FERPA Compliance 2026 — Don
Quick Answer
FERPA (the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) requires schools to: (1) obtain written parental consent before disclosing educational records of students under 18, (2) offer annual directory information opt-outs, (3) maintain a log of anyone who accesses a student's records, (4) extend access rights to the student themselves at age 18 or upon entering postsecondary education, and (5) ensure every third-party vendor handling student data has a signed FERPA-compliant data agreement. Violation can cost federal funding.
Last reviewed · By Chad Griffith
This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about ferpa compliance 2026: don. Whether you're a safety manager, compliance officer, or operations director, understanding industry compliance requirements is critical to avoiding costly fines and failed audits.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who does FERPA apply to?
Any school, college, or university that receives federal funding from the US Department of Education. Private schools that do not accept federal funds are generally exempt.
What counts as a protected educational record under FERPA?
Anything directly related to a student that is maintained by the school: grades, attendance, transcripts, disciplinary records, test scores, and most communications with teachers.
Can parents access a student's records after the student turns 18?
Only if the student consents, or if the student is a dependent for tax purposes. At 18 (or upon entering postsecondary education) FERPA rights transfer to the student.
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