FERPA
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
FERPA (20 U.S.C. §1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is the federal statute protecting the privacy of student education records. It grants parents (and students age 18+) the right to inspect, request amendment of, and control disclosure of education records; requires prior written consent for most disclosures of personally identifiable information; and mandates an annual notification of rights. Schools must maintain a record of disclosures (34 CFR §99.32).
Regulatory Citation
Example in Practice
A district that shares a student's IEP with a third-party vendor without parental consent or a qualifying exception (e.g., legitimate educational interest, §99.31) violates FERPA.
Key Research Citations
- ·Zeide (2019, Big Data & Society 6(1)) — Structural consequences of big data-driven education
Full bibliography available on the Research page.
Related Terms
This glossary entry is educational. It is not legal or clinical advice. Consult a qualified attorney or licensed clinician before making decisions that rely on this summary.