How does FERPA affect online educational platforms?

FERPA, or the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, sets forth strict guidelines regarding the handling and protection of student education records. For online educational platforms, this means they must adhere to the same privacy and security requirements that apply to traditional educational institutions. Compliance with FERPA ensures that these platforms protect the privacy of students’ educational records, such as grades, course enrollments, and personal information, and manage the security of those records appropriately.

The law requires that students have certain rights over their education records, including the right to inspect and review their records, the right to request amendments, and the right to have some control over the disclosure of information contained in those records. Therefore, online platforms must implement measures to safeguard student data against unauthorized access and ensure that any sharing of information complies with FERPA's regulations.

In contrast, other options do not accurately reflect FERPA's stance on online educational platforms. Being exempt from the law or only needing to protect financial information does not align with the comprehensive nature of student privacy rights under FERPA, which covers a wide range of educational records. Moreover, the notion that platforms can share information freely contradicts the fundamental principles that restrict unauthorized sharing of educational records.