To whom does FERPA apply?

FERPA, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, applies specifically to educational institutions that receive federal funding. This includes public institutions as well as private educational entities that accept federal financial assistance. The law ensures that students have access to their educational records and can seek to amend them if they find inaccuracies. Additionally, it sets guidelines on how and when these records can be disclosed to third parties.

By focusing on educational entities that receive federal funds, FERPA is able to impose certain obligations related to the privacy and rights of students across a wide array of institutions, thus safeguarding student information and promoting the responsible handling of educational records.