FERPA

Definition

FERPA, or the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. It grants parents certain rights regarding their children's education records and allows eligible students to access these records, request amendments, and control the disclosure of personally identifiable information. This law is crucial in the context of educational technology, as it establishes guidelines for how student data should be handled to ensure privacy and security.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. FERPA applies to all educational institutions that receive federal funding, including schools and colleges.
2. Parents have the right to access their child's educational records until the student turns 18 or attends a school beyond high school.
3. Schools must obtain written consent from parents or eligible students before disclosing any personally identifiable information from education records.
4. FERPA also allows students to request corrections to their records if they believe the information is inaccurate or misleading.
5. Violations of FERPA can result in the loss of federal funding for educational institutions, emphasizing the importance of compliance.

Review Questions

• How does FERPA ensure the privacy of student education records in the context of educational technology?
  • FERPA ensures the privacy of student education records by requiring schools to obtain written consent before disclosing any personally identifiable information. This is particularly important in educational technology, where data may be shared with third-party vendors or online platforms. By enforcing these privacy protections, FERPA helps maintain trust between students, parents, and educational institutions while promoting secure handling of sensitive information.
• Discuss the implications of FERPA for educational institutions when utilizing online learning tools and platforms.
  • When educational institutions use online learning tools and platforms, they must comply with FERPA regulations regarding student data. This means they need to carefully vet these tools to ensure they have appropriate measures in place for data security and privacy. Institutions are responsible for ensuring that any third-party services used do not disclose student information without consent and that they adhere to FERPA guidelines, which can complicate the adoption of new technologies.
• Evaluate how compliance with FERPA can impact a school's approach to data management and technology integration.
  • Compliance with FERPA significantly influences a school's approach to data management and technology integration by necessitating stringent policies on data handling. Schools must implement practices that prioritize student privacy while still leveraging technology for educational enhancement. This balancing act can lead schools to adopt more secure systems and training programs for staff on privacy regulations, ultimately shaping how they integrate technology into their curriculum while ensuring they protect student rights.

Related terms

Student Records: Documents maintained by an educational institution that contain information about a student, including grades, transcripts, and behavioral reports.

Consent: The permission granted by parents or eligible students for schools to disclose education records or personally identifiable information.

Data Security: The practice of protecting digital information from unauthorized access, corruption, or theft throughout its entire lifecycle.