What does "de-identified information" mean under FERPA?

De-identified information under FERPA refers to information from which all personally identifiable information has been removed. This means that details that could identify an individual student, such as their name, identification number, address, or any other information that could lead to a student's identification, have been completely removed or altered. The primary purpose of de-identification is to protect the privacy of students while allowing for the use of data in aggregate forms for research, reporting, or other analyses without revealing individual identities.

This approach ensures compliance with FERPA regulations, which are designed to safeguard the confidentiality of student education records. By effectively removing all identifiers, the information can be shared in a manner that preserves student privacy, thereby fulfilling both legal requirements and ethical considerations regarding student data.