Are financial records considered part of a student's education records under FERPA?

Financial records are indeed considered part of a student's education records under FERPA. FERPA, which stands for the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, defines education records broadly to include records that are directly related to a student and maintained by an educational institution or a party acting on behalf of the institution. This includes academic performance, class schedules, and notes made by instructors, but it also encompasses financial records related to the student's educational experience.

The inclusion of financial records means that information pertaining to tuition, fees, and other expenses directly tied to the student's enrollment at an educational institution is protected under FERPA. This ensures that students have certain rights over their education records, including financial documentation, safeguarding their privacy and the confidentiality of their financial information.

The other options can create confusion regarding the scope of FERPA's definition of education records. For instance, saying financial records are excluded would misrepresent the law’s intent to protect all records related to a student, while restricting the inclusion of financial records only to student loans or limiting it to undergraduates would incorrectly narrow the broad application of FERPA.