Online FERPA Training Course
FERPA Essentials
While there are many important uses of student data, schools must balance the benefits of use with the need to protect students' privacy rights. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student records of any educational institution that receives federal Department of Education funds. FERPA prohibits the federal funding of institutions that release education records without the consent of parents or eligible students.
FERPA compliance is not as simple as you might think. For example, the law contains numerous exceptions applicable to certain individuals and to different situations, as well as several gray areas. It's critical that school employees understand and carry out their responsibilities under FERPA to protect student privacy and to avoid the risk of losing federal funds.
Online FERPA Training Course Summary
This 30-minute course explains what school administrators, faculty and staff need to know about FERPA in simple, understandable terms. It includes pop quizzes, news clippings and a final quiz highlighting real-world scenarios employees should learn to spot and respond to appropriately. The topics covered in the course include:
- FERPA overview
- Inspection, review and corrections
- Preventing non-consensual disclosure
- Exception for directory information
- Exception for school officials
- Exception for emergencies
- Other exceptions
- Non-eligible students
- Transfer of rights from parent to student
- Employee responsibilities
