Which of the following is an example of an educational record according to FERPA?

Which of the following is an example of an educational record according to FERPA?

• A. School discipline records
• B. Social media accounts maintained by the school
• C. Parental communications regarding enrollment
• D. Teacher notes on student performance

Answer: (A)

An educational record under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) refers to records that directly relate to a student and are maintained by an educational agency or institution. School discipline records fit this definition as they document a student's behavior, incidents, and actions taken in relation to school policies. Such records are essential for understanding a student's conduct and overall educational experience. In contrast, social media accounts maintained by the school may not necessarily document individual student information or performance in an educational context. Parental communications regarding enrollment could involve personal discussions but do not directly relate to a student’s performance or behavior in an educational setting as defined by FERPA. Teacher notes on student performance, while they pertain to a student's educational experience, often fall outside the formal records category since they are not typically maintained within school records and might not be consistently kept or disclosed. Therefore, the inclusion of school discipline records exemplifies the essence of educational records as defined by FERPA, focusing on documentation that affects and reflects a student's educational path.

An educational record under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) refers to records that directly relate to a student and are maintained by an educational agency or institution. School discipline records fit this definition as they document a student's behavior, incidents, and actions taken in relation to school policies. Such records are essential for understanding a student's conduct and overall educational experience.

In contrast, social media accounts maintained by the school may not necessarily document individual student information or performance in an educational context. Parental communications regarding enrollment could involve personal discussions but do not directly relate to a student’s performance or behavior in an educational setting as defined by FERPA. Teacher notes on student performance, while they pertain to a student's educational experience, often fall outside the formal records category since they are not typically maintained within school records and might not be consistently kept or disclosed.

Therefore, the inclusion of school discipline records exemplifies the essence of educational records as defined by FERPA, focusing on documentation that affects and reflects a student's educational path.