Cover letter to the Department’s annual notices to SEAs and LEAs
The Department of Education (Department) is required to notify annually each State educational agency (SEA) and each local educational agency (LEA) of its obligations, as a recipient of Department funds, under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA). This is the cover letter to the Department’s annual notices to SEAs and LEAs.
A Parent Guide to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act or FERPA provides certain rights for parents regarding their children’s education records. This guide provides general information on a parent’s rights under FERPA.
May Schools Disclose Information about Cases of COVID-19?
Schools across the nation are working hard to keep students, teachers, and staff safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, many schools are wondering whether the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) allows them to disclose information about cases of COVID-19 to the community. The Student Privacy Policy Office provided answers to these questions in our March 2020 guidance. Subsequent to issuing the guidance, we have seen reports that states, cities, school districts, and schools are continuing to face questions about disclosing COVID-19 cases.
Improving the Effectiveness and Efficiency of FERPA Enforcement
The Department is committed to protecting student privacy. To provide more timely and effective assistance to parents and students and to address a recommendation made by the Department’s Office of the Inspector General to “implement a risk-based approach to processing and resolving FERPA complaints,” the Department is modifying its investigatory practices to more efficiently address and resolve complaints and violations under FERPA.
Technical Assistance on Student Privacy for State and Local Educational Agencies When Administering College Admissions Examinations
The administration of college admissions examinations by SEAs and LEAs raises potential legal issues under FERPA, IDEA, PPRA, and State privacy laws, and generally raises concerns about privacy best practices. In particular, the pre-test surveys administered in connection with these exams raised privacy concerns that SEAs and LEAs must consider when contracting with the testing companies. This document discusses the legal issues, and advises SEAs and LEAs about how to remain in compliance when administering the tests. The document also conveys best practice recommendations to encourage transparency and parental involvement.
SPPO Guidance List
The list of resources contained in this Excel spreadsheet includes all “guidance documents” issued by the Student Privacy Policy Office (SPPO). As a general matter, guidance documents are statements of general applicability, intended to have future effect on the behavior of regulated parties, that set forth a policy on a statutory, regulatory, or technical issue; or an interpretation of a statute or regulation.
Top 10 Cybersecurity Tips for Teachers
This printable infographic provides simple tips for increasing cybersecurity readiness, cyber-awareness, and strategies to help teachers and school administrators recognize and defeat cyber threats and protect students’ and staff privacy.
Letter to Bienstock
This letter is in response to an inquiry regarding the point at which a student is considered "in attendance" for the purposes of FERPA.
FERPA 101: For Colleges & Universities
This interactive computer-based training course introduces learners to the basics of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) as it applies to colleges, universities, and other post-secondary institutions.
FERPA 101: For Local Education Agencies
This interactive computer-based training course introduces learners to the basics of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) as it applies to K-12 schools, districts and local education agencies.