The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is the guardian of student privacy in the U.S. education system. Enacted in 1974, this federal law ensures that students (and their parents, for minors) have control over who gets to see their educational records. Whether you’re in kindergarten or college, FERPA’s got your back- but it works a little differently depending on your age and where you’re enrolled. Let’s break it down.
What Does FERPA Actually Do?
FERPA gives you three main superpowers when it comes to your education records:
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Access: You can see your own records (or your child’s, if they’re under 18).
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Correction: If you spot errors or misleading info, you can ask the school to fix it.
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Control: Schools generally need your okay before sharing your records with outsiders.
Once you turn 18 or start college (whichever comes first), these rights shift from your parents to you. That means Mom and Dad can’t call up your university to ask about your grades-unless you give the school written permission.
What Counts as an “Education Record”?
Think of this as any info that’s tied to you and kept by the school. It includes stuff like:
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Report cards, transcripts, and test scores
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Class schedules and enrollment status
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Disciplinary actions or academic warnings
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Financial aid details
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Emails or notes from advisors about your progress
Not included:
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A teacher’s private notes (if they’re not shared with others)
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Campus police records (unless they’re used for disciplinary purposes)
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Medical records (those fall under HIPAA)
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Alumni records (after you’ve left school)
Directory Info vs. Confidential Stuff
Schools can share directory information without your permission because it’s considered basic and non-invasive. This usually includes:
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Your name and email address
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Enrollment status (full-time/part-time)
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Major, degrees earned, and honors
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Sports team participation (and stats like height for athletes)
But here’s the catch: You can opt out. If you don’t want your name in the campus directory or published in the honor roll list, just tell the registrar’s office.
Confidential details-like your Social Security number, grades, or disciplinary history-are locked down. Schools need your written consent to share these, except in specific situations (more on that next).
When Can Schools Share Your Records Without Asking?
FERPA isn’t a total lockdown. Schools can disclose your info in cases like:
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Emergencies: If there’s a health or safety crisis (like a pandemic or campus threat), schools can share relevant details to protect people.
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School officials: Professors, advisors, or IT staff can access your records if they need it to do their jobs.
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Financial aid: If you’re applying for scholarships or loans, the school might share data with agencies handling your aid.
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Law enforcement: Courts or government agencies can get records via subpoenas, but schools must try to notify you first.
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Research: Aggregated, anonymized data might be used for studies, but your identity stays hidden.
Why Should You Care?
FERPA stops schools from casually airing your academic dirty laundry. Imagine if anyone could call up your college and ask about your GPA or that time you got probation for a prank. Without FERPA, potential employers, marketers, or nosy neighbors could access that info. The law also lets you fix mistakes-like if a typo in your transcript accidentally turns your A- into a C.
For parents, it’s a bittersweet transition. Once your kid hits 18 or enrolls in college, you’re no longer the gatekeeper. Want to talk to their academic advisor? You’ll need your child’s written consent. (Pro tip: Have that conversation before they leave for campus.)
What Happens If a School Breaks the Rules?
Schools that violate FERPA risk losing federal funding-a big deal, since most rely on those dollars. Students can also sue for damages if their privacy is recklessly violated. That said, honest mistakes (like accidentally emailing records to the wrong person) usually don’t trigger penalties if the school fixes the error quickly.
FERPA in the Real World
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Social media: Professors can’t post graded work publicly (even on a bulletin board) without your permission.
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Job references: Employers can’t ask your college for your GPA unless you OK it.
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Health crises: If you’re hospitalized, schools can share relevant info with doctors only if there’s a legitimate threat to your safety.
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Dependent students: If your parents still claim you on their taxes, they might get access to your records without your consent-but policies vary by school.
