What constitutes "legitimate educational interest"?

"Legitimate educational interest" refers specifically to the necessity for a school official to access student records in order to fulfill their professional responsibilities related to their duties within the educational institution. This concept under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is designed to protect student privacy while allowing authorized personnel to perform their functions effectively.

When a school official, such as a teacher, administrator, or counselor, needs to review student records to provide support, assess academic progress, address behavioral issues, or fulfill other educational roles, this access is considered to be in line with legitimate educational interest. This ensures that appropriate personnel can make informed decisions that impact students' educational experiences and outcomes.

Access driven by personal preference is not aligned with legitimate educational interest; it must be tied directly to professional duties. Parental requests and student requests for access, while important, are governed by separate provisions within FERPA and do not inherently constitute a school official's legitimate educational interest in the same manner as professional responsibilities.