FERPA
Full definition — FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) is a federal law enacted in 1974 that protects the privacy of student education records. It gives parents (and eligible students over 18) the right to access their child's records and to request corrections. Schools must obtain written consent before disclosing personally identifiable information from student records, with limited exceptions such as transfers to other schools or health and safety emergencies. Charter schools receiving federal funds must comply with FERPA.
Why It Matters
FERPA violations can result in the loss of federal funding. Board members should ensure the school has clear policies on student records access, data storage, and information sharing, especially as schools adopt more digital tools.
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