What is the main purpose of FERPA?

The primary purpose of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is to protect the privacy of student education records. This federal law applies to all educational institutions that receive funds from the U.S. Department of Education and grants specific rights to students and their parents regarding the access and confidentiality of their educational records.

Under FERPA, students have the right to inspect and review their education records, request amendments to those records, and have some control over the disclosure of personally identifiable information contained within them. The intent is to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information, thereby safeguarding the privacy of students during their educational experience.

Funding for education, teacher job security, and curriculum standards, while important aspects of the education system, do not relate directly to the fundamental role of FERPA, which is centered solely on the protection of student privacy and rights concerning educational records.