What is one primary purpose of FERPA?

One primary purpose of FERPA, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, is to protect the privacy of student educational records. FERPA grants students and their parents certain rights regarding access to and confidentiality of their educational information. This federal law ensures that educational institutions must obtain written consent from students before disclosing personally identifiable information from their educational records. By doing so, FERPA helps to maintain the confidentiality of students' academic achievements, enrollment status, and related information, safeguarding them against unauthorized access or disclosure. This focus on privacy is essential for fostering trust between students, parents, and educational institutions.