What is a legal obligation of colleges regarding education records?

Colleges have a legal obligation to maintain the confidentiality and security of students' education records as mandated by FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act). This legislation is designed to protect students' privacy by restricting who can access their educational records and under what circumstances. This means that educational institutions must put in place policies and procedures to ensure that sensitive information is kept secure and only accessed by authorized individuals.

The importance of confidentiality extends to how records are stored, who can view them, and under what conditions they may be released. Colleges must also provide students with the right to access their records, but this does not equate to sharing those records freely with just any party. This obligation is key in fostering trust between students and educational institutions, and it helps to ensure compliance with federal regulations regarding student privacy.