What does FERPA stand for?

The correct answer is that FERPA stands for the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. This federal law governs the access to educational information and records. It grants specific rights to students and their families regarding the privacy of their education records, ensuring that these records are kept confidential and only shared with authorized individuals or entities.

FERPA is crucial as it allows parents and eligible students (those over 18 or attending post-secondary institutions) to review the student's education records and request corrections to records they believe to be inaccurate or misleading. This law establishes guidelines on how educational institutions must manage and protect sensitive student information and reinforces the importance of student privacy in educational settings. Understanding the full name of FERPA is fundamental when discussing the rights it grants and the protections it offers to students and their families.