Does FERPA apply to records of students who have graduated?

FERPA, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, continues to apply to the records of students even after they have graduated. This means that educational institutions must maintain the same privacy standards set forth by FERPA for graduate records as they do for those who are currently enrolled. The protection of student records is a vital aspect of FERPA, ensuring that all personally identifiable information remains confidential regardless of the student’s enrollment status.

This ongoing protection is crucial because it allows former students to have control over their educational records and maintains their rights to access and amend those records if necessary. The law does not limit its applicability based on the student's current enrollment status, which emphasizes the lasting nature of privacy rights in relation to educational records. Understanding this aspect of FERPA is essential for anyone involved in the management of educational records or the educational institution itself.