FERPA, also known as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, is a US federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. It requires educational institutions receiving federal funds to annually notify students of their rights to access, amend, and consent to disclose their records. FERPA applies to all schools from elementary through postsecondary level. It defines directory information like name and address that can be disclosed without consent, and non-directory information like grades and social security numbers that require student consent to be shared. Landmark court cases have established that individuals cannot sue for damages due to FERPA violations but schools can lose federal funding for noncompliance.