Can institutions disclose records for research purposes without consent?

Institutions can disclose records for research purposes without obtaining consent if the records have been de-identified. De-identification means that all personal identifiers have been removed or altered to prevent someone from being able to identify an individual from the data. This practice is in alignment with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which allows for the use of de-identified data for research purposes because it does not put students' privacy at risk.

De-identified records serve an essential role in research as they can provide valuable insights without compromising individual privacy or breaching confidentiality agreements. The use of such data adheres to FERPA's goal of protecting student information while still allowing for the advancement of knowledge and research in educational settings.