Are schools required to classify student records as educational records under FERPA?

Under FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), schools are indeed required to classify certain student records as educational records. This classification is mandatory because FERPA defines "educational records" as those records that contain information directly related to a student and are maintained by an educational institution or by a party acting for the institution. The law aims to protect the privacy of student education records and grants specific rights to students regarding their records.

Every educational institution, whether public or private, that receives federal funding must comply with FERPA regulations. This includes the obligation to categorize student records properly and to uphold the privacy rights of students. Schools must ensure that they are aware of which records fall under the definition of educational records and handle them according to FERPA guidelines.

The requirement applies universally across all educational levels and types of institutions benefiting from federal funds, which further emphasizes the importance of understanding what constitutes an educational record in terms of compliance with privacy rights under federal law.