. Department of Education, including public schools, universities, and many private programs.
Enacted in 1974, FERPA gives parents and eligible students control over how schools collect, use, and share personal educational information. Once a student turns 18 or enters postsecondary education, those rights transfer directly to the student.
Educational data is among the most sensitive information handled in the digital age. FERPA safeguards this data by requiring schools and vendors to maintain transparency, security, and respect for student privacy. Failure to comply can result in loss of federal funding, legal complaints, and reputational damage.
Today, with online classrooms, EdTech platforms, and digital student databases, FERPA compliance is more critical than ever. If your organization collects or manages student information in any form from report cards to learning apps FERPA rules apply.
👉 Learn more about our Educational Data Audits and Risk Assessments.
FERPA protects education records and grants specific rights to parents and eligible students. The core protections include:
FERPA protects records directly related to a student maintained by the institution. Examples include Grades and transcripts, Disciplinary records, Class lists, and Biometric records or digital identifiers.
Parents and eligible students have the right to inspect and review records, request corrections of misleading information, and require written consent before personal data disclosure.
Exceptions allow disclosure without consent, such as sharing with school officials with legitimate educational interests, transferring records to other schools, or responding to judicial orders.
Modern technologies like cloud storage and EdTech platforms extend FERPA’s reach. Schools must implement secure hosting and access control protocols aligned with FERPA principles.
👉 For deeper insights into data security, explore our Security and Compliance Solutions.
Unlike other privacy laws, FERPA violations do not result in direct monetary fines. However, repeated or severe violations can lead to serious consequences:
The reputational harm alone can be devastating for educational institutions, making strict compliance essential.
👉 Learn how to protect your educational institution from legal exposure.
This page explains that FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) is a mandatory U.S. federal law protecting the privacy of student education records. It details the core framework, identifies covered entities (schools, universities, EdTech vendors), outlines the student's rights to review and correct records, and explains that penalties include the serious risk of losing federal funding and facing mandatory corrective action.
Our services ensure your digital learning environment is compliant and secure.
Safeguarding student privacy is a commitment to families and the future of education.
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