Federal Student Privacy Protections: What Is FERPA and Who Does It Protect?

Regulated by the U.S. Department of Education, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects the privacy of student education records and provides parental access to them. This fact sheet describes FERPA and what it mandates. It also explains when a school may disclose an education record and what parents can do if they believe their rights have been violated.