Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
This course covers the core requirements of the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
About this Course
FERPA applies to any educational institution that receives federal funds for programs administered by the U.S. Department of Education. This includes public elementary and secondary schools, state and local school districts, and postsecondary institutions. This course provides a comprehensive educational resource on FERPA’s core aspects to ensure compliance with the regulations, as well as role-specific material for a variety of professionals working in education and research.
Language Availability: English
Suggested Audiences: Teachers, Educators, IRB Administrators, Administrators, IRB Members, Researchers, Instructors, Students
Organizational Subscription Price: Included in organizational subscription
Independent Learner Price: $110 per person
Course Content
FERPA: An Introduction 
Provides a brief history of FERPA, and covers the law’s different requirements and how it protects student educational records. It discusses how FERPA categorizes protected information, how FERPA is applied in various educational settings (public secondary and elementary schools, state and local school districts, and postsecondary institutions), and emerging issues with FERPA.
Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 17407 (English)
Author(s): Thomas W. Gold, PhD - Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship
FERPA for Instructors
Discusses FERPA as it applies to instructors (anyone in a teaching role from elementary school teachers to university professors) that handle and manage student data and information. It focuses on protecting student privacy by describing what may be part of an educational record, situations where student information may be at risk of unauthorized disclosure, processes to protect student data and ensure compliance with FERPA (and other privacy laws), and ways to report student information while maintaining privacy.
Recommended Use: Supplemental
ID (Language): 17408 (English)
Author(s): Thomas W. Gold, PhD - Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship
FERPA for Students
Informs students about FERPA and the rights and responsibilities the law affords them. It discusses student rights as they relate to accessing and amending educational records, different types of student information and their level of protection, and current FERPA issues and challenges.
Recommended Use: Supplemental
ID (Language): 17409 (English)
Author(s): Thomas W. Gold, PhD - Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship
FERPA for Researchers
Covers compliance with FERPA for researchers. It identifies the level of risk in using different types of student data for research, how to employ safe methods in the collection and analysis of student data, proper ways to present student data without disclosing private information, and ways to remain compliant with FERPA in human subjects research.
Recommended Use: Supplemental
ID (Language): 17410 (English)
Author(s): Thomas W. Gold, PhD - Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship
FERPA for Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)
Discusses issues around student data and privacy from the perspective of IRBs that are reviewing research on human subjects in various educational settings (public secondary and elementary schools, and postsecondary institutions). Provides education to IRB administrators and members on the role of IRBs as they relate to FERPA, potential FERPA issues during IRB review of a research plan (including consent, data requests, and compliance with the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment [PPRA]), and strategies for researchers to collect, handle, and analyze student records in compliance with FERPA.
Recommended Use: Supplemental
ID (Language): 17411 (English)
Author(s): Thomas W. Gold, PhD - Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship
FERPA for Educational Administrators
Reviews FERPA and other privacy law compliance from the perspective of educational administrators (in public secondary and elementary schools, state and local school districts, and postsecondary institutions). It specifically covers administrator roles and responsibilities on the use and disclosure of student records and data, including key components of FERPA notification letters to students and parents, and potential challenges associated with online learning tools.
Recommended Use: Supplemental
ID (Language): 17412 (English)
Author(s): Thomas W. Gold, PhD - Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship