FERPA (3/12)
FERPA Introduction
FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974) is federal legislation in the United States that protects the privacy of students' personally identifiable information (PII). FERPA applies to all educational institutions that receive funding from the U.S. Department of Education.
Parents are given three main rights under FERPA:
- They have the right to access their student’s education record,
- They can seek to amend their student’s education record, and
- They can consent to disclose information from their student’s education record.
Definitions
Education Record: Anything that directly relates to a student and is maintained by an educational agency or institution, or by a third party acting for the agency
Eligible Student: A student age 18 or older or enrolled in a postsecondary institution at any age
FERPA: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
Parent: Natural parent, a guardian, or an individual acting as a parent in the absence of a parent or guardian
(PII) Personally Identifiable Information: Includes information that can be used to distinguish or trace an individual's identity either directly or indirectly through linkages with other information
Additional Resources
FERPA 20 U.S.C. § 1232g (Code)
FERPA 34 CFR Part 99 (Regulations)
PTAC FERPA Video Links to an external site.