FERPA Defined FERPA stands for the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, a federal law in the United States that regulates the access to and protection of student educational records. It gives students and their parents the right to access, review, and control their educational records, and sets limits on the release of personally identifiable information from these records to third parties. In an Online Environment FERPA can be tricky in an online environment when teachers are communicating, screen sharing, or hosting group lessons. In a synchronous environment, teachers may have little control or even awareness as to who can hear their conversation. Here are a few tips to protect yourself and your students in regards to FERPA and student privacy: Communication Limit the amount of personally identifiable information (PII) shared in the email. This may include a student's name, address, Social Security number, grades, or other sensitive information. Be sure to only contact a...
