What does PII stand for in the context of FERPA?

In the context of FERPA, PII stands for Personally Identifiable Information. This term is pivotal because FERPA governs the privacy of student education records and establishes the rights of students concerning those records. Personally Identifiable Information includes details that could potentially identify a student, such as their name, social security number, student ID number, and other information that, when combined with other data, could reveal a student's identity. Understanding this definition is essential for compliance with FERPA, as it helps educational institutions protect sensitive student information and ensures that they handle records in a manner that respects student privacy.