What does the term "Dates of Attendance" refer to in the context of FERPA?

The term "Dates of Attendance" within the context of FERPA refers specifically to the periods during which a student was enrolled in an educational institution. This encompasses the academic year, specific terms such as the fall semester, or particular quarters. These time frames are significant as they denote the periods when a student is officially recognized as attending classes, which is crucial for handling educational records and ensuring compliance with FERPA regulations. This understanding helps educational institutions maintain accurate records of students’ enrollment status and ensures that this information is managed in accordance with federal privacy laws.

In contrast, daily attendance records, exact times of class attendance, and monthly reports submitted by teachers pertain to more granular levels of monitoring student engagement or specifics of classroom attendance, which do not encapsulate the broader context of attendance that FERPA defines.