What type of information is protected under FERPA?

The correct answer is that FERPA protects all personally identifiable information from educational records. This includes a wide range of information that can be linked to a specific student, such as names, addresses, social security numbers, grades, and other data that can be used to identify an individual student.

FERPA's primary purpose is to safeguard the privacy of students and their educational records, ensuring that this sensitive information is not disclosed without the consent of the student or their parents, depending on the student's age. The extensive coverage of personally identifiable information means that any data that relates directly to a student and their educational experience is protected under FERPA.

Furthermore, while academic records, health records, and disciplinary records may contain personally identifiable information and can be protected under other regulations, the scope of what FERPA covers is broader as it encompasses all educational records maintained by an institution. This makes it crucial for educational institutions to understand and adhere to FERPA regulations to ensure the privacy rights of students are respected.