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FERPA Compliance: Family Education Rights and Privacy Act
Learn who must protect student data and the penalties for violationsPreview the first lesson free — get full access to all 16 lessons.
Essential Provider : KnowledgeCity 16 Lessons · 41m in English, Spanish
Course Description
Data is everywhere! Businesses, organizations, educational institutions and even the government collect data on us pretty much wherever we go – from the grocery store, to school and work, to the bank and the doctor – all that data is collected and stored for many different reasons.
Your doctor keeps data about you to monitor your health and give you the best care. The schools you attend keep data on you to help your educational journey. Businesses collect data on you to know what offers they should market to you or, if you work there, they keep employee records of your performance.
When it comes to your educational journey, you started to leave a trail of data from the moment you stepped foot in a kindergarten class. The data may include things such as grades, learning disabilities, special needs information, test scores and even any disciplinary actions you received. This information follows you from school to school, all the way up to the college and university level.
The information that’s collected contains identifiable Information about students. With all the data breaches these days, keeping your private information private is becoming a greater challenge.
FERPA (Family Education Rights and Privacy Act) is a federal law that applies to all public and private schools that receive federal funds under any applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education. Most schools, colleges and universities are subject to FERPA.
This online FERPA training course will introduce you to this law which was enacted in 1974 to protect the privacy of student’s educational records. You will be guided through this important legislation, your responsibilities and how to stay in compliance with FERPA requirements.
What You'll Learn
- Understand what FERPA (Family Education Rights and Privacy Act) is and who it pertains to
- Identify what student data is and why it warrants concern
- Recognize who must protect student data and the penalties for violations
- Apply the requirements needed to be FERPA compliant
- Determine the situations in which FERPA allows schools to disclose certain information without consent
- Explain the rights parents have over their children's education records
Key Takeaways
- FERPA is a federal law enacted in 1974 to protect the privacy of students' educational records.
- FERPA applies to all public and private schools that receive federal funds under any applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education, and most schools, colleges, and universities are subject to it.
- Educational records may include information such as grades, learning disabilities, special needs information, test scores, and disciplinary actions, and this information follows a student from school to school up to the college and university level.
- The data schools collect contains identifiable information about students, making privacy protection an increasing challenge amid frequent data breaches.
- FERPA outlines responsibilities for staying in compliance, including situations where schools may disclose certain information without consent and the rights parents hold over their children's education records.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is FERPA and when was it enacted?
FERPA, the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, is a federal law enacted in 1974 to protect the privacy of students' educational records. It applies to all public and private schools that receive federal funds under any applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.
Who does FERPA apply to?
FERPA applies to all public and private schools that receive federal funds under any applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education. Most schools, colleges, and universities are subject to FERPA.
What does this course cover?
The course introduces FERPA and who it pertains to, explains what student data is and why it matters, covers who must protect student data and the penalties for violations, how to be FERPA compliant, the situations in which FERPA allows disclosure without consent, and the rights parents have over their children's education records. Lessons span FERPA for K-12 schools, colleges and universities, educators, child welfare agencies, and law enforcement, as well as data breaches, filing a complaint, and violations.
What kind of information do educational records include?
Educational records may include items such as grades, learning disabilities, special needs information, test scores, and any disciplinary actions a student received. This information follows a student from school to school, up to the college and university level.
Who is this course for?
The course is relevant to those responsible for protecting student data, including educators and schools subject to FERPA, and it also covers parental rights over children's education records as well as FERPA's application to child welfare agencies and law enforcement.
