What Federal law protects the privacy of student education records?

• A. FERPA
• B. ADA
• C. IDEA
• D. Section 504

Answer: (A)

Privacy of student education records is protected by a federal law that sets who can access those records and under what conditions. It gives families and eligible students the right to inspect and request amendments to education records, and it generally requires schools to obtain written consent before releasing identifiable information. Records can be disclosed without consent only in specific circumstances, such as to school officials with legitimate educational interests, to other schools the student is transferring to, or in health or safety emergencies. The protection covers all education records maintained by institutions that receive federal funding, in any format. The other options focus on disability rights and accessibility rather than privacy of education records, so they don’t govern how student information is shared.