FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a Federal law protecting the privacy of student education records. It is meant to ensure that students and parents may gain access to the student’s educational records and challenge the content or release of these records to third parties. Schools are allowed to disclose content considered to be “directory” information without consent. Directory information includes a student’s name, address, phone number, date and place of birth, honors and awards, and attendance dates. Schools are required to inform parents and students of this disclosure, allowing ample time for a request to deny release of this information.