What does FERPA stand for?

FERPA stands for the Federal Education Rights and Privacy Act. This law was enacted to protect the privacy of student education records and to give parents and students certain rights regarding those records. Under FERPA, educational institutions must obtain written consent from parents or eligible students before disclosing personally identifiable information from education records. The legislation emphasizes the importance of safeguarding student privacy in educational settings, thus ensuring that students and their families have control over who accesses their educational information. This understanding is essential for anyone involved in education and the handling of student data.