What is the purpose of FERPA?

The purpose of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is centered on the protection of the privacy of student education records. This federal law grants parents and eligible students the right to access their educational records, seek to amend them, and control disclosures of personally identifiable information. FERPA ensures that all education records maintained by institutions are kept confidential, thereby safeguarding students' information from unauthorized access or disclosure. This focus on privacy is essential in maintaining the trust in educational institutions and contributing to a safe educational environment for students. The other choices do not align with the primary intention of FERPA, which is about privacy rights rather than funding, monitoring of services, or standardized testing.