The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law designed to protect the privacy of student education records and ensure that parents and eligible students (students over the age of 18 or those attending postsecondary institutions) have access to and control over their personal education information. FERPA is essential for safeguarding the rights of students and ensuring that schools handle student records responsibly. In this article, we will explore what FERPA is, how it protects student records, and what rights parents and eligible students are entitled to under this law.

In a recent 6th Circuit decision, the Court cautioned districts to avoid using technology to mask disabilities rather than using technology to assist in direct instruction. William A v. Clarksville-Montgomery County School System, 6th Cir. (2025).