What actions can result in disciplinary sanctions under FERPA?

Disciplinary sanctions under FERPA can arise from the misuse of education records or unauthorized disclosures because FERPA, or the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, is fundamentally concerned with the protection of student education records. The act provides students with specific rights regarding their educational records, including the right to access, inspect, and request the amendment of their records, as well as the right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information from those records.

When an individual misuses education records or improperly discloses information without the consent of the student or a legitimate educational interest, they violate the rights protected by FERPA. Such actions can lead to disciplinary measures because they compromise the privacy and security of students' personal information, which is a breach of their rights as outlined in FERPA. This sets a critical precedent for educational institutions to ensure compliance and protects students from unauthorized access to their sensitive information.