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. Specifically, FERPA grants students certain rights regarding their educational records and ensures that these records cannot be disclosed without consent from the student or their parents. This federal law helps maintain confidentiality and safeguards personal information about students, allowing them greater control over who can access their academic and personal data. By focusing on student privacy, FERPA creates an environment where students can trust that their sensitive information is handled responsibly.

The other options, while they represent important aspects of educational institutions, do not directly relate to the core intent of FERPA. For instance, improving school curriculum or establishing funding criteria pertains to educational development and financial policies, respectively, rather than the protection of student information. Enhancing extracurricular programs is also a valuable goal for schools but is unrelated to the privacy and confidentiality concerns that FERPA specifically addresses.