Introduction to ferpa module 1
- 1. Protecting the Privacy of Student Data Data Stewardship Practices for School Registrars 12/03/14 Barbara Solomon Information Systems Data Manager
- 2. School District Five5’s school registrars maintain and respect the confidentiality of student and school personnel information. They are data professionals who exercise mature judgment in working with confidential information. Protecting Student Data 12/03/14 Data Stewardship
- 3. Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Protecting Student Data 12/03/14 What is FERPA? •Is a federal privacy law enacted in 1974 •Governs the disclosure of student education records •Grants parent and students rights related to education records
- 4. In the United States, education records at public schools or at schools that receive public funding fall under FERPA’s jurisdiction. Protecting Student Data 12/03/14 Who Falls Under FERPA Jurisdiction?
- 5. Under FERPA, parents may: Protecting Student Data 12/03/14 Parental Rights •gain access to their children’s education records, •request to have the records amended, •consent, via signature, to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from education records.
- 6. Under FERPA, a school: Protecting Student Data 12/03/14 School Responsibilities •Must comply with a parent’s request to inspect and review education records within 45 days of the request. •Must NOT destroy records if a request for access is pending.
- 7. •This notification must be accessible to all parents, including those who are disabled or do not speak English. Protecting Student Data 12/03/14 School Responsibilities (cont.) Under FERPA, a school: Must notify parents annually of their rights.
- 8. Under FERPA, a school: Protecting Student Data 12/03/14 School Responsibilities (cont.) •each request for access to an educational record •each disclosure from an education record •names of educational authorities that may further disclosure PII from the student’s education records without consent Must maintain a record of
- 9. FERPA: Terms to Master 12/03/14 Barbara Solomon Information Systems Data Manager
- 10. Education Records •directly relate to the student •are maintained by an educational agency (or other party/institution acting for the educational agency) •may be in any format; paper, video, audio, etc. Protecting Student Data 12/03/14 What is an Education Record? They are NOT, law enforcement records, alumni records, peer- graded papers or staff or faculty records made for personal use.
- 11. •a list of personal characteristics that would make the student’s identity easily traceable •any other information that would make the student’s identity easily traceable. Protecting Student Data 12/03/14 What is Personally Identifiable Information (PII)? PII is…
- 12. Directory Information is… Personally Identifiable Information that is NOT considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. Protecting Student Data 12/03/14 What is Directory Information (DI)?
- 13. School District 5 defines Directory Information as follows: •student's name •photograph •grade level •school to which he/she is assigned •years of attendance at that school •awards received •participation in officially recognized activities and sports •weight and height of athletic team members Protecting Student Data 12/03/14 What is Directory Information?
- 14. •Public notice must be given to parents of actively enrolled students concerning “directory information.” •Parents have the right to ‘opt out’ and not allow the disclosure of directory information. Protecting Student Data 12/03/14 Directory Information and Parental Rights
- 15. What are the FERPA enforcement provisions? 12/03/14 Barbara Solomon Information Systems Data Manager
- 16. •FPCO investigates complaints and violations under FERPA. •Parents and eligible students may file complaints within 180 days with FPCO. •If an school or district that receives Federal Department of Ed. funds violates FERPA, FPCO may bring an enforcement action against that entity. •Enforcement actions include withholding payment, cease and desist orders, and compliance agreements. Protecting Student Data 12/03/14 FERPA Enforcement The Family Policy Compliance Office (FPCO)