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2.5: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

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    272897
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    The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law enacted in 1974 to protect the privacy of student education records, and it applies to all educational institutions that receive federal or state funding, including early childhood education programs. FERPA grants parents or legal guardians of students under 18 and eligible students (those 18 or older or attending a postsecondary institution) the right to access, review, and request corrections to their child’s education records. In the context of early childhood education, these records may include assessments, teacher observations, developmental milestones, and other confidential information regarding a child’s learning and behavior (U.S. Department of Education 2021).

    Under FERPA, programs must maintain the confidentiality of students' records and obtain written consent before disclosing personally identifiable information (PII), except in specific circumstances. These exceptions include compliance with a court order or legal investigation. However, FERPA allows early childhood programs to disclose certain "directory information," such as a child’s name, date of birth, or participation in school-sponsored activities, unless parents opt out. This flexibility in sharing information is particularly relevant in collaborative settings, such as when teachers share information with service providers or specialists who work with the child (U.S. Department of Education 2021).

    For early childhood educators, FERPA requires the careful handling of sensitive data, particularly since young children’s records often include detailed observations and reports regarding development, behavior, and social-emotional growth. Teachers and staff are responsible for understanding and complying with FERPA regulations to ensure that children’s privacy is protected in all aspects of their educational experience. Programs must also notify parents annually about their FERPA rights, and they must provide clear instructions about how to opt out of the release of directory information (Family Policy Compliance Office 2020). This information is usually provided in a parent handout or upon registration into a program.


    This page titled 2.5: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by .

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