What is the main purpose of FERPA?

The main purpose of FERPA, or the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, is to protect the privacy of student education records. FERPA grants students the right to access their own educational records and limits the disclosure of those records without the student's consent. This law is designed to safeguard the information contained within education records from unauthorized access and ensures that students' personal information remains confidential. By doing so, FERPA empowers students and their families with control over their educational information, fostering a respectful and secure educational environment. The focus on privacy is a fundamental aspect of how schools and educational institutions manage and protect student data.