The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.
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What are student education records?
Student education records are any records that contain vueducation.com about a student and are maintained by an educational institution. This includes records such as grades, attendance, disciplinary records, health records, and social security numbers.
What are the rights of parents and students under FERPA?
Parents and eligible students have the following rights under FERPA:
- The right to inspect and review their child’s education records.
- The right to request that their child’s education records be corrected if they believe the records are inaccurate or misleading.
- The right to refuse to consent to the disclosure of their child’s education records without their prior written consent.
- The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education if they believe their child’s privacy rights have been violated.
When can schools disclose student education records without consent?
There are certain circumstances under which schools can disclose student education records without consent. These circumstances include:
- Disclosures to school officials who have a legitimate educational interest in the records.
- Disclosures to other schools that the student is transferring to.
- Disclosures to the parents of a student who is under the age of 18.
- Disclosures to the government, such as the FBI or the Department of Education.
- Disclosures for health or safety reasons.
- Disclosures to comply with a court order or a subpoena.
- Disclosures to accrediting agencies.
- Disclosures to parents of students who are under the age of 18 and are applying for or participating in a program funded by the U.S. Department of Education.
What are the penalties for violating FERPA?
Schools that violate FERPA can be fined up to $19,665 per violation. Individuals who violate FERPA can be fined up to $4,910 per violation.
How can I learn more about FERPA?
The U.S. Department of Education has a website with more information about
You can also contact the U.S. Department of Education’s Family Policy Compliance Office at (800) 662-7398.
I hope this article has been helpful. If you have any further questions about FERPA, please let me know.
Here are some additional things to keep in mind about FERPA:
- The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education, including public schools, private schools, and colleges and universities.
- FERPA does not apply to records that are kept by law enforcement agencies or by the courts.
- Schools are required to have a written policy on FERPA that is available to parents and students.
- Schools are required to annually notify parents and eligible students of their rights under FERPA.
