What is the main purpose of FERPA?

The main purpose of FERPA, or the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, is to protect student privacy in education records. This legislation grants students and their parents certain rights regarding their educational records, including the right to access these records, the right to request corrections to inaccurate information, and the right to control the disclosure of personal information contained in their education records. By establishing these rights, FERPA seeks to safeguard sensitive information about students and ensure that it is not disclosed without appropriate consent. This foundational principle is crucial in promoting student privacy and confidentiality in the educational environment.