Which entities are bound by FERPA regulations?

The correct choice highlights that FERPA, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, applies to all educational institutions, both public and private, that receive federal funds. This includes a wide range of schools such as universities, colleges, and certain K-12 institutions that benefit from federal assistance. The essence of FERPA is to protect the privacy of student education records, and compliance is mandated for institutions that receive federal financial aid or federal funding in any form.

While private schools receiving state funds or religious schools that accept federal funds may have some privacy obligations, they are not universally bound by FERPA unless they accept federal financial assistance. Public schools are specifically covered under FERPA, along with private schools that receive federal funding, ensuring a robust framework for student privacy rights is upheld across different types of institutions. This broad applicability of FERPA is essential in promoting a consistent standard for handling student information.