Family Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA)

This section houses all guidance documents, training materials, policy letters and other resources directly related to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. The FERPA regulations can be found here.

Guidance

Videos

The A-B-C's of Student Directory Information

FERPA allows schools and districts to designate certain basic student information as directory information, and share that information without consent if certain additional requirements are met. This video describes why a school would want to use designated student directory information and the types of information that fall into this category. It also explains the process that schools and districts must adhere to when designating directory information.

Guidance

Joint Guidance on Data Matching to Facilitate WIOA Performance Reporting and Evaluation

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)

Guidance

SPPO response to Louisiana on Enrollment Data and Disclosure Avoidance

Letter to the Louisiana State Superintendent of Education answering questions relating to protecting student privacy in public reporting. The document addresses the U.S. Department of Education’s practices and recommendations to States on how to protect privacy when publicly reporting enrollment data.

Guidance

Protecting Student Privacy While Using Online Educational Services: Model Terms of Service

This checklist document that provides a framework for evaluating online educational tools' Terms of Service Agreements. This document is intended to assist users in understanding how a given online service or app will collect, use and/or transmit user information so that they can then decide whether or not to sign up.

The document is divided into several sections:

Guidance

Letter to the State University of New York Chancellor, Dr. Nancy L. Zimpher regarding the disclosure of information among the State University of New York (“SUNY”) campuses for the purpose of reverse transfer.

Letter to the State University of New York Chancellor, Dr. Nancy L. Zimpher regarding the disclosure of information among the State University of New York (“SUNY”) campuses for the purpose of reverse transfer.

Letters

Letter to Caufield in response to a potential conflict with FERPA and PECBA

Letter in response to a potential conflict between the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), 20 U.S.C. § 1232g, and the Oregon Public Employee Collective Bargaining Act (PECBA), a State law that addresses labor practices in Oregon.

Guidance

Issue Brief: Data Governance and Stewardship

This brief provides guidance on how to successfully manage complex data systems by establishing a comprehensive data governance approach. Data governance principles discussed in this paper apply to a large number of audiences and can be used to improve data management of systems spanning pre-school through postsecondary education and into the workforce.

Best Practices

Early Childhood Regional Meeting Resource List

This document provides a comprehensive list of links to NCES, ED, and other state practitioner’s related resources directly and indirectly related to Early Childhood data system practitioners. It includes applicable guidance documents in the areas of data use, research, privacy and security

Guidance

Responsibilities of Third-Party Service Providers under FERPA

This document was developed by PTAC to assist online educational services providers, vendors, and contractors in understanding the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Similar guidance, Protecting Student Privacy While Using Online Educational Services, is intended for school audiences; this guidance presents the same material, but in a format geared toward third-party service providers.

Guidance

Guidance for Reasonable Methods and Written Agreements

This document provides guidance for schools, school districts, postsecondary institutions, and State educational authorities (such as State educational agencies) that may disclose personally identifiable information from education records. The document provides these entities with information about requirements and best practices for data disclosures under the studies exception and the audit or evaluation exception, as specified in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

written agreement agreements

Featured Resources

A Parent Guide to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act or FERPA provides certain rights for parents regarding their children’s education records. This guide provides general information on a parent’s rights under FERPA.

An Eligible Student Guide to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act or FERPA provides certain rights for parents regarding their children’s education records. When a student reaches 18 years of age or attends an institution of postsecondary education at any age, the student becomes an “eligible student,” and all rights under FERPA transfer from the parent to the student. This guide provides general information on an eligible student’s rights under FERPA.

Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) General Guidance

This guidance document reviews parents’ rights under the PPRA and education officials’ obligations in implementing the PPRA. The PPRA applies to the programs and activities of a State educational agency (SEA), local educational agency (LEA), or other recipient of funds under any program funded by the U.S. Department of Education. (20 U.S.C. § 1232h, 34 CFR Part 98)

SPPO-21-01

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