FERPA affects student data privacy by...

• A. Restricting access to student records, governing disclosures, and requiring safeguards; districts must implement policies and training
• B. Allowing unrestricted access by all staff
• C. Applying only to college students
• D. Requiring districts to publish all student records publicly

Answer: (A)

FERPA sets privacy protections for student information by limiting who can access education records, governing how those records can be disclosed, and requiring safeguards to protect them. It requires schools and districts to put in place policies, procedures, and training so staff know when a disclosure is allowed and how to protect records. The law applies to any educational institution that receives federal funds, including both K–12 districts and postsecondary schools, and it gives students (or eligible dependents) rights over their records.

This means access isn’t open to everyone; disclosures aren’t arbitrary and must follow defined rules. Statements that say access is unrestricted, or that the policy applies only to college students, or that districts must publish all records publicly, don’t fit FERPA.