What should educational institutions do to protect students' FERPA rights?

Providing students with a handbook outlining their rights is essential for protecting their FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) rights. This handbook serves as a formal resource that clearly communicates the rights students have concerning their education records. It empowers students by ensuring they are informed about their ability to access, amend, and control the disclosure of their educational information.

A handbook also allows institutions to reinforce their commitment to upholding FERPA regulations and demonstrates transparency, which builds trust between students and the institution. It serves not only as an informational guide but also as a legal requirement under FERPA that institutions must comply with.

In contrast, merely announcing rights on the school's website may not ensure that all students are aware of their protections, as not every student may visit the website or know where to find this information. Conducting yearly training for staff is important, but if students are not directly educated about their rights, they may remain unaware of what protections and avenues are available to them. Allowing unrestricted access to all records would directly violate FERPA regulations, which emphasize the importance of confidentiality and controlled access to educational records.