This letter is in response to an inquiry regarding the point at which a student is considered "in attendance" for the purposes of FERPA.
U.S. Department of Education
A Service of the Student Privacy Policy Office's
Privacy Technical Assistance Center
Join the Privacy Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) on March 11, 2026, 2-3pm ET for a webinar that explores rising cyber threats such as ransomware, data breaches, phishing, and social engineering, and how education systems can defend against them. Register for Defending Student Data in an Evolving Threat Landscape.
The U.S. Department of Education is committed to protecting student privacy. We administer and enforce student privacy laws such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA). In addition, we provide technical assistance to help schools and school districts safeguard information about students.
To learn more about federal student privacy laws and your rights please see the short video to the right or explore these other resources:
This letter is in response to an inquiry regarding the point at which a student is considered "in attendance" for the purposes of FERPA.
Letter to Westlake City School Regarding Questions on Classroom Activities and Honor Roll Recognition.
The Department of Education (Department) is required to notify annually each State educational agency (SEA) and each local educational agency (LEA…
This approximately 1 hour 15 minute recorded webinar discusses the sometimes-difficult task of managing third-party and partner data breaches.
This approximately 90 minute recorded webinar maps out the current threat landscape in education, spotlights emerging risks, and hands you a…
This recorded webinar discusses disclosure avoidance best practices and methodology.